Visually impaired enjoy fishing at Camp Courageous

Camp Courageous provided campers the opportunity to learn how to fish today at the Iowa Lions Visual Impaired Camp in Monticello.

“If there is one thing I remember from my camping days, it's fishing and we wanted to give the kids the chance to do this as well,” Philip Larabee, Iowa Lions Trustee, said.

This is the fourteenth year the Iowa Lions have been providing a camp for the visually impaired.

Those at the camp fished for brook and rainbow trout out of a 300 gallon tank.  All of the fish that were donated by the Manchester Department of Natural Resources were only for catch and release.

Larabee said the campers had fun trying all different kinds of bait.

“The fish are biting on everything from Velveeta Cheese to power bait to corn.  Kids who have never gotten wet from a fish are getting soaked,” Larabee said.

Starting this past holiday weekend, campers have also had the chance to go horseback riding and canoeing.

The camp will end on July 9, but not without a great deal of lifelong memories made, Larabee said.

“Everything has been fun. Campers are having a ball, just a ball, lots of smiles,” Larabee said.