Hook and Cook
An excited Klaus Trimm with the fish he caught. Photo | Metcalfe Co. Extension Office
By PJ Martin
Editor
The Herald-News
On July 16, the Metcalfe County Public Library and the Metcalfe County Extension Office teamed up to teach the children a bit of life skills with how to catch a fish, clean it, and cook it.
There were 35 children and 26 adults plus the library staff and extension office staff at the Metcalfe County Lake and Park. The fishing poles for anyone who needed one were on loan from the library.
The poles along with a small tackle kit can be checked out for the period of one week at a time from the Metcalfe County Public Library just like a book by anyone who wants to go fishing. The sponsor of the Fishing Pole Program is the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife.
Metcalfe County NEP Assistant Rhonda Harris-Page and 4-H Extension Agent Amy Branstetter presented fishing safety information to the children and the identification of fish species. Richie Jolly of Jolly’s Bait Compnay talked to the children about the different baits used.
The young fishermen (boys and girls) were shown how to properly set up a pole with a hook, bobber, sinker, and bait, and they were given a little practice time to learn to cast before heading to the lake.
The children did catch a few fish before returning to the building for a fish lunch of Southwestern Tilapia with brown rice and chips. Flyers with the recipe used to cook the Tilapia were available along with the meal’s nutritional information.
After lunch, Jacob Hall gave everyone a demonstration on how to filet a fish and answered questions from the kids. He made it look very easy.
The Metcalfe County Extension Office and the Metcalfe County Public Library would like to say thank you to the folks that helped make this event possible Petey Fields for the special mowing and maintenance he did for the kids, Richie Jolly of Jolly Bait Company, Metcalfe County Judge/Executive, the County Workers, Jacob Hall with the Kentucky State University, and Easton Copley with Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife.
Richie Jolly of Jolly’s Baits talking about the different baits. Photo | Metcalfe Co. Extension Office
The children and the adults seemed to enjoy the chance to fish. Photo | Metcalfe Co. Extension Office
4-H Agent Amy Branstetter preparing fish for lunch. Photo by PJ Martin
Horticulture and Small Farm agent with Kentucky State University Jacob Hall demonstrating how to clean and filet a fish. Photo | Metcalfe Co. Extension Office
