After a week of rain, Saturday had excellent weather, perfect for the 14th annual Kids Fishing Derby, hosted by the Pohopoco Rod & Gun Club and held at Phifer’s Ice Dam, Franklin Township.

Goals of the Pohopoco Rod and Gun Club are to encourage children to get more involved in the outdoor activities that our community has to offer.

In doing so, the club also hopes to bolster family involvement in those activities.

Jim Deebel, president of the club, said, “We hope to get a lot of kids today, get them out of the house and away from the electronic devices and enjoy the great outdoors of Pennsylvania.”

The club’s annual Youth Fishing Day and was open to any Carbon County youth age 15 and younger.

Deebel said the club averages 50 to 75 kids. The derby was open to children ages 15 and under.

Sand Spring Trout Hatchery of Jim Thorpe stocked the dam with fish early Saturday morning.

“We put in a lot of fish, some good-sized ones, too,” Deebel said.

Members of the Pohopoco Rod & Gun Club were on hand to share information on the club, which has been around since 1956, according to Deebel, and likes to introduce area youth to the joys of hunting and fishing and serving the local community.

“Each year, we do cleanups, we help stock fish, we stock pheasants near Beltzville,” Deebel added.