Most all kids who participate in Pike County Kids’ Fishing Day at Clay Hill Farms on Saturday will know about “One fish. Two fish. Red fish. Blue fish.” They learned that from Dr. Seuss. But some of them will be dropping a hook in the water for the first time but that won’t matter at all. Every effort has been made by John and Carol Dorrill of Clay Hill Farms to ensure that each kid has a successful fishing adventure.

“We can’t guarantee that all kids will catch a stringer of fish or even one fish,” said Jerry Jinright, Pike County Conservation Enforcement Officer. “But we can guarantee that there are fish in the pond to catch.

John and Carol Dorrill host the annual free Kids’ Fishing Day in Pike County usually held on Father’s Day weekend.

The Dorrills’ pond is well stocked with catfish but, in an effort to make sure that every kid has a good chance of catching fish, they purchased about 200 perfect eating size catfish from Sutton Fish Farm in Ariton.

“The catfish were delivered by truck Friday morning,” Jinright said. “Those catfish came down the chute in a gush of water and, in just a couple of minutes, they were in the pond and ready for catching.”

Pike County Kids Fishing Day is open to kids ages five to 15 who are accompanied by a parent or guardian. 

“The kids will have a good chance of catching fish even if they are fishing for the first time,” Jinright said. “Kids’ Fishing Day is an educational fishing experience for children and we hope to have a large number of kids on the banks.”

Registration begins at 7 a.m. with fishing from 8 until 11 a.m.

The kids should bring a hat, sunglasses, bait, a rod and reel or fishing pole and an ice chest for their fish. A limited number of rods and reels will be available for loan. However, those who fish with the loaned equipment must supply the bait and ice chest.

The catch limit for each kid is nine. First, second and third prizes will be awarded for the heaviest stringer of fish in each of three age groups.

“But remember, nine is the catch limit,” Jinright said.

A hotdog lunch, hosted by Walmart, will be served and prizes will be awarded on site from a kids’ name pool. The prizes include two $50 gift certificates to be used toward the purchase of bicycles at Walmart Troy.

The Conservation Enforcement Officers Association will provide prizes for a drawing that includes different kinds of fishing gear and other items of interest to kids.

In addition to Walmart Alabama and the Conservation Enforcement Officers Association, sponsors of Pike County Kids Fishing Day are the Alabama Treasure Forest Association, the Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division and the Federal Sport Fish Restoration Program.

Directions to Clay Hill Farms from Troy: South on Highway 231 for about four miles. Turn left on County Road 5522. At the stop sign, turn right onto County Road 5511 and go 1.2 miles. Turn left onto County Road 5523 (Norman Wilson Road) and go 1.4 miles. Clay Hill Farms is on the left.

Directions from Brundidge: North on Alabama Highway 93 about 3.5 miles. Turn left onto County Road 5523 (Norman Wilson Road) and go 1.4 miles. Clay Hill Farms is on the right.