Nicholas Michael Wells, 20, was Avid Angler

Nicholas Michael Wells, a former Casa Grande student with an avid interest in angling, died on a family fishing trip in northeast California on Friday, May 18 at the age of 20.

 "Nicko" was a member of the high school's United Anglers Club as well as the Sparrow Gun Club. He graduated in 2010, and was presently a student at SRJC. He also worked at Dairy Delivery in Penngrove.

"Nick was a great young man," said Dan Hubacker of Casa Grande, student advisor for the United Anglers Club. Hubacker confirmed the identification of Wells in the photograph accompanying this article.

According to the Press Democrat, the annual camping trip drew 18 family members this year, and Wells had gone fishing by himself before dinner.

“He was just walking down the shore and his line got caught,” he said. “He walked out on a log to check, and we think he must have slipped and fell in the water.”

The water was only about four feet deep, he said. It appeared Wells may have struck his head.

While at Casa Grande, Wells took an active role in maintaining the fish at the hatchery. The hatchery was the when someone cut open the holding pens, located in Tiburon, and released about 40,000 young salmon into San Francisco Bay.

Friends and family are invited to meet at St. James Catholic Church, 125 Sonoma Mountain Pkwy., Petaluma, CA 94954 on Friday, May 25, 2012 where an 11:00 a.m. a Funeral Mass will be celebrated.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, May 24, 2012 from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. with a Vigil Service at 7:00 p.m. at the Parent-Sorensen Mortuary & Crematory, 850 Keokuk St., Petaluma. Private interment.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the United Anglers of Casa Grande High School, 333 Casa Grande Rd., Petaluma, CA 94954 or St. James Catholic Church.