Analissa Merrill, who loves fishing, has a story about the big one that got away. She is only 11, yet knows enough about the sport to be named to the Kids All-American Fishing Team.
That earned her a $5,000 savings bond to put in the college creel.
Michael O’Leary / The Herald
She was honored not only for her fishing knowledge but also for her school activities. It appears the group made a great selection.
She was Eagle of the Month at Lynnwood’s Meadowdale Elementary School, was a Washington Search for Young Scholars winner, received a perfect attendance award, is a member of the Honor Choir, Meadowdale Elementary Orchestra, is a school crossing guard, a Girl Scout and completed the DARE program.
She has time to fish?
Hooked on Fishing International in Oklahoma sponsored the search for the Kids All-American Fishing Team. The organization is dedicated to encouraging young people to pursue fishing as a hobby, said Jim Brauch, who writes for Reel News, a monthly fishing publication.
“The goal is to get youths away from their television sets, computers and video games and get them outside to learn to enjoy the wonders of angling,” Brauch said.
The program recognizes and rewards six children, ages 8-14, from throughout the United States.
Analissa and her family, from Lynnwood, are members of the Everett Steelhead and Salmon Club with Brauch.
“We sponsor and participate in fishing events such as Cast For Kids, the Marysville Kiwanis fishing event at Jennings Park, an event at Jim Creek Naval Station for children of Navy families and one of our own at North Gissberg Pond just south of Smokey Point,” Brauch said. “We also put on classes with the Everett Parks Department and include one devoted to trout fishing for young people.”
They also send five youngsters each year to a conservation camp in the San Juan Islands and offer college scholarships.
“Analissa sits in the front of the class while I try to teach young people the basics of successful trout fishing,” Brauch said. “She has attended these classes so many times, she has my talk committed to memory.”
If he fails to make a point, she raises her hand and mentions that part of the lecture. After class, she helps demonstrate casting and knot-tying. Brauch said Analissa steps up and does demonstrations so the young people know this is not just an activity only for adults; they can participate, too.
The Merrill family, including Bill and Jeanette, their younger daughter, Crystal, and grandparents Bill and Beverly Skinner of Marysville, love to camp and fish. They travel around the state and often cast at Silver Lake and Twin Lakes.
Students in Brauch’s class should hear about the one that got away.
“The day of a fishing derby at Twin Lakes, I was itching to get a big one,” Analissa said. “I went to my favorite spot with my dad and started fishing. Just one hour in I felt a tug, a small one, then, whivvvv, the fish took off.”
Left, then right, then left again, it was like being on an exciting roller coaster, she said.
“It wasn’t that easy holding on to it, either. It jumped up to reveal that it was at least a 5-pound rainbow trout. When it came back in I also saw a twig that was sticking out of the water about two feet. I didn’t pay it much attention and held on tight.”
She started backing up to run it aground, but that was a mistake, she said.
Her line snapped on the twig. That was the day she lost the biggie.
When she became a member of the kid’s fishing team, she received the college money and a fishing shirt, a team medal, and gifts from several sponsors.
Her father said they aren’t sure yet if Analissa will make any national appearances. You might see her from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 25 near the trout pond at the Evergreen Sportsmen show at Evergreen State Fairgrounds in Monroe or at a derby May 5 at Silver Lake in Everett.
Analissa said she will begin cleaning her own catches this year.
“I love playing with the guts,” she said. “I love to see what’s in their stomach.”
Columnist Kristi O’Harran: 425-339-3451 or oharran@heraldnet.com
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