By:
Jarrod Schoenecker, editor@montgomerymnnews.com
Lonsdale Chamber of Commerce’s fourth annual Badges & Bobbers kids fishing event finally had its first good-weather year. The previous few years were plagued with either rain or unpleasant heat. Friday, June 12, though was a mostly sunny and pleasant low-70’s day — the perfect fishing weather.
The chamber teamed up with Fishing for Life out of Minneapolis, who supplied the kids with the bait, tackle, and other necessary equipment to go fishing with. Kids even got to bring home a free tackle box and pole.
Rice County Sheriff, Lonsdale Police, Lonsdale Fire, and the chamber board members all paired up with the 25 kids ages 7-14 to help them learn how to fish at Rezac Nature Preserve’s lake pier.
Additionally, kids got to....
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There was a lot of action happening during the Badges and Bobbers event in Lonsdale, often with more than one fish being caught at a time!
Lonsdale’s Callen Shambour, age 10, displays the first fish he caught along with the help of Lonsdale Police Officer Todd Franklin. It’s his third time coming to the event, but he still had some reservations about the best way to hold his sunfish before he released it.
Police, fire, and sheriff members mingle with the kids during their picnic lunch.