Fishing fans angle for a good time in Colleyville

For some young novice anglers who attended the Texas Junior Anglers April 23 event at the Colleyville Nature Center, it was the first time they ever touched a fish.

“I enjoyed it. It was a lot of fun,” said Greg Last, a “pretty serious fisherman” who has been volunteering at the annual event for several years.

The free event allowed young anglers, ages 16 and under, to try their luck in a freshly stocked pond.

“A lot of these kids don’t know which end of the rod to hold,” Last said. “We teach them to put bait on and cast. It’s really fun to see them catch something.”

One young girl, though, caught something that wasn’t in her plans — a turtle.

“She wanted to to hold the turtle but I told her that wasn’t a good idea,” said Last, who owns a planning and economic development business.

Prizes were awarded to competitors with the best catches, including a bike and sporting equipment.

Organizer Jeff Scott said he stocked the site with 500 pounds of catfish the day before.

Scott is executive director and president of Texas Junior Anglers, a non-profit organization that aims to get children of all ages exposed to fishing.

“Fishing is a lifetime sport that builds self-esteem and provides a positive outlet for our youth,” Scott said.

This story was originally published May 3, 2016 at 12:28 PM with the headline "Fishing fans angle for a good time in Colleyville."