Reel Connections for Kids fishing event helps create memories for kids to build upon

Question: what’s the reason why Smith Mountain Lake exist? The short answer is for power. It’s right there in the name – Appalachian Power. 

It’s one of those things that are the good we don’t really know we have until it is gone. 

This past Saturday morning, a group of folks met at Goodhue Boat Co. – Blackwater. It wasn’t for bragging rights, brass trophies, the best bait or the biggest catch. It was about making connections. Reel Connections for Kids, and their families. Simply put, this was about taking kids fishing.     

Reel Connections for Kids is described as “a non-profit organization that offers a memorable fishing experience for underserved children in Bedford and Franklin Counties.” 

Now, when you think of fishing in its simplest form, it doesn’t really require much. A rod, reel, bait and bankside of a river, and you’re good to get started. 

But when you add in a boat, captain and a bunch of people who love to see the joy fishing brings others, that develops from feeling a sense of belonging, well, that’s a part of Reel Connection for Kids. Another part is the hope that what will catch on in children, in families – a reason for going fishing in a Reel Connection for Kids fishing event – is to make one memory that turns into a desire to create more, whether it’s on a fishing charter boat, off a dock, or alongside the bankside of a river, lake, pond, creek or stream. 

“We had about 20 kids this year,” said Kevin Bugg, a volunteer with Reel Connections for Kids who serves as president of the nonprofit. “Each kid gets two fish to take home. We clean and filet the fish, put them on ice for the families to take home to eat.”

Kicking off at about 6:30 a.m., the boats began to return around five hours later. Captain John Mathena of Patriot Fishing Charters was first to approach the docks. Aboard with him were Greg Bratton and his sons – Hunter, age 12, and Chase, 8. Chase was credited with catching the first fish of the day’s event – a large striped bass. 

Asked if he liked fishing, Chase reached out to give a high five and said, “Yes!” His smile was the exclamation point, his joy spoke volumes, igniting his dad’s face. “We’ve been doing this event for three years, said Greg Bratton. “Chase got a good sized striper, Hunter got a nice sized catfish.” 

Bugg said several organizations and people pitched in to help make Reel Connections for Kids possible. “Sea Tow, Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR), Lake Christian Ministries, Kroger and many others,” he said. “Each kid gets a t-shirt, fishing pole and tackle box filled with tackle. All families get a Kroger gift card. DWR gives an informative presentation about the rules of the water, water safety, obey fishing rules.” A full day packed into a half-day, no less. 

As the rest of the families made their way to shore and unloaded from the boats on Saturday morning, Mathena called out from the docks, “Where’s the pizza?” That’s right – pizza and hot dogs were being served up for everyone to enjoy, to keep the memories going, to continue making an impression that hopefully lasts. An impression that’s a spin-off of a popular fishing phrase and goes kind of like this: giving the gift of fishing for a day is an opportunity that can turn into a lifetime of making many more memories like it. Maybe it’s not as catchy, but it makes a point, nonetheless. 

The alternative power of the lake, fueled by the kindness of people who care.   

For more information, visit https://reelconnectionsforkids.org.


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