Courtesy of Sandy Schulz
The 10th Annual Kids Fishing Tourney took place this past Saturday at the Rockland Pond. Kids were given prizes, fishing poles and bait, food and drink. Put on be the volunteers of the UP Sport Fisherman’s Association volunteers, who is looking for new members. Please call Pam at 906-884-4016.

It was a busy weekend in Ontonagon County. Some took part in the community-wide garage sale, while Mom and Dad took the kids to the 10th Annual Kids Fishing Tournament. This took place at the Rockland Pond at the former Minesota Copper Mine site.

Yes, it’s Minesota, not Minnesota, and it is one of the few Registered Michigan DNR Designated Family Fishing Ponds in the State. This popular Kids Fishing hole is a cooperative project of the DNR, Rockland Township, Rockland American Legion Post 92, American Forest Management, and the Upper Peninsula Sport Fisherman’s Association (UPSFA). The kids do not need a fishing license to fish at this pond.

This is one of the many projects that the volunteers of the UPSFA works on every summer. The intent is to “get hooked on fishing.” Numerous businesses join with the UPSFA in sponsoring this annual summer tradition.

“It is a great family event where both the Kids and the Parents have a lot of fun,” commented Larry Grieg of the UPSFA.

Fifty-nine children from all over the Copper Country registered for the yournament.

“If they didn’t have a fishing pole, we provided them with one, along with worms provided by Walt’s Crawlers. We provided hot dogs and pop, and lots of prizes,” stated Grieg. “The chairman rigged the prizes so that 90% of the kids won a fishing pole.”

The chairman is Larry Grieg.

“The kids really enjoy this. They caught a lot of fish. Then there were games for the kids, casting contest, food, all sorts of stuff for the kids! They caught everything from perch to bullheads to turtles.”

Grieg goes on to state that every time the kids caught something, “They got a prize.”

The vehicle parking on the shore of the pond was full, so some had to park out on US-45. The short walk to the pond was greeted by smiling faces.

For many decades, a myth was passed down from generation to generation as to whether this privately owned pond even had a bottom.

Grieg responded to the myth, “I went out with a depth finder and checked the pond. There is no truth to that, the deepest spot is 16 feet.”

Providing all the fishing poles, bait, food, drink, and prizes is the UPSFA, Walt’s Crawlers, JJ’s Tackle Shack, Adventure Motel of Mass City, Rockland American Legion Post 92, VFW Post 5600, and Trident Maritime Systems.

“We really want to thank all the parents and kids for taking part, along with all those businesses that sponsored this. It is the Upper Peninsula Sport Fisherman’s Association that works with the DNR on fish habitat, fish plants, the Kids Fishing Tourney, and the Lake Trout Classic Tournament and fish fry for the Ontonagon County Cancer Association.

When asked if some of the kids in this tourney will be competing in the Lake Trout Classic in the future, Grieg said, “I hope I’m around to see that.”