Bruce Gipe and Jim Vashro helped the Hedges School Hooked On Fishing (HOF) classes plant rainbow trout in Dry Bridge Pond yesterday. This is a unique opportunity started about 20 years ago. The students walk over from school, the plant is arranged by Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Creston National Fish Hatchery brought over 500 2-1/2 year old rainbow trout averaging 11”-12”. The students first got a talk on fish biology, fish identification, proper catch and release techniques and were warned against illegal fish plants. The fish were then transferred to five gallon buckets, the students carried the fish down to dump in the pond. Bruce and Jim and another adult helped to make sure just the fish went in the pond, not buckets and students.
Afterwards the students picked up litter in Dry Bridge Park (the Sledding Gully) and were treated to ice cream treats courtesy of Flathead Wildlife.
Dry Bridge is a Family Fishing Pond, many of these students live in the neighborhood. You’ll see them hiking or biking in after school or coming down after dinner with their family to fish. Fishing is open to everyone, adults catch and release, kids fourteen and younger can keep o!
Bruce Gipe recorded a video, Casey Kreider with the Daily Interlake got a great action shot (link below). Article in the Daily Interlake