Young anglers get some pointers

The worm barely made the water. Most of the line didn't but fell back in the breeze on dry land.

But it was her first cast, and Savana Martinez couldn't have been more pleased. Only thing better would have been if a large rainbow had grabbed the worm as she reeled in the slack line . . . but it didn't.

It was a scene repeated over and over again early Saturday on the banks of Farmington Pond.

Most of the kids there were guests through Mark Eaton's Standing Tall for Youth Foundation. Most had never held a fishing rod, let alone attempted a cast on their own. A few had been fishing with their dads or granddads and were not at all shy about helping those less skilled.

The young anglers explained the duties of a bobber, the lure of a worm, gave warnings about getting stuck with a hook and were quick to point out that if they caught a fish "you gotta keep 'em 'cause they're good."

It was the third fishing event put on by Eaton over the past three years. It is his way, he once said, of sharing something with the kids that he truly loves.

Eaton is an avid fisherman and, in fact, just recently returned from steelhead fishing in Canada.

This year there were 60 kids, between the ages of 5 and 12, invited to the Farmington fish camp. Rods, reels and tackle boxes of hooks, sinkers, spinners and lures were given to each participant.

Along with it came a fishing lesson, followed up by a group of volunteers who were there to help teach the art of threading a worm, molding Power Bait, casting and taking a good-size rainbow off a hook.

Emilie Martinsen with Salt Lake Parks and Recreation brought eight kids to this year's camp. Only two or three of them, she said, had fished before.

"But, no, they were all excited . . . they were up at 7:30 (a.m.), ready to go. That has to tell you something," she said, while watching some of her charges work the edges of the pond.

Jordan Anderson, a counselor with the Boys and Girls Club of Weber/Davis counties, brought nine to the fishing camp.

Here again, only a few had fished before, and all were up bright and early to begin their adventure.

"It's amazing how many of these kids have never had the opportunity to leave their neighborhoods, let alone come up to a place like this and have the opportunity to fish," explained one counselor.

"This is an experience that many will remember all of their lives."