A fishin’ we will go and a good time will be had by all.

Conservation Officer Jerry Jinright can’t promise kids they will catch a catfish at Kids’ Fishing Day Saturday at Clay Hill Farm. But he can say that they will have a good time in the attempt.

Kids’ Fishing Day is an annual event in Pike County. Traditionally, it’s held the Saturday before Father’s Day. A lot of dads and their kids take advantage of the free fishing day but often it’s the grandparents or an uncle and sometimes the mom that come along.

“Kids’ Fishing Day is open to all kids ages five to 15 but they must have a responsible adult along with them,” Jinright said. “Everybody that comes needs to bring a hat, sunglasses, bait, a rod and reel or fishing pole and, of course an ice chest for their fish.”

Some kids are advised to fish with chicken liver; it’s a good catfish bait. Some seasoned fishermen say Catfish Charlie is the best commercial bait. However, Jinright said the word around town is that rooster liver is far and away the best bait for catching catfish.

“You can fish for catfish with worms and crickets but you won’t see many old timers doing it,” Jinright said. “I can’t guarantee that everybody will catch a chest of fish but what I can guarantee is there are plenty of fish to be caught.”

John and Carol Dorrill host Kids’ Fishing Day each year and, although, their pond at Clay Hill Farm is well stocked, they order more fish from a local catfish farm, to give the kids an even better chance at going home with supper on a string.

On behalf of all the kids that come fishing, Jinright expressed appreciation to the Dorrills for their generosity in allowing the kids to fish their pond and their support of their community.
Registration will begin at 7 a.m. Saturday and fishing will be from 8 until 11 a.m. The kid in each age group with the heaviest string will receive a prize. However, there will be enough prizes for each kid to get one. There will also be drawings for two $50 gift certificates from Walmart to apply toward the purchase of bicycles.

The prizes will be awarded following lunch provided by Walmart.

Pike County Kids’ Fishing Day is sponsored by Walmart, the Alabama Conservation Enforcement Officers Association and the Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division. The event is partially funded by the Federal Sport Fish Restoration Program.

Editors Note: Directions to Clay Hill Farm, from Troy, south on Highway 231, left on County Road 5522. Turn right onto County Road 5511 and left onto County Road 5523 (Norman Wilson Road). Clay Hill Farms is 1.4 miles on the left.

Directions from Brundidge are north on Alabama 93, left onto County Road 5523 (Norman Wilson Road), 1.4 miles to Clay Hill Farms on the right.