VERMONT — The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department has released a list of upcoming fishing events around the state, most of them intended just for kids.
The department has a “Children’s Fishing Program” which provides kids with the opportunity for a fun and successful fishing experience at locally organized fishing events. Organizers of these events often are charitable, community, or nonprofit groups such as fire departments, fish and game clubs, Rotary, Lions, town recreation committees, 4-H clubs, and scouts.
In Addison County, the annual Kids’ Fishing Derby, hosted by Camp Thorpe and the Neshobe Sportsman Club, will be held Saturday, May 18, at Camp Thorpe Pond in Goshen, with registration starting at 8 a.m. and fishing starting at 10. Registration includes a free hot dog lunch, and there will be a chicken barbecue and more for sale. Lifetime fishing licenses will be awarded to two lucky anglers.
Kids’ fishing events generally start in the spring and continue through June. A list of the events, which is periodically updated, appears on Fish & Wildlife’s website (www.vtfishandwildlife.com). Click on “Fishing” and then on “Kids Fishing Events.”Most events are open to the public, although they may be restricted to town residents or to a particular group of individuals. The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department provides about 20,000 eight- to10-inch trout for the program, with each event receiving 150 to 300 fish.
Vermont Fish & Wildlife also has a “Let’s Go Fishing” Program where trained volunteers teach and encourage young people and their families how to fish. The volunteer instructors teach fishing skills, how to use different types of tackle, the importance of good aquatic habitat, fishing ethics and fishing regulations. Clinics are planned throughout the state during the spring and summer months. Check your local newspapers and bait shops for clinics in your area. Learn more about “Let’s Go Fishing” on Fish & Wildlife’s website (vtfishandwildlife.com) under “Fishing” or “Youth Pages.”