It’s a good day when everyone who puts their line in the water catches a fish.
That was the result at the annual Developmental Disabilities Fishing Day, jointly sponsored by Jefferson County Developmental Disabilities Resource Board and the Missouri Department of Conservation. About 30 developmentally disabled clients of the JCDDRB agencies participated in the catch-and-release event, held at the Myers family farm pond near Hillsboro.
“At least one fish was caught by everyone who tried, so it was a pretty good day,” said Missouri Conservation agent Jeff Breuer. “We had good weather; it was partly cloudy, not too warm, with a little breeze. The fish were biting pretty good.”
Breuer said the event has been taking place for at least 10 years, and is a popular outing for the anglers.
“You get some of the same folks every year,” he said. “They remember you, and you get to know their names and whether they need help with things like baiting their hook or casting. We do as much for them as needs to be done, but what they want to do themselves, we let them do.”
Breuer said the annual outing is a chance for some of the folks to enjoy the outdoors – in some cases, up close and personal.
“For some of them, it might be the first fish they’ve ever seen. We had one lady who was petting the fish, and she had the biggest grin on her face.
“This is a chance for them to touch nature.”
Not everyone wants to fish, though.
“Some of them just go and enjoy the scenery and the day,” Breuer said. “We always have a few (Missouri Department of Conservation) agents come out to help, and the agencies bring volunteers. Butch and Kathye Myers host it, and they put on a little barbecue afterwards.
“It’s a nice, relaxing day outdoors.”
Laura Marlow story; Ted Howell photos
