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Joys of hunting and fishing discovered, rediscovered
By Ed Zieralski, San Diego UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
September 29, 2002
Until yesterday, James Torpey hadn't been fishing in 30 years.
That's how it goes for a man who juggles three jobs and has three kids. Fishing is not an option for the El Cajon resident.
But that changed yesterday. Torpey gathered his kids – Carlos, 12; Menissa, 7; and Ben, 5 – for a trip to Lake Cuyamaca and the sixth annual Fishin' in the Pines Free Kids Derby. It also was National Hunting and Fishing Day, a no-license-required day in the state and throughout the country.
"I told the kids it's a free fishing day, so we're going fishing," Torpey said.
Fishing was tough at the fog-shrouded lake, and many weren't prepared for the first cold snap of the fall. Plein-air artist Jean Grigsby, her easel a stone's throw from Highway 79, where a fresh-killed yearling deer lay, was bundled up as she painted California live oaks on her canvas. But a lot of folks looked icy in shorts and T-shirts.
"People forget this is the mountains," Lake Cuyamaca supervising ranger Hugh Marx said.
Marx said this year's crowd for the kids' derby was close to the record turnout of nearly 700 two years ago. The 9/11 attacks hurt the event last year. But Marx was glad to see men like Torpey, a bit overwhelmed, but spending a day fishing with his kids.
"That's why we have this event," Marx said. "That's why we offer free fishing classes every Saturday morning at 10. People don't do what they don't know. And if they haven't grown up around fishing, they don't do it. And yet, I think every kid at one time in his or her life wants to go fishing. The key is to give them the opportunity, and hopefully the ability, to catch fish."
Marx and captain Ron Baker and Mike Gardner, co-hosts of the event from "Fish Talk Radio," gathered an all-star group of volunteers that included the San Diego Anglers (who provided food and barbecue), the Oceanside Senior Anglers, George Nochta of Lakeside, saltwater fishing star Deena Nelson, Jeff Kida, Bob Pence, photographer Terry Salmans and Al "From Topanga" Haynes, plus an amazing cache of donated prizes.
"This is a big community event, and everyone who can contribute does so," Baker said.
That was the case at Lake Murray, too, but it was more the hunting, fishing and gun-dog training community and government agencies that responded in a big way to the first National Hunting and Fishing Day celebration in San Diego.
Attendance wasn't overwhelming, but it was steady.
"This is our first, so this can only get better with more time and planning," said Jim Conrad, president of the San Diego County Wildlife Federation, co-host of the event with the Department of Fish and Game and the San Diego Lakes Program.
And in the spirit of the day, a wonderful thing happened on the fishing pier next to the boat dock at Lake Murray.
Dylan Callaway, 9, of Jamul, fishing with his mom, Ivy, and cousin Hally DeGroot of La Mesa, landed a 11/2-pound bass, his first ever. They had started the day in a boat at Lake Cuyamaca, but the fog and cold drove them to shore, and eventually, to the flatland and Murray.
"I told them our adventure this morning on the boat will make for a good story," Ivy Callaway said.
Just as veteran fishermen roamed the shoreline at Cuyamaca helping kids, expert fishermen assisted kids at Lake Murray. Allen Wetter of the Ramona Bass Club and the San Diego Council of Bass Clubs showed Dylan Callaway how to work a split-shot and a curly-tailed plastic worm. The youngster hooked his first bass on his first cast, much to the amazement of his mom.
"I think today was the best day of his young life," Wetter said.
It was that kind of day, a day when James Torpey came back to fishing after 30 years, and a day when Dylan Callaway caught his first largemouth bass.
By Ed Zieralski, San Diego UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
September 29, 2002
Until yesterday, James Torpey hadn't been fishing in 30 years.
That's how it goes for a man who juggles three jobs and has three kids. Fishing is not an option for the El Cajon resident.
But that changed yesterday. Torpey gathered his kids – Carlos, 12; Menissa, 7; and Ben, 5 – for a trip to Lake Cuyamaca and the sixth annual Fishin' in the Pines Free Kids Derby. It also was National Hunting and Fishing Day, a no-license-required day in the state and throughout the country.
"I told the kids it's a free fishing day, so we're going fishing," Torpey said.
Fishing was tough at the fog-shrouded lake, and many weren't prepared for the first cold snap of the fall. Plein-air artist Jean Grigsby, her easel a stone's throw from Highway 79, where a fresh-killed yearling deer lay, was bundled up as she painted California live oaks on her canvas. But a lot of folks looked icy in shorts and T-shirts.
"People forget this is the mountains," Lake Cuyamaca supervising ranger Hugh Marx said.
Marx said this year's crowd for the kids' derby was close to the record turnout of nearly 700 two years ago. The 9/11 attacks hurt the event last year. But Marx was glad to see men like Torpey, a bit overwhelmed, but spending a day fishing with his kids.
"That's why we have this event," Marx said. "That's why we offer free fishing classes every Saturday morning at 10. People don't do what they don't know. And if they haven't grown up around fishing, they don't do it. And yet, I think every kid at one time in his or her life wants to go fishing. The key is to give them the opportunity, and hopefully the ability, to catch fish."
Marx and captain Ron Baker and Mike Gardner, co-hosts of the event from "Fish Talk Radio," gathered an all-star group of volunteers that included the San Diego Anglers (who provided food and barbecue), the Oceanside Senior Anglers, George Nochta of Lakeside, saltwater fishing star Deena Nelson, Jeff Kida, Bob Pence, photographer Terry Salmans and Al "From Topanga" Haynes, plus an amazing cache of donated prizes.
"This is a big community event, and everyone who can contribute does so," Baker said.
That was the case at Lake Murray, too, but it was more the hunting, fishing and gun-dog training community and government agencies that responded in a big way to the first National Hunting and Fishing Day celebration in San Diego.
Attendance wasn't overwhelming, but it was steady.
"This is our first, so this can only get better with more time and planning," said Jim Conrad, president of the San Diego County Wildlife Federation, co-host of the event with the Department of Fish and Game and the San Diego Lakes Program.
And in the spirit of the day, a wonderful thing happened on the fishing pier next to the boat dock at Lake Murray.
Dylan Callaway, 9, of Jamul, fishing with his mom, Ivy, and cousin Hally DeGroot of La Mesa, landed a 11/2-pound bass, his first ever. They had started the day in a boat at Lake Cuyamaca, but the fog and cold drove them to shore, and eventually, to the flatland and Murray.
"I told them our adventure this morning on the boat will make for a good story," Ivy Callaway said.
Just as veteran fishermen roamed the shoreline at Cuyamaca helping kids, expert fishermen assisted kids at Lake Murray. Allen Wetter of the Ramona Bass Club and the San Diego Council of Bass Clubs showed Dylan Callaway how to work a split-shot and a curly-tailed plastic worm. The youngster hooked his first bass on his first cast, much to the amazement of his mom.
"I think today was the best day of his young life," Wetter said.
It was that kind of day, a day when James Torpey came back to fishing after 30 years, and a day when Dylan Callaway caught his first largemouth bass.
