×
X logo

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox.

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)

You may opt-out anytime by clicking "unsubscribe" from the newsletter or from your account.

Marshall, Ohio County Students Gone Fishin’

Children help DNR restock Bear Rock Lake with trout

Photo by Alan Olson Ohio Valley students introduce around 4,200 pounds of fish to their new home at Bear Rock Lake.

For many students in the Ohio Valley, the weekend began early Friday morning with a sunny day on the docks.

Schools in Ohio and Marshall counties helped the Division of Natural Resources restock Bear Rock Lake with 4,200 pounds of trout.

Students from John Marshall High School and Moundsville Middle School in Marshall County joined students from Elm Grove Elementary School in Ohio County to attend the fourth annual event.

Chevron hosted the event in partnership with the Wheeling Fraternal order of Police, Oglebay Good Zoo, Trout Unlimited chapter 434 and Cabela’s.

It’s great, a good thing for us to enjoy,” said Matthew Douglas, a freshman at John Marshall. “My dad’s a fly fisherman. … I’ve never (stocked) before, but it’s really cool, to see all these schools coming together, just fishing and enjoying nature.”

The DNR brought trucks carrying thousands of fish. Students, who took fish by the bucketful and walked them to the lake, helped deliver their squirming payload. More than a few floundering fish needed a hand off the banks of the lake.

Afterwards, fishing rods, donated by Cabela’s, were distributed for students to try their hand at reaping the fruits of their efforts, while informational booths provided from other agencies — including the Marshall County Office of Emergency Management — offered students a diversion from more fishy business.

Chevron’s public affairs representative Lee Ann Wainwright said the day at the lake was intended to cap off a week of biology and environmental study, provided with the help of the DNR.

“We’ve got kids stocking, we’ve got centers set up, they’re going to see (people) from the zoo, do some trout ID-ing and then they’re going to fish!” said Wainwright. “Everyone’s going home with a fishing pole today. They had a bit of a curriculum lesson from the DNR this week, learning about the environmental and biology aspect, and today is just about having a good time, and putting it all together, seeing firsthand what they learned.

“They’re helping the community, because, they’re stocking the streams, these lakes — there were people waiting here today,” she said.

Stacie Dei, executive director of the Marshall County Family Resource Network, praised the event.

“This is really exciting for our community, not just for the kids,” she said. “They’re participating, as young people, with both county schools. This is a great opportunity to stock the lake, in a part of the community where people really utilize these spaces. … This is a big win-win for our students, and for our community as a whole.”

Dei said her daughter, McKenna, had participated in the event last year and came away with a new appreciation for fishing.

“This is great for kids that already might love this stuff, but it also gives other kids a taste of it. … My daughter did this last year, and she loved it! She’d never done it before,” said Dei.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.73/week.

Subscribe Today