Written By Olena Riznyk
AILSA CRAIG – Around 70 children spent Saturday morning fishing with their families along the Ausable River during the annual Ailsa Craig Lions Family Fishing Day.
Hosted by the Ailsa Craig & District Lions Club, the event brought together local families for a morning of fishing, a barbecue, prizes and hands-on learning about the river’s wildlife. Children received bait before spreading out along the riverbank, eager to see what they could catch.
Throughout the morning, excited young anglers hurried up the bank to show off their fish while parents reached for their phones to capture the moment. Many also stopped at the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority display, where they could learn more about the fish living in the river. “As far as we know, it’s the only fishing tournament that’s truly for kids,” said a Lions Club representative. “Adults can fish too, but everything is focused on the children.”
For many local families, it’s a tradition that spans generations. “We even have people who came here as kids years ago and are now bringing their own children,” the representative said. “The kids are always happy,” Lions Club president Crystal Trevithick said. “They get to do their thing, and we make sure there’s always lots of prizes.”
While families enjoyed the morning by the river, volunteers from the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority helped identify many of the fish children caught and answered questions about native species, invasive species and species at risk.
“We help identify the fish that children catch and teach them about native species, invasive species and species at risk,” said Elizabeth Cade.
Cade said events like Family Fishing Day help children connect with nature in a hands-on way. “The real fish are what catch their attention,” she said. “These experiences help them connect on a more personal level.”
The conservation display also featured an aquarium filled with fish from the Ausable River. Children gathered around to get a closer look while volunteers explained the different species living in the river, answered questions about the local ecosystem and helped identify fish brought to the display throughout the morning.
By lunchtime, families gathered for hot dogs and hamburgers as children compared their catches, talked about the ones that got away and waited for the prize draw.
Whether they landed the biggest catch of the day or simply enjoyed spending the morning by the river, the event once again brought local families together and gave another generation of children a chance to experience a summer tradition in Ailsa Craig.
