CARBON COUNTY, Pa. — The edge of the creek at the Germantown Grove in Jim Thorpe was filled with students reeling in some big catches on Thursday.
The Germantown Grove Club and Jim Thorpe American Legion Post 304 hosted more than 100 special needs students from Carbon County for an annual fishing derby.
The kids say there's a technique to catching a fish.
"I catch the fish using the worm and a fishing pole," said 7-year-old Gunnar Audett from L.B. Morris Elementary.
"It's like very patient and something very fast. You have to catch the fish before it gets off," said Ray-Ana Chambers from L.B. Morris Elementary.
Organizers tell Newswatch 16 the fishing derby has been a tradition that goes back decades here in Jim Thorpe.
"This event started 69 years ago by my dad. He started with a special needs school here in Jim Thorpe and basically doing a weekly field trip or monthly field trip, and he brought them out to this area," said Patrick Rodgers with the Germantown Grove Club.
For many of these students, this is their first time casting a line. Parents, teachers, and volunteers were there to help them along the way.
"It's so fun that they get this experience because some of them might not get this at home or they don't have access to experiences like this, so it's nice that someone puts this together for them," said Sarenna Gray with the Lehighton Area School District.
"It's all about the kids. It's all about their smiles, and that can make up any cloudy day," said Rodgers.
Each student had the opportunity to bring in three fish, but what do you do with the fish once they're caught?
"Keep them, bring them home, and make my parents eat them," explained Audett
The fishing derby also brought students together for games and crafts.