Take Your Children Fishing

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Introduce your youngsters to fishing, or come fish together as a family, at a national wildlife refuge during National Fishing and Boating Week, June 1-8. Most states waive fishing license requirements for one or two days during the week, and America’s national wildlife refuges are great places to take advantage of this opportunity to get outdoors and connect with nature.

More than 270 national wildlife refuges and wetland management districts offer a variety of fishing opportunities throughout the country. Information about fishing on national wildlife refuges is available on an easy-to-navigate Web site at www.FWS.gov/refuges/FishingGuide/index.html.

In addition, many national wildlife refuges around the country are holding special family fishing events during National Fishing and Boating Week. This is a partial listing of scheduled events:

Georgia
Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Lakeland, hosts its Youth Fishing Derby and CastingKids Competition for children 3-15 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 7. In addition to the CastingKids clinic and competition, youngsters can attend a knot tying demonstration; learn which knots are best for different test lines and how folks “grunt worms” for bait. Children should bring a plain T-shirt, which will be decorated with free fish art, along with free fishing information and fun prizes. Refreshments will be available. For more information, contact the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center at 912-496-7836 or visit the Web site at www.FWS.gov/okefenokee.

Indiana
“Take A Kid Fishing” at Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge in Seymour from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 7. This event will feature special angling opportunities for youngsters in a pond normally closed to fishing. It will include fishing, casting and fish art contests, door prizes, fishing lessons, craft activities, and lots of fun. Email Muscatatuck@fws.gov or call Donna Stanley at 812-522-4352.

Kansas
Quivira National Wildlife Refuge, Stafford, holds its Kids’ Fishing Day on Saturday, June 7, for children ages 14 and younger. The day starts at 9 a.m. with clinics on such topics as identifying fish, understanding the contents of a tackle box, boating safety and knot tying. Fishing starts at approximately 10 a.m. Each child receives a certificate noting the size of their biggest fish caught. Lunch will be provided by the Friends of Quivira, and several door prizes will be announced. For more information, call 620-486-2393 or email Quivira@fws.gov or the Friends of Quivira at Friendsofquivira@hotmail.com.

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