Free Fishing and So Many Bass Derbies
Free fishing week is nearly upon us in the province of Ontario. From July 5th to July 13th, 2014, Canadian residents can fish in Ontario without a fishing license. This is the perfect opportunity to get your friends and family introduced to the sport that we love so much. Maybe you have a friend who used to fish but hasn’t hit the water in years. Take this time to rekindle their interest. Maybe you have a family member who is interested, as I do, but never seems to have the time to get out. During this week there is one less thing for them to worry about, so get them out there. Maybe you don’t fish but want to try it. This is your chance.
During these license-free days, there are many events for anglers to participate in. Whether it’s a kids fishing day, a family fishing event, a bass derby, or how-to fish program, there is something available for everyone. See here for a full list of events.
Here are just a few of the events planned for this year:
Grand River Bass Derby: July 5-6, 2014, Grand River, below the Belwood Dam to above the Paris Dam. This is the first fishing derby I ever entered, and it’s the one I fish each and every year. The Grand River has some incredible smallmouth bass in it, and this is a great time to chase them. Not only is the fishing great, but the fellow anglers are awesome, and even if you don’t catch the big one, there are some neat draw prizes to be won. This is a live release derby.
6th Annual Friends of Island Lake Bass Fishing Tournament: July 5-6, 2014, Island Lake Conservation Area, Orangeville. I’ve never had the chance to fish this event because I’m always on the Grand River this weekend, but I do love fishing Island Lake, and there are some huge largemouth bass in it. This is a great place to spend the weekend.
Urban Fishing Festival High Park: July 5, 2014, 10AM-1PM, Grenadier Pond, High Park, Toronto. The OFAH/OPG Travelling TackleShare program will be at this event with everything young anglers need: rod/reel/bait/tackle. This is a great way to get kids out fishing without having to buy their own gear.
Fishing 101 for Women: July 6, 2014, Grand River, Caledonia. This is a free event for women looking to get into fishing, or take their knowledge to the next level. Participants learn about fishing regulations, fish identification, tackle, how to tie knots, and how to rig various presentations. They also get a chance to get on the water and fish. I cannot begin to describe how amazing this event is. I was lucky enough to be an instructor at the first seminar this year and it was an incredible opportunity. Don’t miss out on this chance, register ASAP!
These are just a few of the events that will be happening during the free fishing week. Check out the Ontario Family Fishing Events website for a complete list of events.
Whether you decide to attend an event, or just hit your regular fishing hole, the point is to introduce new people to this wonderful sport. If everyone who plans to be fishing during this week took even one new person along with them, that would be a lot of new anglers.
Get out there and go fishing!
argosgirl
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