If Hattie Flowers could string all the fish she has caught, the stringer would reach from her hometown of Brundidge all the way to the Mississippi River. And, that’s no fish tale.

Flowers said she has been fishing all her life.

“I’m 97 years old so that’s a long time,” Flowers said, laughing. “Growing up, I fished on the creek. We dug worms for our bait. We caught bream, and ‘punches’ and catfish and eels that had only one bone running through them. I’ve always loved to fish.”

When Flowers’ grandsons were young, Pike County Kids Fishing Day was circled in red on her calendar.

“We didn’t miss that chance to go fishing,” she said. “I think all children should get a chance to fish. There’s nothing like going fishing.”

Flowers said the annual Pike County Kids Fishing Day at John and Carol Dorrill’s Clay Hill Farms offers first times fishermen and season ones the same odds of catching catfish.

And, those odds will be on the side of the kids who fish at Pike County Kids Fishing Day at Clay Hill Farms in Ponto on Saturday.

Jerry Jinright, Alabama Conservation Enforcement Officer for Pike County, said registration begins at 7 a.m. and fishing will begin at 8 a.m. and conclude at 11 a.m.

“Kids’ Fishing Day is a free event for kids ages five to 15 who are accompanied by a parent or other responsible adult,” Jinright said. “All kids should bring a hat, sunglass, bait, a rod and reel or pole and an ice chest for fish.

“Sunday is Father’s Day so Kids Fishing Day is a great time for dads and granddads to take a kid fishing,” Jinright said. “It will be an experience they will always remember whether it’s their first time, their only time or many times.”

Jinright said while he can’t guarantee that every kid will catch a fish but he can guarantee that there are fish to be caught.

“John and Carol have a well-stocked pond but, to give the kids an even better chance at having a good fishing day, they had Sutton’s Fish Hatchery in Ariton bring in 130 pounds of fish to add to the Dorrills’ pond for Saturday’s Kids Fishing Day.

Freddie Sutton said 130 pounds equals about 200 fish, so worms had better beware.

Prizes will be awarded for the biggest stringer of fish caught in each of the three age divisions.  And there will be prizes for all the kids, including two opportunities to win a $50 gift certificate toward a bicycle at Walmart. Lunch will be furnished by Walmart.

Pike County Kids Fishing Day is sponsored and hosted by Walmart, 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.

Editor’s 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.