KINGMAN, AZ — Squeals, smiles, and a whole lot of enthusiasm filled the air Wednesday as nearly 200 members of the Special Needs Community gathered for the annual Fishing for Smiles event, sponsored by the Kingman Elks Lodge 468. The fishing was excellent. The catching … not so much.
With only a handful of fish willing to cooperate, participants joked that the trout must not have received the memo that they were expected to be caught — even if only briefly. The event is strictly catch‑and‑release, though several anglers suggested the fish simply decided to skip the “catch” part altogether. Still, spirits stayed high.
Don Martin, a longtime volunteer and special‑needs fishing helper who has been involved with the event for decades, celebrated one of the day’s rare successes.
“We had a great time,” Martin said. “We caught one fish. We’ve seen two other fish get caught, but hers was the biggest. Seriously, this big — not a fishtail. We have pictures.”
Girls ruled the day, with Erin landing two fish and Lexie reeling in one of the largest catches of the morning. Participants of all ages lined the banks of the Dunton Ranch fishing pond, located about 40 miles east of Kingman. The Elks Lodge and its business partners have sponsored the event for many years, along with a second annual fishing day for the area’s youth.
Most attendees arrived in casual fishing gear — except Bobby, who showed up dressed sharply enough to charm the fish straight out of the pond. Unfortunately, the fish weren’t falling for his line.
Martin, who also serves as a Mohave County Supervisor, praised the Elks Lodge for its commitment to the community.
“Hey, they do a fantastic job,” he said. “You see these folks out here in the green shirts — they’re all volunteers. There’s probably 30 of them out here, and they make this possible. It’s just great for the community. You hear these special needs folks laughing, even if they’re not catching fish. They’re laughing and having a good time.”
For the volunteers, the families, and the anglers — successful or not — the day delivered exactly what it promised: smiles.
