By Sue LeBar
YULAN — January 14, 2011 — Last Saturday, Washington Lake in Yulan hosted the annual Beaver Brook Rod and Gun Club’s annual Kids Ice Fishing Tournament.
The event was courtesy of the Hanson Family, who held the event on their property on Washington Lake.
More than 50 kids and their parents or guardians took to the ice to enjoy a morning of ice fishing with free refreshments and prizes for everyone who participated.
The annual Beaver Brook Kids Ice Fishing Tournament, which has been held for over 20 years, has become very popular with kids and parents alike.
“Every year the kids ice fishing tournament grows bigger and bigger and it is so nice to see all the kids out here today with their parents,” said Jim Hanson, who is a member of the Beaver Brook Rod and Gun Club and one of the tournament organizers. “The mission of the Beaver Brook Rod and Gun Club is to get our young people out of the house and into the great outdoors and this is just one of the events we do to get kids involved in the great outdoors.  My wife Doreen and I enjoy so much opening up our property to host this event. Just look around to see all the smiles and fun that is happening here today. It is truly a lot of fun.
“We would not have such a great event if it was not for the Beaver Brook Rod and Gun Club volunteers and the donations from our local sports shops, The Barryville Sportsman, Hagermans Sports Shop, and Peck’s Market and our very own Yulan Breadman, who donated the breads and desserts here today,” Jim Hanson added. “This year coming on board was also the Wallenpaupack Sports Shop, who gave us such a great deal on the bait used here today. We do supply all the kids here the bait that they use at no charge and with all these supporters of our event that is what helps make it successful.”
Prizes were awarded to all of the participants, but the top six anglers received special recognition for catching the largest fish. Those anglers were Cody Schroitel, who caught a 21-inch pickerel; William Worzel and Cole Cooper, who each caught a 14 3/4-inch perch; John Michael Tussel with a 19-inch perch; Ben Schmick with a 15 1/2-inch pickerel; and Jake Elvin with a 14-inch pickerel.