EGLIN AFB — Kids will get a chance to try to hook a catfish or two — or five, actually — at the Youth Fishing Rodeo in April.
Youths ages 15 and under and their families are invited to Anderson Pond north of Niceville April 6-7 to catch up to five catfish from the heavily stocked pond and take them home.
“There’s a tremendous number of fishing opportunities out there on the range for the general public, but what we really wanted to do is encourage the youth to participate,” said Justin Johnson, an outdoor recreation program manager at Eglin Air Force Base who helped found the rodeo seven years ago.
View photos of last year's rodeo. >>
A couple weeks before the event, organizers will stock the pond with several thousand channel catfish from a federal hatchery in South Florida to ensure quantity. Then they will purchase some larger 3- to 5-pound fish from a local catfish farm for quality.
“You hook into a 5-pound catfish and it’s game on,” Johnson said.
He said the pond is stocked so everyone likely will catch a fish.
The event is a good opportunity to get kids to try fishing versus indoor computer and television activities, said Johnson, who grew up fishing with his dad and grandfather.
“The trend is Xbox and texting and cable TV and all those types of things,” he said. “It gives me a lot of pleasure to see people, especially families, to get out into the woods, in this case fishing.”
He said he believes fishing helps children develop ethics, respect and decision making.
Channel catfish also are delicious table fare.
“I like to eat them as much as I do catch them,” Johnson said.
The kids will have an opportunity to clean and dress the fish and take them home.
No fishing experience is necessary, Johnson noted. Volunteers will help tie and bait hooks and take fish off the line.
Kids should bring fishing poles — preferably casting-type, which can cast farther — and bait. Johnson said cut-up fish, squid, shrimp or chicken-liver work best.
They should also bring coolers with ice if they plan to take their fish home.
Anderson Pond is on the east side of State Road 85 just north of Niceville’s Mullet Festival site.
Three sessions will be held each day: 7 to 10 a.m.; noon to 3 p.m.; and 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. About 50 young fishermen will be allowed in each session.
Call 882-4165 or 882-4166 to reserve a spot.
Johnson said about 200 children attended the event in the past, but there’s room for more.
“We want to try to get the word out to as many people as possible,” he said.