Fishing a fun time for kids in Elgin

It was only fitting that Brianna Yu scored a tackle box as one of two raffle winners at the annual Fish For Fun event Saturday in Elgin.

After all, 7-year-old Brianna, of Elgin, was the one who pointed out to her brother Brian, 12, that he had caught a small crayfish. Brian was one of three winners — out of 32 young participants — who caught a fish at the youth fishing event held at Walton Island on the Fox River.

“The crayfish was very light, I was going to cast again and my little sister pointed it out,” said Brian, whose prize was a fishing rod and reel set.

The other two winners were Caleb Williams, who caught a smallmouth bass, and Chloe Thavong who caught a catfish. Both are 5-year-olds from Elgin.

The event was presented by the Elgin chapter of the Izaak Walton League in conjunction with the city of Elgin’s special events office and the city’s parks and recreation department, said chapter vice president Bill Jones. Fish For Fun is held every year on the first Saturday in June, he said.

“The main reason we do this is because we want kids to get outside with their parents and introduce them to fishing,” Jones said.

Walton Island was the perfect setting for the event, said parent Amy Gibbons, of Elgin, who brought her 5-year-old son Aiden and his friend Jacob Smith, 10, for the second year in a row.

“It’s such a good family event, and it’s beautiful out here,” she said.

Aiden didn’t catch anything, but hopes he’ll do better next year. Last summer, he caught a catfish, he said with a big smile.

About eight volunteers, including chapter president Tom Stewart, a ranger with the Forest Preserve District of Kane County, helped organize the event, Jones said.

The Izaak Walton League is one of the oldest conservation groups in the country, Jones said. The Elgin chapter hopes to attract new members, especially young ones. For more information, contact Bill Jones at (847) 867-9393.