Grand Isle festival celebrates free fishing day

GRAND ISLE, Vt. (WCAX) – 8-year-old Asher Sova didn’t catch any fish last year, but this year he caught two. Saturday, June 8, marked annual Grand Isle Family Fishing Festival, and since no one needs a license to attend and experience and no equipment is required, young anglers like Asher Sova get to try winning the catch of the day.

“We’re basically making the new generation of anglers here in Vermont,” Paige Blaker of Vermont Fish and Wildlife said.

Free Fishing Day is designed for people who want to learn how to fish. This events offers basic fishing instructions and families have the opportunity to catch some fish in the pond.

“I’m very new to fishing, I see all the time like my kid and his dad going fishing. I’m kind of excited about it like how do they fish and so I’m here for the first-time fishing,” South Burlington resident Hema Maddi said.

A day on the water could lead to a lifetime of experiences and healthy local food.

“It’s kind of very cool and awesome, I liked it,” Maddi said.

Vermont’s regular bass season also opens the same day, marking the start of some of the hottest bass fishing action in the northeast.

“It’s really important for us to create that bond with our local communities especially what fishing is, why is it important and what can you do to get into it,” Blaker said.

The season opens each year on the second Saturday in June and extends through the last day of November.

“I think my favorite part about this event pretty much ties back to like why I love fishing so much is because it’s for everyone. You don’t need any experience we’ll get it; we’ll teach you and it’s just such a great opportunity for people to bond together over like a new skill set they’re going to learn, and fishing is for everyone and we’re basically making this new generation of anglers here in Vermont. So, events like this are really important for gaining their interest and support,” Blaker said.

The day was filled with a variety of activities from fish biology, fly casting, law digest and regulations, lure making, and fish cleaning.

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