Hooking kids into ice fishing
By admin on Dec 30, 2011 in Uncategorized
Joe Montgomery wants to get youth hooked on fishing.
And while Niagara’s 2012 International Ice Fishing Show, set to take place Wednesday, Dec. 7 in St. Catharines, is for all fishing enthusiasts, it truly benefits the up-and-coming generation of anglers.
“We want to get the younger generation interested in the outdoors and active in things like fishing,” said Montgomery.
So during the show, which this year takes place at Holiday Inn & Suites Parkway Conference Centre, 327 Ontario St. in St. Catharines, children 16 and under are admitted free, and will receive some free fishing gear. The show itself, is also used as a fundraiser that will benefit the childrens’ programming for the St. Catharines Game and Fish Club.
The show has been running for six years, and Montgomery said the interest has increased each year. Attendance has climbed from 45 people to 300, and after selling out last year’s event they decided to move to a new venue to accommodate even more people.
The event itself begins at 5 p.m., with registration and viewing of exhibits.
“Everything we have on display is all related to ice fishing,” said Montgomery, who has been ice fishing since the age of seven — giving him 81 years of experience.
This year they will have three guest speakers come to the event, all focusing on ice fishing topics on Lake Nipissing. They include Scott Bratton, part-owner of the Waltonian Inn, which supplies 35 bungalows, barbecues, a deep fryer for turkey and games to ice fishing visitors; Rob Hyatt, who also offers ice fishing bungalows on the lake; and a biologist from the Ministry of Natural Resources, who will be sharing some information on the hot spot for ice fishing. There will be a question-and-answer period following their talks.
Each year, said Montgomery, his goal is to provide different information on some of the different lakes. Last year the focus was on Lake Simcoe.
“Without the knowledge people don’t necessarily know, so this gives them a chance to learn some different things,” he said.
The show, said Montgomery, was born out the desire to make Canada a more advanced, and experienced ice fishing nation. He recalls being part of a World Fishing Championships at Jacksons Point in Lake Simcoe in 1992, and said things didn’t go so well for the Canadian hosts.
“We came in last place,” he said. “As a group we decided we’d actually look at teaching ice fishing so we would have a group of qualified people.”
The show, he said, was born out of that concept, and looks at displays of modern equipment, as well as providing information. It includes a large number of prizes and giveaways, valued in excess of $500.
“It’s the only one in Ontario,” he said.
Admission for the event is $15 a person at the door, $12 for seniors. Children 16 and under are admitted free.
http://www.niagarathisweek.com/what%27s%20on/article/1256264–hooking-kids-into-ice-fishing
