Reel Blessed Chapter of Fishing’s Future held our 8^th and final event of 2022. Tania and I arrived at 7:30am, as usual, and began setting up. With the help of our volunteers, we were set up by 8:30am, just as the families started to arrive. It was a little chilly when the event started; however, it warmed up nicely as the sun came out. 

We started the event promptly at 9am with a prayer, and then I spoke to the families about the expectations for the day. I started off by explaining Reel Blessed is a non-profit which relies on our donors and sponsors in order to hold these events at no cost to them. I introduced all our volunteer’s, and then split the families into five groups. To date this was the largest camp we have held with 44 participants (14 families).

About 9:15am we started the educational portion of the class. We had a casting station, knot tying station, a bait and tackle station, a rods and reels station, and rules and regulation station. As always, the casting station was the kid favorite. Some of the kids liked back yard bass as much as they like fishing! 

At 10:45 I gave a water safety brief and then we handed out rods/reels and bait and then the families started to fish.  I picked up a few dozen shiners for the more experienced kids. With the cold front just moving through the day before, the bite was a bit slow; however, most everyone caught fish. In the hour we fished there were a few large bass, a large blue tilapia, and many bluegills caught. All in all, it was a decent day fishing.

About 11:45 we all gathered back up to finish up the day. Once I had all the kids back, I started a game with them. I gave them five minutes to collect as much trash as they could find. The team that came back with the most trash would get a Forest to Seas Adventure hat! After the trash clean up, we did our signature closing ceremony, where we have the kids tell their parents “Thank you for bringing me fishing” and “I love you” while giving them a big hug.

Once all the families received their Fishing’s Future certificate, we raffled off two combo rod/reels donated by Captain Rich Dubord of Salt Daze Fishing Adventures. 

Seeing all the smiling faces and the families building memories which will last a lifetime is what it’s all about. I want to give a special thank you to all our volunteers and sponsors, as without you all Tania and I would not be able to hold these events! Until the next event my friends, Tight Lines!