Free, Fun, Family-Oriented Fishing Events Begin This Weekend!
RALEIGH,
N.C. (June 1, 2005) — Listen up kids and parents!
If you’re fishing for something to do this weekend that’s
fun, free and family-oriented, check out any one of 33 kids’ fishing
events being held across the state in celebration of National Fishing
and Boating Week, June 4-12.
At
kids' fishing events held during National Fishing and
Boating Week, young anglers can...
|
Learn
fishing basics. |
View
cool demonstrations.
|
Catch
fish stocked by the Wildlife Commission.
|
|
Supported by the
U.S. Forest Service, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission and other
local sponsors, these fishing events are a great way for young
anglers to:
- Learn fishing basics,
such as casting, knot tying and tackle selection.
- View demonstrations,
such as catch-and-release fishing and boating safety.
- Fish for a variety
of game fishes stocked by the Wildlife Commission, including
trout in the mountains and channel catfish
in the Piedmont and coastal regions.
Not only do participants get
to fish absolutely free, they also might win some really cool fishing
prizes — including lifetime fishing
licenses! All young anglers registered at any fishing event listed in
the chart below can enter a statewide drawing to win rods, reels, tackle
boxes and fish identification booklets, donated by Bass
Pro Shops and
the Wildlife Commission. The grand prizes are six lifetime fishing licenses,
each worth $250, donated by Progress
Energy and the Tarboro
Association of Saltwater Sportsman.
The U.S. Forest Service, the Wildlife Commission and local sponsors
are hosting these fishing events to give kids and their parents opportunities
to spend time together outdoors, away from the television, the computer,
the Game Boy and other electronic distractions that pass for recreation
today.
Outdoor-oriented events are more important than ever. Research from
the Kaiser Family Foundation shows that kids spend 44 hours a week
with TVs, computers and video games. That’s a lot of time spent
inside that could be spent outside enjoying one of America’s
greatest pastimes.
No one knows this better than
the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation. The Alexandria, VA-based,
non-profit organization created National Fishing
and Boating Week as a way to get kids and their parents off the couch
and on the water. Each year, state and local agencies, fishing and boating
clubs, civic organizations and others offer more than 700 on-the-water
events nationwide — from California to Florida and all states in
between. The events, ranging from kids’ fishing derbies to regattas
to festivals, have the same goal: to help kids connect with nature and
build a foundation to stay connected into adulthood.
In North Carolina, the Wildlife
Commission supports a growing number of National Fishing and Boating
Week events each year. More than 2,500
children are expected to participate across the state in this year’s
events. Many of these young anglers will be casting a line for the first
time.
“We’re teaching kids at an early age how much fun fishing
can be, in hopes that fishing will become a lifelong hobby,” said
Bob Curry, chief of the Wildlife Commission’s Division of Inland
Fisheries. “With the help of our supporters, particularly the U.S.
Forest Service which organizes and hosts many of these events, the Wildlife
Commission is working to instill in children a passion for fishing as
well as respect for our state’s natural resources.”
While National Fishing and Boating Week lasts only nine days, the Wildlife
Commission offers plenty of year-round opportunities to go fishing
in North Carolina’s public, inland waters. Through the Wildlife
Commission’s Community
Fishing Program, fishing opportunities
in urban lakes and ponds are available — most on a year-round
basis. Many of these sites also lend free fishing equipment for the
day as part of the Wildlife Commission’s Tackle
Loaner Program.
To find out more
about fishing opportunities in North Carolina, check out the Fishing
section. To
find out more about National Fishing and Boating Week, visit RBFF’s
Web site, www.rbff.org.
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County
|
Location
|
Date
|
Time
|
Registration/Age Limits
Other Info
|
Contact Information
|
|
Alexander
|
Ellendale Community Center Pond
|
06-11
|
9 a.m. 1 p.m.
|
Pre-register
by calling the Sporting Goods Dept. Taylorsville Wal-mart,
(828) 632-4176; Ages 1 17; Rain date: 6/18
|
Bobby Huffman
(828) 632-4176
|
|
Alexander
|
Lake Hickory at Bethlehem Wildlife Club
|
06-04
|
8 a.m. 11 a.m.
|
Ages 15 and younger.
|
Gary Hall
|
|
Anson/ Richmond
|
Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge Wadesboro
|
6-11
|
8 a.m. noon
|
Registration
begins at 8
a.m.; Ages 16 and under.
|
Janet Faulkner
(704) 694-4424
|
|
Buncombe
|
Lake Powhatan
|
06-04
|
9 a.m. 2 p.m.
|
Register on site
at 9
a.m.; Ages 12 and under. Lunch served.
|
Lorie Stroup
loriestroup@fs.fed.us
(828) 877-3265
|
|
Burke
|
Valdese McGallard Falls
|
06-11
|
9 a.m. - Noon
|
Pre-register
by calling (828) 879-2133 or register on site; Ages 14 and younger,
55 and older; Rain date: 6/18
|
Tim Rhoney
trhoney@ci.valdese.nc.us
(828) 879-2133
|
|
Cabarrus
|
Bass Pro Shops
|
06-11
|
9 a.m. 4 p.m.
|
Registration
is onsite. Event begins at 9 a.m. with fun activities for the kids; Fishing instruction
begins at 1 p.m.
|
Tim Bloodworth
(704) 979-2200
|
|
Carteret
|
Cedar Swamp Pond
|
06-11
|
8 a.m.
|
Register onsite;
Ages 5-15.
|
Bob Kaylor
rkaylor@fs.fed.us
(252) 538-5628
|
|
Cherokee
|
Cherokee Lake
|
06-11
|
8 a.m. 11 a.m.
|
Ages 12 and younger.
|
Terry Dickey
tdickey@fs.fed.us
(828) 837-5152
|
|
Cumberland
|
John E Pechmann Fishing Education Center (Lake Rim)
|
06-04
|
8 a.m. - Noon
|
Register on site
at the start of the event; No age limit.
|
Tom Rachels
rachelsrt@earthlink.net
(910) 865-2918
|
|
Edgecombe
|
Indian Lake
|
06-10
|
9 a.m. - Noon
|
Registration
begins at 8:30
a.m.
|
Lee Perry
(252) 641-4276
|
|
Edgecombe
|
Pell and Lisa Guill
|
06-16
|
9 a.m. Noon
|
Ages 14 and younger.
|
Jimmy Dupree
(252) 883-9999
Pell Guill
(252) 823-1085
|
|
Forsyth
|
Salem Lake Park
|
06-04
|
7 a.m. 10 a.m.
|
Call (336) 650-7677
for registration information and directions; Cookout will follow
the derby.
|
Ed McNeal
(336) 734-1221
|
|
Franklin
|
Lake Royale
|
06-11
|
9 a.m. Noon
|
Registration
begins at 8
a.m.
|
Chris Schmidt
chris-bill@juno.com
(919) 522-9893
|
|
Graham
|
Santeetlah Creek -- Rattlerford Campground
|
06-04
|
9 a.m. 1 p.m.
|
Registration
is onsite; Ages 5-12; Rain date: 6/18
|
Gina Rodgers
grodgers@fs.fed.us
(828) 479-6431
|
|
Guilford
|
Lake Higgins
|
06-09
|
10 a.m. Noon
|
Registration
begins May 1 (forms can be picked up at Higgins, Brandt or Townsend
marinas); First 30 kids, ages 4-15.
|
George Thomason
(336) 545-5333
|
|
Guilford
|
Lake Higgins
|
06-10
|
10 a.m. Noon
|
Registration
begins May 1 (forms can be picked up at Higgins, Brandt or Townsend
marinas); First 20 kids, ages 4-15.
|
George Thomason
(336) 545-5333
|
|
Guilford
|
Lake Higgins
|
06-11
|
9 a.m. Noon
|
Registration
begins May 1 (forms can be picked up at Higgins, Brandt or Townsend
marinas); First 40 kids, ages 4-15.
|
Bonnie Magee
(336) 375-2232
George Thomason
(336) 545-5333
|
|
Guilford
|
Oak Hollow Lake
|
06-04
|
8 a.m. 10 a.m.
|
Pre-register
until May 27; First 200 kids, ages 15 and younger.
|
Nancy Mason
nancy.mason@ci.high-point.nc.us
(336) 883-3494
|
|
Hertford
|
Hares Millpond
|
06-11
|
9 a.m. TBD
|
Register on site.
|
Lanny Cowan
(252) 332-2711
|
|
Jackson
|
Cullowhee Creek
-- WCU Campus
|
06-11
|
9 a.m. 3 p.m.
|
To sign up call Jackson County Parks and Rec (828)
293-3053; First 30 kids, ages 7-12.
|
Richard Conley
(828) 321-5397
|
|
Macon
|
Cliffside Lake
|
06-04
|
9 a.m. 1 p.m.
|
Ages 15 and younger.
|
Sally Browning
sbrowning@fs.fed.us
(828) 524-6441
|
|
Madison
|
Max Patch Pond
|
06-11
|
8 a.m. 2 p.m.
|
Registration
starts at 8
a.m.; Ages 12 and younger.
|
Matt Eldridge
meldridge@fs.fed.us
(828) 622-3202
|
|
Montgomery
|
Cove Boat Ramp
|
06-04
|
9 a.m. 1 p.m.
|
Registration
begins at 8:30
a.m.;
Ages 12 and younger, with an adult. Rain date: 6/11
|
Leigh Marston
lmartson@fs.fed.us
(910) 576-6391
|
|
Nash
|
4-H Fishing Clinic
Chappell pond
|
06-02
|
9 a.m. Noon
|
Pre-register
by calling the office at (252) 459-9810. First 30 kids, ages
715.
|
Charlie Tyson
charlie_tyson@ncsu.edu
(252) 459-9810
|
|
Nash
|
Rocky Mount City Park
|
06-18
|
09 a.m. 1 p.m.
|
Registration
will be onsite at the start of the event.
|
Louis Clark
bridgingthegap@earthlink.net
(252) 446-2134
|
|
Orange
|
Bob's Strayhorn Pond
|
06-04
|
9:30 a.m. 11:15
|
Registration
from 9:15 -9:45; Hot dog lunch provided at 11:15; Ages 3-15.
|
Wendell Rodgers
wrodgers@townofcarrboro.org
(919) 918-7364
|
|
Richmond
|
McKinney Lake Fish Hatchery
|
06-11
|
8 a.m. Noon
|
Registration
on site starting 7:30 a.m.; Food and drink served during the event
|
Richard Bradford
(910) 895-5330
|
|
Rowan
|
Salisbury Community Park
|
06-11
|
8:30 a.m. Noon
|
Pre-register
by calling (704) 638-5275 or register on site the day of the
event; Ages 5-16.
|
Rodney Harrison
rlhar@salsbruync.gov
(704) 638-5276
|
|
Stanley
|
City Lake Park
|
06-04
|
9 a.m. 3 p.m.
|
Call Jason Fox
for more information.
|
Jason Fox
jfox@ci.albermarle.nc.us
(704) 984-9560
|
|
Surry
|
Yadkin River Section of Pilot Mountain State Park
|
06-11
|
9 a.m. 1 p.m.
|
Pre-register
preferred by calling the park; Ages 16 and younger Rain date:
6/18
|
Keith Martin
(336) 325-2355
|
|
Transylvania
|
Dupont State Forest
|
06-11
|
9 a.m. Noon
|
Pre-registration
now by calling (828) 877-4423. First 20 kids, ages of 6-12.
|
Lynn Veurink
(828) 877-4423
|
|
Wake
|
Lake Wheeler
|
06-04
|
9 a.m. 1 p.m.
|
Registration
begins at 8
a.m.; Hot dog cookout at 1
p.m.; Awards follow; Ages 5-12.
|
Ben Hermann
(919) 662-5704
|
|
Yancey
|
South Toe River -- Carolina Hemlocks
|
06-04
|
9 a.m. Noon
|
Registration
starts at 8
a.m.; Ages 14 and younger; Biggest fish
prize and prize drawing; Limited to seven fish per person
|
Jerry Murphy
jmurphy@fs.fed.us
(828) 682-6146
|
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