The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, along with Progress Energy, the U.S. Forest Service, Bass Pro Shops and local sponsors, are supporting the free fishing events to celebrate National Fishing and Boating Week 2007.
Anglers 15 and younger participating in any of the events listed below can register to win a variety of prizes, such as rods, reels, spools of fishing line and tackle boxes, courtesy of Bass Pro Shops and the Wildlife Resources Commission. The grand prizes, donated by Progress Energy and a retired Commission employee, are three lifetime saltwater/freshwater fishing licenses, valued at $450 each.
Local sponsors for many events will provide prizes and gifts to registered participants as well.
“We’re working with the U.S. Forest Service, Progress Energy and Bass Pro Shops to sponsor fishing events that will get kids off the couch and get them outside to have some fun,” said Robert Curry, chief of the Commission’s Division of Inland Fisheries. “Kids are spending less time outdoors, and by introducing kids to fishing early, we hope to reverse this trend.”
To enhance fishing opportunities for participants, the Commission will stock fish at many of the sites prior to the events, from trout in cold mountain waters to channel catfish and bluegill in public waters across the rest of the state.
“The Commission provides supplemental stocking of fish to give kids a better chance of reeling in the catch of their lives,” Curry said. “The more positive their initial fishing trip, the more likely they will make fishing a lifelong hobby.”
The agency will conduct a drawing for prizes at the end of June and will publish a list of winners on its Web site. Grand prize winners will be featured in the Commission’s magazine, Wildlife in North Carolina.
Events are free unless otherwise noted.
National Fishing and Boating Week, coordinated each year in June by the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF), gives children and their families an opportunity to learn about conserving aquatic resources while enjoying the thrill of fishing and boating. For more information on National Fishing and Boating Week, visit RBFF’s Web site, http://www.nationalfishingandboatingweek.org.
For additional information on fishing in North Carolina’s public, inland waters, visit the Commission’s Web site, http://www.ncwildlife.org.
|
County |
Location |
Date |
Time |
Registration / Age
Limits Other Info |
Contact Information |
|
Alexander |
Ellendale
Community Center pond |
6/02 |
9 a.m. –
1 p.m. |
Pre-register
by calling the Sporting Goods Dept. at the Taylorsville Wal-mart,
(828) 632-4176. This event is for kids between the ages of
1 and 17. |
Bobby
Huffman
(828)
632-4176 |
|
Alexander |
Bethlehem
Wildlife Club at Lake Hickory |
6/02 |
8 a.m. – Noon |
Register onsite the day of the event for participants age 16 and younger. Hot dog lunch at noon. |
Gary
Hall
(828)
217-7556 |
|
Anson |
Sullivan Pond - Pee
Dee National Wildlife Refuge |
6/02 |
8 a.m. – 11 a.m. |
Register onsite the day of the event. |
Janet
Watson janet.watson@fws.gov
(704)
694-4424 |
|
Buncombe |
Lake
Powhatan |
6/02 |
9 a.m. –
2 p.m. |
Registration
will be onsite at 9 a.m. for participants 12 and younger. Pre-register at Cheoah districk at Rattler Ford. |
Lorie
Stroup
loriestroup@fs.fed.us
(828)
877-3265 |
|
Burke |
McGallard
Falls City Park |
6/02 |
9 a.m.– Noon |
Pre-register
by calling recreational department, (828) 879-2132. Fish will
be cooked onsite for youth & seniors. Rain or shine. |
Tim
Roney troney@ci.valdese.nc.us
(828)
879-2132 |
|
Cabarrus |
Bass
Pro Shops |
6/9 |
9 a.m. – 2 p.m. |
Register
onsite the day of the event; fun activities begin at 9 a.m.;
Fishing instruction begins at 1 p.m. |
Randy Thomas
thomasr@vnet.net
(704) 782-9097
|
| Caldwell |
Boone Fork Pond |
6/01 |
9 a.m. - 2 p.m. |
Open only to special population children in the local school system. |
Sandy Burnet
sburnet@fs.fed.us
(828) 652-2144 |
| Caldwell |
Boone Fork Pond |
6/02 |
8 a.m. - 2 p.m. |
Register
onsite the day of the event; limited to participants 16 and younger. |
Sandy Burnet
sburnet@fs.fed.us
(828) 652-2144 |
| Carteret
|
Ord Pond |
6/02 |
8 a.m. - Noon |
Registration is onsite; limited to participants ages 5-15. |
Bob Huemme
rhuemme@ec.rr.com
(910) 455-1407 |
|
Cherokee |
Cherokee
Lake |
6/01 |
8
a.m. – 11 a.m. |
Mandatory
pre-registeration by May 5th at Tusquitee Ranger District office
(828) 837-5152. For special populations only. |
Terry
Dickey
tdickey@fs.fed.us
(828)
837-5152 ext. 120 |
|
Cherokee |
Cherokee
Lake |
6/02 |
8
a.m. -11 p.m. |
Pre-registration
at Murphy Ranger office for participants ages 12 and younger. |
Terry
Dickey
tdickey@fs.fed.us
(828)
837-5152 ext. 120 |
|
Cumberland |
John
E. Pechmann Fishing Education Center at Lake Rim |
6/02 |
9
a.m. – 1:00 p.m. |
No
age limit; Register on site the day of the event. |
(910)
868-5003 |
|
Cumberland |
John
E. Pechmann Fishing Education Center at Lake Rim |
6/9 |
9
a.m. – 3 p.m. |
Warm-water
fly-fishing clinic. Pre-registration required by contacting
Cumberland Parks and Recreation, (910) 424-6134. Event is
limited to the first 35 people. No age limit; only kids 15 and younger are eligible for drawing. |
(910)
868-5003 |
| Durham |
Twin Lakes Park
|
6/09 |
7 a.m. - Noon |
Can pre-register or register onsite the day of the event. Open to participants ages 5-12. Cookout with free prizes follows event. |
(919) 560-4560
Al Harrison
|
| Forsyth |
Salem Lake Park |
6/9 |
7 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. |
Call for pre-registration information. First 200 participants will be eligible for prizes and cookout following event. |
Brian Hutchens
(336) 650-7677
|
|
Franklin |
Lake
Royale |
6/02 |
8
a.m. – Noon |
No
age limit; Register onsite the day of the event. |
Chris
Schmit
(919)
522-9893 |
|
Graham |
Santeetlah
Creek |
6/02 |
9 a.m. – 1 p.m. |
Pre-registration at U.S. Forest Service office Cheoah Ranger District, Robbinsville. |
Gina
Rodgers
grodgers@fs.fed.us
(828)
479-6431 |
|
Guilford |
Oak
Hollow Lake |
6/02 |
8 a.m. – 10 a.m. |
Pre-registration
required; Call Oak Hollow Marina (336) 883-3494; Limited to
first 200 participants ages 15 and younger |
Nancy
Mason nancy.mason@highpointnc.gov
(336)
883-3494 |
|
Guilford |
Lake
Higgins Pond |
6/9 |
10 a.m. – Noon |
Registration begins May 1; Limited
to first 40 participants. |
George
Thomason
(336)
545-5333 |
Hertford
|
Hare's Millpond |
6/9 |
10 a.m. - 1 p.m. |
Pre-registration required. Limited to the first 75 participants 15 years old and younger. . |
Lanny Cowan
(252) 332-2711 |
|
Jackson |
Cullowhee
Creek – Jackson County Parks and Rec |
6/02 |
9 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
Register
by calling Jackson County Parks and Rec – (828) 293-3053. Limited
to the first 40 participants ages 7-12. |
Richard
Conely
(828)
321-5397 |
Johnston
|
Howell Woods Environmental Center |
6/02 |
9 a.m. - 2 p.m. |
Registration onsite the day of the event for participants ages 15 and younger. |
Mike Cribbs
(919) 422-1925 |
|
Macon |
Cliffside
Lake |
6/02 |
9 a.m. – 1 p.m. |
Registration
will be onsite for participants ages 15 and younger. |
Chad Boniface
(828)
524-6441 |
|
Madison |
Max
Patch Pond |
6/02 |
8 a.m. – Noon |
Registration
begins at 8 a.m. onsite the day of event; ages 12 and younger. |
Matt
Eldridge
meldridge@fs.fed.us
(828)
622-3202 |
| Mecklenburg |
McAlpine Creek Park |
6/02 |
9 a.m. - Noon |
Register onsite the day of the event; ages 6-17. children must be accompanied by adult. Limited number of fishing rods-call (704) 568-4044 to reserve rods. |
Hellen Tolber
Hellen.tolber@mecklenburgcountync.gov
(704) 568-4044 |
| Montgomery |
Kings Mtn. Point Recreation Area at Badin lake
|
6/09 |
9 a.m. - Noon |
Register onsite the day of the event. |
Keith Hendrickson
hendricksonka@carolina.rr.com
(704) 485-2247 |
|
Nash |
Chappell Pond |
6/12 |
9 a.m. - Noon |
Registration fee - $15; limited to participants ages 7-15. |
Charlie Tyson
Charlie_tyson@ncsu.edu
(252) 459-9810 |
| Nash |
Rocky Mount City Lake |
6.09 |
8 a.m. - Noon |
Pre-register is required; ages 6-18 years old. Fishing activities for younger children.. |
Lois Watkins
(252) 446-2134
|
Onslow
|
Jacksonville Training Academy Range |
6/02 |
9 a.m. - Noon |
Registration onsite day of event; ages 15 and younger. Lunch follows event. |
Mike Campbell
(252) 514-6663 |
|
Orange |
Strayhorn
Pond off I-40 near Hillsborough |
6/02 |
9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. |
No
age limit; Register onsite the day of the event. |
Wendell
Rogers
(919)
918-7364 |
| Pasquotank |
Charles Creek Park |
6/06
|
10 a.m. - 2 p.m. |
Participation is limited to 5th-grade students at Weeksville Elementary School |
Karen Kidd
(252) 330-2606 |
|
Pasquotank |
Charles
Creek Park |
6/07 |
3 p.m. – 5 p.m. |
Ages
8-14; Must be members of (and will register through) the Elizabeth
City Boys and Girls Club. |
Dot Dixon
(252) 335-5276 |
Rowan
|
Salisbury Community Park |
6/16 |
9 a.m. - Noon |
Register
onsite the day of the event. |
Talita McCain
tmcca@salisburync.gov
(704) 638-5297 |
Richmond |
McKinney
Lake |
6/9 |
8
a.m. – Noon |
Register
onsite the day of the event. |
Rick
Bradford
mckinneylake@etinternet.net
(910)
895-5330 |
|
Stanly |
City
Lake Park |
6/09 |
10 a.m. – 2 p.m. |
Register
onsite the day of the event. |
Brian
Hinson
bhinson@ci.albemarle.nc.us |
|
Surry |
Yadkin
River section of Pilot Mtn. State Park |
6/9 |
10 a.m. – 2 p.m. |
Pre-registration
preferred by calling the park; ages 16 and younger. |
Keith
Martin
(336)
325-2355 |
|
Transylvania |
Lake
Imaging at Cedar Mtn. |
6/9 |
8 a.m. – 11 a.m. |
Pre-registration
is required through the Pisgah Education Center, (828) 877-4423.
Ages 6 – 12. |
Lindsay
Green
lindsay.green@ncwildlife.org
(828)
852-6721 |
| Union |
Cane Creek Park |
6/02 |
9 a.m. - Noon |
Registration onsite the day of the event. |
Rhonda Hawfield
rhondahawfield@co.union.nc.us
(704) 843-3919 x 25
|
| Wake |
Lake Raleigh |
6/16 |
9 a.m. - 3 p.m. |
Pre-registration required. Open to participants 15 and younger. Lunch follows pier dedication ceremony at 11:30. |
Faye Andrews
Faye.andrews@ncwildlife.org
(919) 707-0224 |
|
Wake |
Lake
Wheeler |
6/02 |
9 a.m. – Noon |
Register onsite day; Open to ages 5-12; Lunch provided after the event. |
Chris
Murray
(919)
662-5704 |
|
Washington |
Pettigrew
State Park |
6/9 |
9 a.m. - 11 a.m. |
Pre-registration
required; Event is limited to the first
12 participants 15 years old and younger. |
Laura
Manning
(252)
797-4475 |
|
Yancey |
Carolina
Hemlocks Campground Hwy. N.C 80 between Blue Ridge Parkway & Celo |
6/09 |
8 a.m. - Noon 1 |
Register
onsite the day of the event. |
Jerry
Murphy
jmurphy@fs.fed.us
(828)
682-6146 |
