Kids Free Fishing Day set for Saturday at Wilson Hill causeway

Bob Beckstead, Watertown Daily Times, N.Y.
·3 min read

May 16—MASSENA — It's time for kids ages 15 and under to grab their fishing pole and head out to the Wilson Hill causeway for the 25th annual Ted Kot Kids Free Fishing Day.

It's scheduled for 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, rain or shine, with on-site registration from 8:30 to 11 a.m.

Kids must pre-register for goodie bags and raffle prizes by calling the Massena Recreation Department at 315-769-3161. Recreation Director Michael P. McCabe said that, as of Thursday morning, about 35 youth had pre-registered. Last year's event drew approximately 60 to 65 young anglers and their families, he said.

"They're anticipating 60 to 70 people," Kristy Baker, the town's liaison to the Massena Joint Recreation Commission told the Massena Town Board.

All participants will receive a free hot dog and drink.

"We'll have hot dogs and a drink for everybody and a drawing at the end," McCabe said.

Fishing will be from the shoreline only, and participants are asked to bring their own fishing pole, bait, chair and bucket.

The free fishing day is named in honor of Ted Kot, a charter member of the Massena Joint Recreation Commission who served on the board for 32 years. Kot, who died on Sept. 22, 2015, had suggested starting a youth fishing day during his time on the board.

For more information, contact the Recreation Department or visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/MassenaRecreationCommision.

For those who aren't interested in fishing, the Massena Arena will be open from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday for pickleball. Games and practice sessions for all ages and abilities will be available on the six courts inside the arena.

"There will be more times offered. Right now we have open pickleball at 9 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday," McCabe said.

Pickleball courts are also available at the Alcoa Field tennis courts.

Adrian F. Taraska, also a town liaison to the Massena Joint Recreation Commission, said there are many other things also going on in the recreation world.

He said the recreation department recently held a Learn to Skate program.

"They had 30 skaters and six sessions," he said.

He said the department purchased a training device that skaters can hang on to as they learn to do moves such as crossovers and stops.

Taraska said indoor lacrosse has rented the arena and is getting set to begin sessions from Monday through Friday for ages 6U to 19U.

"They just started having practices there," he said.

He said softball has also started, with 13 women's teams, 16 men's teams, and four senior teams. They play at Bushnell Field and Alcoa Field.

For those waiting to hit the beach, Taraska said the picnic area will be opening Memorial Day weekend, while the beach area will be opened in early June after the ropes are installed in the water and lifeguards are on duty.

"They said that schools are doing more beach days toward the end of the (school) year. They've got the schools coming in and saying, 'Hey, we want to do a beach day,' so they've got more traffic there," Baker said.