Craig Daily Press

Photo by Hans Hallgren

Josey King, 9, fishes Saturday during Huck Finn Fun Day at Loudy-Simpson Park. The event featured a costume contest as well as fishing contests.

courtney teeter/daily press

Todd Minica bundles up his son, Michael Minica, 2, on Saturday at Huck Finn Day.

Craig — As the ripples moved across the pond at Loudy-Simpson Park on Saturday morning, the youthful participants of Huck Finn Fun Day cast out their fishing lines in the hopes of reeling in a big catch.

Flanked around the waters as early as 8 a.m., fishing enthusiasts readied themselves for an active day in spite of gray weather that lingered throughout the morning.

First came the costume contest for those dressed as fictional characters Huck Finn and Becky Thatcher. Ages 1 to 15 were able to take part in the contest, with event chairman Johnny Garcia handing out prizes such as Spree Bucks from the Craig Chamber of Commerce, gift certificates from local businesses and more.

Garcia estimated a total of $1,100 in Spree Bucks was given out throughout the day, as well as about $60 to $70 worth of merchandise. Danika Garcia, 1, won a tricycle as the youngest Becky Thatcher.

Four-year-old Clay Durham took home second place in the 1 to 5 age division, his Huck Finn outfit complete with patched-up overalls and a corncob pipe specially made by his mother, Jill. The process involved baking an ear of corn, drying it and then sticking a section of it on a dowel.

“He won $75 in Spree Bucks,” Jill said. “I don’t even know what he’s going to do with it.”

Clay was more interested in having fun than worrying about his prize. Even wearing a coat over his overalls did not slow him down.

“He’s really had a great day,” his mom said. “We all have besides the cold weather, even if the water is pretty murky.”

Clay particularly enjoyed touching a dead fish reeled in by his family.

Twelve-year-old Steven Dawson-Weathers considered himself too old to dress up, but he made himself at home on the pond’s dock, catching a 10-inch rainbow trout before the day was done.

“I fish a lot, and I try to do it almost every day,” he said. “I’m more used to bass fishing, but this has been OK.”

Steven is an Oklahoma City native who was in town to visit his friend Austin Gusman, 10. The two have been friends for six years.

There were plenty of offshore attractions, including free hamburgers and hot dogs vended from the Cedar Mountain Lions Club trailer.

“The Rack Pack,” a Craig Relay for Life team, offered face-painting and a “fish pond” with a toy fishing pole, which could be used to catch a prize. The team also sold luminarias for July’s Relay for Life event and raffle tickets for a dinner for two at Mexican restaurant Vallartas, all to raise money for the American Cancer Society.

“The turnout was pretty good for us,” team member Jamie Stanton said. “We’ll be doing more in the next couple months, like a yard sale, so we hope to get a lot of people to that.”

Hosted by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 4265 and the Ladies Auxiliary, Huck Finn Fun Day was an opportunity for the children of Craig and their families to take part in the Colorado Division of Wildlife’s Free Fishing Days. The DOW stocked the pond before the event and provided poles and fishing information.

“We had a good response, especially with this weather,” DOW officer Adrian Archuleta said. “We rigged up about 50 poles and had to get some more.”

Archuleta plans to be part of next year’s Huck Finn Fun Day, as well.

“We want to do everything we can to make fishing fun for kids and educate them about it,” he said.

Andy Bockelman can be reached at 875-1796.