Few outdoor activities are as popular with the younger folks as fishing. Even so, many boys and girls never have the opportunity to go fishing. Often their parents don”t fish or it”s just too expensive and having access to a boat can be a problem, not to mention you need decent fishing equipment.
That”s all about to change for a few lucky and deserving individuals. The Record-Bee, in cooperation with local fishing guide Ross England, the Lakeport Safeway store and the Tackle It tackle shop in Lakeport, is sponsoring a free, guided fishing trip on Clear Lake for a youngster and his/her father, mother, grandparent or guardian. Included is a day”s fishing for two on Clear Lake with professional guide England. Lakeport Safeway will provide the lunch and drinks, while Tackle It will provide all the fishing tackle.
And that”s not all. The winning youngster also will receive a new fishing rod and reel, a prize package worth approximately $500.
To win the fishing trip all a youngster has to do is write a letter of 300 words or less on why he/she wants to take his father, mother, grandparent or guardian fishing. Send the letter to the Record-Bee Sports Editor, P.O. Box 849, Lakeport, CA, 95453. You can also e-mail your letter to RBSports@AOL.com. The letter can be handwritten (as long as we can read it) or typed. For more information, call Record-Bee sports editor Brian Sumpter at 263-5636, ext. 35.
The contest is open to all youngsters who are currently in grades three through eight. Include your name, age, address, telephone number, grade in school, the school you attend and the person you want to take fishing. Only one entry per youngster and the entries must reach the Record-Bee no later than June 4.
A panel of journalists from the Record-Bee will judge the entries. The entries will be judged on originality (spelling and grammar will count).
England is considered one of the more experienced and popular fishing guides on Clear Lake. He is also a recognized bass tournament fisherman. England has a modern Ranger bass boat and all the latest equipment, but he stresses that his clients don”t have to be experienced fishermen.
“I take novice fishermen out all the time and my goal is for them to catch fish and have an enjoyable day,” England said.
Ed and June Clarke (owners of Tackle It) are not only donating a new fishing rod and reel to the essay winner, but they also are donating a fishing rod and reel to the second- and third-place finishers.
I will be taking photos and doing a story on the lucky winners, which will be published in the Record-Bee.
What does a guided trip consist of? The guide supplies all the equipment. The clients only have to possess a current fishing license. People under the age of 16 are not required to have a fishing license. However, the adult accompanying the winner will be required to have one. A one-day fishing license can be purchased at any of the local tackle shops for $12.10.
Typically the guide meets his clients at a pre-designated boat ramp at an agreed time. The guide goes over where and how they will fish. The guide”s boat is normally a late model bass boat powered by a 225hp outboard motor. For newcomers to the sport, just a ride in a bass boat can be exciting.
The idea of the fishing trip came about when Lakeport Safeway conducted a raffle for the benefit of the Easter Seal Campaign. The grand prize was a guided fishing trip. I won the trip and decided to donate it back to a youngster. The idea was enthusiastically endorsed by Record-Bee publisher Gregg McConnell, management of Lakeport Safeway, Ross England, and the owners of Tackle It.
This is an excellent opportunity for a youngster to take the adult of their choice on a quality fishing trip. In fact, it could be the trip of a lifetime.
