Approximately 75 young fishing enthusiasts flocked to Rockford Lake east of Beatrice Sunday for the annual Fishing is Fun fishing and water safety clinic.
The Nebraska Walleye Association hosts the event, held annually as part of the Homestead Days festivities. Lora Young, executive director of the Beatrice Area Chamber of Commerce, said the event is a great way to introduce fishing to kids.
“This allows 75 kids to experience in the outdoors,” she said. “We live in a rural community. We live in the Midwest. Fishing is a part of life here. It’s a fun activity for kids to do.”
Now in its eighth year, Young said the Fishing is Fun clinic is one of the most kid-aged events held during the Homestead Days celebration. She said the clinic is limited to 75 kids, ages 4-16, and the event fills up every year.
Every year, the Nebraska Walleye Association hosts 13-17 fishing and water safety clinics statewide. NWA member Betty Clayton said it’s important to expose children to fishing at a young age because it’s a hobby they can enjoy with friends and family their entire lives.
“It’s something you can do as a family,” Clayton said. “It gets the kids out and away from the TV and electronics. It’s a great way to spent time together with family and friends. A lot of kids go fishing with their friends, especially the older ones.”
Five learning stations were set up for children to rotate through Sunday afternoon. The most popular station taught participants about the proper uses of live bait.
“We teach them about how to put bait on their hooks,” Clayton explained. “We bring crawlers, some fish, sometimes crawdads and all types of live bait.”
Other stations included casting, fish and lure identification, water safety and knot tying.
In addition to the clinic, the NWA provided each participant with a new fishing rod. The association donates more than 1,000 new rods to children every year.
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