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When Suttons’ Fish Hatchery truck arrived at Clay Hill Farms Monday morning, the odds of kids catching a stringer of catfish on Saturday, Father’s Day went way up.

The John Dorrill farm at Pronto has one of the best catfish ponds anywhere around and, weather permitting, fishing for “cats” is always good.

But, in the tradition of the late John Dorrill, his family was to make sure that every kid has the best opportunity to experience the thrill of catching a fish on Pike County Kids Fishing Day. So on Monday morning, Sutton’s Fish Hatchery truck back across the dam and dumped about 200 pounds of eating size catfish into the ponds

more eating size catfish into the pond.

On Saturday, June 15, kids ages 5 to 15 will be treated to a free fishing day at the John Dorrill family’s Clay Hill Farms at Pronto.  The Pike County Kids’ Fishing Day has become a Father’s Day tradition in and around Pike County.

And, the odds are good that many kids will take a catfish or more home for supper or, perhaps, for a Father’s Day gathering.

Jerry Jinright, Pike County Conservation Enforcement Officer, said kids ages 5 to 15 must be accompanied by a parent or another responsible adult.

Registration for the day of free fishing begins at 7 a.m. with fishing from 8 until 10:30 a.m.
“Kids need to come prepared for a morning of fishing,” Jinright said. “They should bring a hat, sunglasses, bait, a rod and reel and an ice chest for fish.”

Kids Free Fishing Day is made possible each year by the John Dorrill family, the Alabama Conservation Enforcement Officers Association and the Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division and the Federal Sport Fish Restoration Program and Walmart.