Each year, across the USA, National wildlife refuges host special kids’ fishing events, complete with loaner rods and personal guidance on how to use them.
2015 Family Fishing Events:
Fishing Frenzy
April 11, 8 a.m. to noon — Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, CO
To register, call Commerce City Parks: 303-289-3659.
To contact the refuge, call: 303-289-0232.
Family Fishing Workshop
April 18, 9 a.m. to noon — Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge, Seymour, IN
For more information, call: 812-522-4352.
Family Fishing Clinic
April 18, 10 a.m. to noon — DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, IA
For more information, call: 712-388-4800.
Youth Fishing Day
May 2, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Clarence Cannon National Wildlife Refuge, MO
For more information, call: 573-847-2333.
Youth Fishing Rodeo
June 6 — Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge, Lacombe, LA
Registration is required in advance
For more information, call: 985-882-2000.
Youth Fishing Fun Day
June 6, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, Cambridge, MD
For more information and directions, call: 410-901-6124.
Take a Kid Fishing
June 6, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. — Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge, Seymour, IN
For more information, call: 812-522-4352.
Kids’ Fishing Day
June 6, 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. — Patuxent Research Refuge, Laurel, MD
Pre-registration is required, call: 301-497-5887.
Children’s Fishing Clinic
June 6, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge, Swanton, VT
Pre-registration is required, call: 802-868-4781.
Kids’ Fishing Day
June 6, 9 a.m. to noon — Quivira National Wildlife Refuge, Stafford, KS
Pre-registration is requested, call: 620-486-2393
Free Fishing Day
June 6 — Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge, Liberty, TX
For more information, call: 936-336-9786.
Family Fishing Day
June 6, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge, TX
For more information, call: 409-267-3337.
Two Rivers Family Fishing Fair
June 6, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Pere Marquette State Park, near Grafton, IL
For more information, call Pere Marquette State Park: 618-786-3323 ext. 1.
To contact the refuge, call: 618-883-2524.
Reel Time Fishing Event
June 6, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Bass Pro Shops, Columbia, MO
For more information, call Bass Pro Shops: 573-886-7100.
To contact the refuge, call: 573-441-2799.
Youth Fishing Derby
June 6, 7 a.m. to noon — Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Folkston, GA
For more information, call: 912-496-7836.
Family Fishing Day
June 6, 9 a.m. to noon — Mingo National Wildlife Refuge, MO
For more information, call: 573-222-3589.
Kids’ Fishing Derby
June 13, 8 a.m. to noon — Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge, Marion, IL
For more information and directions, call: 618-997-3344 ext. 1.
Kids’ Fishing Day
June 13, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. — Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge, Nampa, ID
For more information, call: 208-467-9278.
Kids’ Free Fishing Day
June 13, 8 to 10 a.m. — Ojibway Island, Saginaw, MI
Shiwassee National Wildlife Refuge will cohost this 35th annual event.
For more information, call: 989-759-1669.
Kids’ Fishing Fest
June 14, noon to 4 p.m. — Milliken State Park and Harbor, Detroit, MI
For more information, call the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy: 313-566-8234.
To contact the refuge, call: 734-365-0219.
Children’s Fishing Derby
June 20 — Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge, Baring, ME
For more information, call: 207-454-7161.
Children’s Fishing Day
June 27, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. — Seney National Wildlife Refuge, Upper Peninsula, MI
For information, call: 906-58
6-9851.
Take a Kid Fishing
July 11, 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. — Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge, Madison, IN
For information, call: 812-273-0783.
Kids’ Fishing Day
September 12 — Fort Niobrara Refuge, NE
For information, call: 402-376-3789.
More information about national wildlife refuge fishing opportunities is available at: http://1.usa.gov/1xGh2oN.
source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service