By Kim McDarison
As temperatures moved into the 70s Monday afternoon community members arrived at Lorman Bicentennial Park, Fort Atkinson, to enjoy the weather.
For many, the park was a destination due to its proximity to the Rock River, where several, many of whom were visiting from the broader region, said they annually arrive each spring to fish.
Noy Thoummany and his 9-year-old son, Legend, both of Madison, have visited the fishing spot before, Noy said. They both like to fish and found the Rock River shoreline in Lorman Bicentennial Park to be an enjoyable end-point destination.
The spot is also a favorite of mother-and-son Christine and Derek Belles, both of Union Grove. Derek said fishing along the river is attractive this time of year because the sunny weather warms the water moving through Lorman Park, but larger bodies, like Lake Koshkonong, are still too cold for good fishing.
Describing the spawning cycles of Walleye and Sauger, Derek said both species typically live in Lake Koshkonong and come down the Rock River to spawn, bringing a good opportunity to catch the fish from the shoreline between the end of March and into April.
He described the stretch of river running through the park both in terms of temperature and popularity as “a hot spot.”
Derek said he and his 80-year-old mother have visited the spot many times over the years.
Enjoying the sun, Pay Xiong, 18, her mother, Mai, and her 1-year-old brother Momo, along with the family pet, “Nona,” a 5-month-old Akita, were watching other members of the family fish.
Pay said the family is from West Bend and has been coming to the Lorman Bicentennial Park fishing spot since she was 8.
The women said friends told them it was a good place to fish, and it has since become the family’s “go-to” spot.
Kerry Lamke, Johnson Creek, and her grandchildren, Amelia, 8, and Gaige, 6, both of Fort Atkinson, enjoyed the park’s playground equipment.
Lamke said the day’s weather offered a good opportunity to bring the children outside after school.
The warm weather brought a plethora of walkers and bikers moving through the park and along the bike trail, among them was Lynn Natvig, Fort Atkinson, who was enjoying the afternoon with her 3-year-old maltipoo, “Kenzie.”
Opportunities to enjoy the arrival of spring weather continue this week, with temperatures reaching into the 70s through Saturday, although the weekend is predicted to also bring a likelihood of showers, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/National Weather Service’s website. The full forecast for the Fort Atkinson area is here: https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=42.92637000000008&lon=-88.83700999999996#.ZDWNhi2z2WY.
Madison residents and father-and-son team Legend, 9, from left, and Noy Thoummany cast their lines into the Rock River Monday afternoon.
Mother-and son fishing partners, Christine, from left, and Derek Belles, both of Union Grove, enjoy the warm weather and the promise of spawning fish as they prepare to go fishing in Lorman Bicentennial Park. Derek described the Rive River shoreline in the park as a fishing “hot spot.”
Members of the Xiong family, Pay, 18, from left, “Nona,” the family’s Akita pup, Momo, 1, in the wagon, and Mai, find a place in the sun to watch other family members fish. The West Bend family has been visiting and fishing in the park regularly for 10 years, Pay said.
Several fishermen gather along the shore of the Rock River Monday to enjoy the warm weather and fish.
Amelia Lamke, Fort Atkinson, 8, prepares to glide down the slide. She was enjoying after school recreation time with her grandmother Kerry Lamke, Johnson Creek, and her brother Gaige.
Following his sister, Gaige Lamke, 6, Fort Atkinson, also enjoys the slide.
Fort Atkinson resident Lynn Natvig and her companion, “Kenzie,” take a short break from a leisurely walk Monday afternoon through Lorman Bicentennial Park.
Lorman Bicentennial Park, 210 S. Water St., Fort Atkinson, was an inviting destination Monday afternoon as temperature reached into the 70s.
Kim McDarison photos.
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