By Adam Donnelly

Free Fishing Weekend event draws hundreds of new anglers to Walloper Lake

Jun 18, 2018 | 3:08 PM

KAMLOOPS — Fishing and Father’s Day, an almost perfect combination. Which is why the annual Family Fishing Weekend has been held on the third weekend in June for the past 19 years.

The event is an opportunity for families to come out and give fishing a try. Thanks to the Kamloops and District Fish and Game Association, the free fishing event has become a unique way to spend Fathers Day.

It’s been said that when you go fishing, it’s not all about catching fish; when it comes to getting hooked on fishing, British Columbia’s Free Family Fishing weekend wants kids to catch as many as they can.

“They can catch as many fish, and keep as many fish as they can catch,” Kamloops and District Fish and Game Association Treasurer Dave Helmer explained.

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Free Family Fishing Weekend has been around for 19 years in British Columbia. It’s a partnership between the BC Wildlife Federation, and the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC, and has been run locally by the Kamloops and District Fish and Game Association.

“Our members bring their boats down. During the time [the kids] are fishing, the member kind of teaches them what to do, in terms of being in the boat and fishing,” Helmer said. “For this one, that’s the objective.”

For families who want to learn more about fishing, the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC has their ‘Learn to Fish’ program on hand to lend out rods and tackle.

“It’s really cool just to see those big smiles,” Fisheries and Wildlife Assistant with the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC, Madison McGregor said. “We’ve taught them how to cast, or how to handle their fish, and they’re just so proud to show you that.”

Sunday’s Free Fishing Weekend event at Walloper Lake was Lucy Wiltshire’s second time taking part in the event.

Wiltshire doesn’t need to exaggerate when it comes to her fishing stories. When asked how many fish she caught, she quickly replied: “Four, but from last time and this time, that would be 14.”

And if the event is about trying to entice families to make fishing a regular activity, the excitement of feeling that fish on your line is what it’s all about.

“It feels like it’s pulling you,” Wiltshire said, about that feeling when you hook the big one.

“When these kids catch their first fish, they’re jumpin’ up and down, and they’re pulling the line in by hand,” Helmer said with a smile. “They just get so excited.”

For more information on obtaining a fishing license, or to learn more about the ‘Learn to Fish’ program, you can visit www.GoFishBC.com.