Learn to Fish program
Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC
Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC Celebrates 200,000 Learn to Fish Participants
The Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC has been introducing anglers to freshwater fishing through the Learn to Fish Program since 2006. As the program celebrates 10 years of introducing people to their passion for angling, they also welcomed their 200,000th participant to the program. On Friday, July 22, the 200,000th Learn to Fish participant joined the program at Maple Bay Amphitheatre in Cultus Lake Provincial Park. Chilliwack resident Alex Rezka, 9, was excited to learn he was the 200,000th participant in the program.
“We have seen Learn to Fish participants from 2006 and subsequent years become angling adults and it’s great to see Alex could be on that path. Success is when the learners of today become the anglers and stewards of the future,” says Tanya Laird, Outreach Coordinator, Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC. “It is so fitting we reached this milestone in a BC Park. The Learn to Fish program and BC Parks both emphasize stewardship, environmental appreciation and enjoyment of the outdoors. And BC Parks has been a great supporter of the program.”
Learn to Fish was developed in 2006 in response to the documented decline in freshwater angler participation, following a peak in recreational fishing popularity in the mid 1990’s. Learn to Fish events are hosted on a drop-in basis for youth age five to 15 and their families. Participants learn about fish habitat, how to identify their catch and how to fish responsibly. They also get hands on experience while learning about casting and retrieving and tips for catching fish. All equipment is provided and programs run rain or shine. Since 2006 the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC has delivered 6,761 programs in BC parks, regional and municipal parks, and at Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC hatchery visitor centres. This year the Learn to Fish program will deliver more than 100 programs in over 30 provincial parks across BC. Programs were expanded in several regions of the province in 2015 in response to a growing interest in freshwater fishing. To find a Learn to Fish program near you, click here. No registration is required. To find other programs offered near you, visit the Events calendar at gofishbc.com.
The Learn to Fish program is offered throughout the province thanks to the generous support of the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, Columbia Basin Trust, Rapala, BC Ram Dealers, Teck Highland Valley Copper, the Province of BC, and BC Parks. Yamaha Motor Canada is the newest program sponsor and will be awarding one lucky Learn to Fish participant with a 6HP 4-stroke outboard motor this summer.
The Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC was created in 2003 as a private, not-for-profit organization, funded mainly through freshwater fishing license revenues. In partnership with the Province, the Society annually stocks eight million trout, char and kokanee salmon in 800 B.C. lakes. It also manages special hatchery programs for endangered species including white sturgeon, conducts fisheries research, education and conservation programs and works to make angling more accessible for all.
To find out more, visit gofishbc.com