Supporting a cause hook, line and sinker

Between 250 and 300 people came to the lakes to try their luck.

By SEAN BARRON

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

NORTH LIMA — Eric Hall instilled a love of fishing in his 10-year-old son, Brenden, by teaching him to fish when the child was 4, and the youngster has been hooked since.

About five months ago, father and son moved to Boardman from Hinesville, Ga., not far from Savannah, where they fished nearly every weekend.

The two took advantage of numerous inlets as well as the Atlantic Ocean to catch a variety of horseshoe crabs and fish, the elder Hall said.

“I’m trying to catch anything,” Brenden said after casting his line into Pine Lake at Saturday’s eighth annual Youngstown/Mahoning Valley United Way Bass Classic fundraiser.

Fish & Fun

About 250 to 300 people, including roughly 120 children, came to Pine and Evans lakes off state Route 7 to participate in the two events, which were presented by Whispering Pines Village and hosted by Aqua Ohio Inc.

The youngsters took part in a free Fish & Fun set of activities, in conjunction with the bass competition.

Also taking advantage of perfect weather and hoping for a bite were 4-year-old Blake McMurray and his mother, Stephanie, of North Lima. Stephanie McMurray’s husband, Mark, has taken part in the bass tournament every year, she noted.

“I want to reel it in,” Blake said excitedly to his mother shortly after tossing his line into Pine Lake. “I hope to catch blue gills.”

“Go ahead; cast it again, sweetie,” his mother replied.

United Way

Stephanie McMurray added that she and her family participate each year because they believe in United Way’s mission, which is to develop resources for addressing critical human needs.

The pro-am bass tournament included a weigh-in, where top anglers were paired with amateurs recruited from the Mahoning Valley who made a donation to the United Way.

The two-man teams used both lakes, and prizes were given for total weight and the biggest bass caught, explained JoAnn Stock, the agency’s director of resource development and marketing.

The event raised about $17,000 for the local United Way, which exceeded its goal of $15,000, Stock noted. The eight-year total is nearly $85,000, she continued.

The Fish & Fun also featured games and recreation for kids as well as someone dressed as a clown. The youngsters were given donated rod and reel sets, tackle boxes, Girl Scout cookies and other prizes.