Stock the Pond

Every angler has a fish story. You know the one—the fish was a monster, the battle lasted nearly 30 minutes and it almost pulled them into the water before they finally reeled it in. Then there are the stories where the fish keeps getting bigger over time—a 10-inch fish becomes 12 inches, then 15 inches and before long it's a record breaker.

Thanks to the generosity of our donors, SFCH residential kiddos will soon have fish tales of their own to tell.

On Friday, June 12, staff from Dakota Kingfisher Farms in Brookings stocked the pond with 75 largemouth bass and 250 bluegills measuring three to five inches long. By this fall, the fish should grow to six to 10 inches, making them perfect for young anglers to catch.

With hundreds of fish now calling the pond home, kiddos will have plenty of chances to cast a line, practice patience and experience the excitement of a catch.

"In my opinion, fishing teaches patience, focus and an appreciation for nature," said Director of Facilities Mark Sigette. "This gives kids another opportunity to get outdoors and enjoy an active hobby."

Stocking the pond is nothing new. Unit Supervisor Scott Egan remembers the joy and creativity that fishing brought to kiddos nearly 20 years ago.

"The excitement of digging for worms, the anticipation of a bite, catching a fish and watching it swim in a five-gallon bucket before releasing it back into the pond—it's great!" Scott said. "Fishing is a wonderful activity for all ages."

"At one time, we had a remote-controlled boat that we used to carry baited fishing lines to the middle of the pond," Scott said. "Almost immediately, bluegills would bite. The kids would steer the boat back to shore, remove the fish from the hook and send it back out to try again."