We have had 17 events on the preceding years Memorial days, but now it is done. No one stepping up to help. I am in charge of the event but of course have to answer to the heads of the watershed association. I can help you start a kids derby. And in MY opinion I would give the rods (about 250) to a group who would use them for the local kids. These rods are commercially available but I changes up the way line is stored on the rod so as not to make to much of a mess. Now read that In my opinion I would give them away, but I have to see what the other directors would want to do with them. The original rods cost about $4 each 5 or 6 yrs ago. We have had up to 167 kids and as low as 47 on a drizzly day 5 years ago. The last few years there has been fewer and fewer kids as there are now a lot of thing going on at the same time and Memorial day might not be the best day to choose. Contact me if you have some interest and this will not be an instant transfer, they might want some money also. Our next meeting I will bring up the results of this E-mail......jk

Got a neighbor up at the lake who fishes a small nearby lake in the spring. They troll for northern pike with daredevils on cane poles. If they hook a big one, they throw the pole in the water and chase it. Occasionally, they get a 30 incher. He said it's a blast.

These poles are for sunnies an
d the such

trapper7,,we had an old guy back home that fished northerns that way. trolling daredevils with a cane pole. set the hook good, toss it over the side, and break out another pole. when he had 3 on the lines hed start chasing them. said he never lost a pole.

That's how dad and grandpa did it too, haven't thought about it in years might have to give it a try this year.

in some way, probably illegal in minnesota these days. unattended line maybe?

I'd watch a cane pole derby on TV, might be pretty interesting. Can't stand those mind-numbing bass fishing contests they have on TV.
You need to find some corporate sponsors.

I just harvested some cane last week. Need to manicure them into fish poles.

to bad you cant find anyone wanting to help out ,

it is the way a lot of clubs are going and covid hit them hard

my dad was the treasure for his fishing club for years , he had to leave it got to where he was putting in 40+ hours the week of their big fishing contest running around organizing and not even getting out to fish himself.
he has a lot of hours in the weeks before also.
he tried to back away and train his replacement but at some point he realized they were just going to have to deal without him

he still fishes with some of the people he met through the club but he had to leave

the board had all changed over and he also didn't agree with the way they were spending club funds

he actually left pre covid

when they ran a fishing derby for kids they used club funds and donations and bought direct from zebco a pallet of the kids rod and real combos
he would put them all together and put hooks and rig them. the kids got to keep the it at the end of the day.
I think at one point he said they were up to 200 rods and reels.

Anyone interested????......jk

Lets try this again for the last time.....jk

If you're chasing the pole it's not unattended and is within 200 feet. Most of the northerns they catch they are small enough that they can wrestle them in. But on a larger one, rather than chancing breaking the cane pole, they let it go and chase it. If it were a set line, it would be considered unattended. No different than a tip up which must be within 200 feet.

Hey I might be able to help you out there jk

There's a trout Derby for kids every year here at the local sportsmans club not sure what the turn out has been like last few years but can make a few calls for you