Shooting, fishing and a lot, lot more at Godfrey’s Pond

STAFFORD — Melanie Bump is 8 and on Sunday she did this: She shot a gun. Caught two fish. Played on the playground. Pet the alpacas. And ate a fat corn dog.

“It was awesome,” Melanie said of her day at Godfrey’s Pond.

Melanie, a third-grader, joined her parents, Derek and Karrie Bump of Alexander, and siblings Maverick and Mason for the fourth annual Genesee County Hunting and Fishing Days at Godfrey’s off Griswold Road.

“We like the outdoors and wanted to see what they have to offer,” Karrie Bump said. “We’re definitely thinking of joining.”

Despite all that Melanie and her family did Sunday, they only touched upon when Godfrey’s Pond has to offer.

Hunting and Fishing Days included bird dog demonstrations, fly-tying demonstrations, craft, camping and outdoor-related vendors, music, auctions, children’s activities, animal exhibits and shooting demonstrations.

Oh, and the chance to catch a seven-pound, tagged rainbow trout worth a $100.

No one did.

“We’re trying to make people more aware of all the thing Genesee County has to offer with hunting and fishing,” Godfrey’s president Dave Knapp said. “And we want to let people know what we have to offer.”

The club signed up about a dozen people during the weekend and has about 900 members.

Godfrey’s is vast, with 235 acres of land and about 40 acres of ponds, 60 camper sites, 15 or so tent sites, a large clubhouse with kitchen and eight pavilions. It also includes trap, rifle, pistol and archery ranges, boats, wildlife displays.

And despite more than 900 members, there’s room for more, Knapp said.

“We’re really trying to get younger people interested,” he said. “It’s tough when you have to compete with so many social events and it’s tough to get people to put down their cell phones and enjoy the outdoors.

“We’ve had some success in getting younger families to join. That’s what this is all about. We’re still Genesee County’s best-kept secret but we’re getting more people to take a look at it.”

Anyone interested in joining can contact members through Godfrey’s Pond website atwww.godfreyspond.org.