Big Brothers, Big Sisters and Big Fun Fishing
What better way to celebrate National Fishing and Hunting Day than to provide fishing gear, instruction, and access for some well deserving youth?
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s Puget Sound/Olympic Peninsula Fisheries Complex teamed up with a host of partners to support Big Brothers Big Sisters families with a fun-filled evening of fishing. The Service’s support of the event is a continuation of the Department of Interior’s focus to provide wildlife related education and recreation opportunities to underserved urban communities.
After signing in with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Washington staff at Woodland Community Park in Lacey, Washington, attendees were directed to Larry Stamp with “Rods and Reels in Need.” A co-organizer of the event, Larry was hard to miss with his new gear trailer on display. Larry and volunteers with Puget Sound Anglers, all following appropriate COVID precautions, were waiting with a loaded tackle boxes and a selection of new fishing rods to hand out.
Carter, one of 15 young anglers who attended the event, was ecstatic upon hearing that he’d be able to keep the gear and told Larry that he was on a mission to catch a catfish.
The attendees also visited the fishing skills station hosted by Puget Sound Angler volunteers. Using an activity kit developed and provided by the Service, the young anglers practiced safe casting skills as they aimed for retrievable fish targets on the lawn. After successfully retrieving a target, the kids then learned how to identify the fish species using a guide developed specifically for youth.
After warming up, improving their skills, and retrieving a few targets, it was time for the real thing. The groups headed down to the lake, where more volunteers were ready to provide both bait and assistance.
And how was the fishing?
Camren, age 9, had caught four fish by the time Big Brothers Big Sisters staff made it down to the dock. When asked about his secret and he simply said, “This spot right here, and then just wait.”
Kalhyn, age 11, was ecstatic when he reeled in his first fish. “Fishing is a patient activity. You have to be patient and wait for the line to get tight.”
And what about Carter’s quest for a catfish? His mother emailed the Big Brothers Big Sisters staff the next morning to thank them, sharing that they continued fishing after the event and Carter’s persistence paid off with a nice catfish. Mission accomplished!
“We have no doubt this experience for the youth will have long-lasting effects,” said Daniel Spencer with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “Our goal was to foster this next generation of life-long anglers by providing the combination of essential equipment, hands-on instruction, confidence building success, and a reference guide for future outings.”
The guide, developed by the Service’s Puget Sound/Olympic Peninsula Fisheries Complex, included both essential how-to instruction and a list of several local fishing locations with details on access, fish species, and seasons. The guide is designed to highlight additional resources so the youth can take advantage of future fishing opportunities.
“Partnering with U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service made this event possible for the youth in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program,” said Moriah Chandler, program manager of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Washington. “While COVID has heavily impacted all of our community, the youth in BBBS, often from single-income homes, felt the strain even more. This activity provided an opportunity to get outdoors and engage in a positive, pro-social activity with their family or mentor. There were smiles all around as the kids practiced their casting, identified the fish, and then went to the lake for the real deal. Thank you for making this a reality for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Washington!”
This successful and rewarding event was made possible by a host of partners who were generous with their time and resources. Larry Stamp, founder of “Rods & Reels in Need,” helped plan, staff, and supply this event. This includes purchasing new rods and loaded tackleboxes with support from Verle’s Sporting Center and Marine in Shelton, Washington. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife provided staff support as well as new fishing rods. Additional supplies were purchased with funds from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s Retirees Association. Volunteers from South Sound Puget Sound Anglers played a critical supportive role at the event.
Special thanks as well to Lacey’s Department of Parks and Recreation for providing the event site at Woodland Community Park. Their recently installed fishing dock proved to be a safe and productive fishing location.
With this support and rewarding feedback, it is not surprising there is already talk of another event in the Spring!
