Free Kid’s Fishing Derby set for May 12 at Richard B. Russell Lake

Mark your calendars and grab a fishing rod! The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, and the Lake Russell Recreation and Tourism Coalition will host the 24th Annual Kid’s Fishing Derby on Saturday, May 12 at Richard B. Russell Lake in Calhoun Falls, S.C.

The event will take place at the Calhoun Falls Bank Fishing Area, located on Highway 72 between the Highway 72 Bridge and Calhoun Falls, S.C. (See map on next page) Registration is from 8 to 8:30 a.m. Fishing hours are from 8 to 11:00 a.m., followed by a 45-minute water safety program. The event concludes with a hot dog lunch and prizes beginning at noon. A free lunch will be provided for all participants ages 15 and under. Children 15 and under are not required to have a fishing license.

Lunch will be available to anyone 16 and older at a cost of $3.00 per person. Lunch is being provided this year by the Lake Russell Recreation and Tourism Coalition, a non-profit group that has formed under the Calhoun Falls Chamber of Commerce.

Other supporting organizations include the Southeastern Paralyzed Veterans of America, The Outdoor Dream Foundation (with community star James Robert Kenney also known as “Radio”), and Faith Hunters for Youth. The event is part of nationwide initiatives such as America’s Great Outdoors, Let’s Move Outside and National Kids to Parks Day, a new grassroots movement created by the National Park Trust.

While pre-registration is not mandatory, the Corps of Engineers encourages participants to pre-register for the fishing derby to ensure sufficient planning and supplies. To pre-register, please provide the following information via e-mail, phone or mail: - Number of fishing derby participants (15 and under) - Total number in your party - Your city and state of residence.

Parents and guardians can fish outside the designated net area during the Kid’s Fishing Derby, as long as they have a valid Georgia or South Carolina fishing license. Attendees are encouraged to bring chairs, fishing gear, sunscreen, bug spray, and a life jacket.

The Calhoun Falls Chamber of Commerce is accepting donations for the fishing derby in the form of funds, prizes or food items. The Chamber can be reached at 864-418-8672.

For additional information, please call Park Ranger Erin Parnell toll free at 1-800-944-7207 or 706-213-3407.

Jan. 20, 2012 was a special day at Richard B. Russell Lake for one Outdoor Dream family. Ross Norton and his two sons, Tripp and Alex, attended an early morning duck hunt at Russell’s private waterfowl impoundment. Russell rangers and local volunteers assisted with the hunt. Tripp and his brother harvested two mallards and one ringneck duck. The Savannah District has a partnership with the Outdoor Dream Foundation to provide mutually-beneficial recreation opportunities for children with terminal illnesses.

Needless drowning deaths of hunters who fall into lakes and streams can be prevented with a little preparation and fast thinking, according to officials with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Savannah District.

"Duck hunters or waterfowlers may not think of themselves as boaters, even though they use boats to position decoys in the water," said Park Ranger Asher Alexander. "They may not consider a life jacket as a necessity; but hunters drown needlessly every year."

Hunters should always wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device while traveling to and from the hunting blind, according to Alexander. Camouflage life jackets are available and offer adequate flotation.

"Likewise, fisherman should always wear a PFD while fishing from a dock or a boat," he said.

In a water emergency, hip boots or waders can keep a hunter afloat for hours if the hunter takes action quickly, Alexander explained. By keeping the knees bent in a seated position, the crease will trap air inside the waders to keep the person afloat for hours, allowing the person to propel backward to return to the boat. Additionally, floating duck decoys can be held while maintaining this position to increase buoyancy. (See Illustration) Waders, however, should never be considered a replacement for a personal floatation device, Alexander said. READ MORE...

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Savannah District reminds the public to always wear a life jacket when recreating in, on, or near the water, especially during the winter months when cooler water temperatures increase the risk of hypothermia.

Hypothermia is a condition in which the body loses heat faster than it can produce it. Violent shivering develops, which can lead to confusion and a loss of body movement.

Hypothermia is a significant risk factor for injury or death while boating or fishing. Cold water accelerates the onset and progression of hypothermia, since body heat can be lost 25 times faster in cold water than in cold air. Many suspected drowning victims actually die from cold exposure or hypothermia, according to information released by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Headquarters and the U.S. Coast Guard. READ MORE...