Young Anglers Win Lifetime Fishing Licenses

[NCangler]

RALEIGH, N.C. (July 1) — Thanks to the cooperative efforts of Progress Energy, the Tarboro Association of Saltwater Sportsman and the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, seven young anglers will be able to fish for free in North Carolina — for the rest of their lives.

The seven lucky anglers’ names were drawn from more than 3,000 other young anglers’ names to win lifetime comprehensive fishing licenses, the grand prizes offered in a statewide drawing for participants in 34 “Fish for Fun” events held during National Fishing and Boating Week, June 4-12.

The licenses, donated by the Tarboro Association of Saltwater Sportsman and Progress Energy, are valued at $250 each. They give the holders lifetime fishing privileges in all North Carolina public inland waters, including designated Public Mountain Trout Waters. The grand prize winners and the fishing events they attended during National Fishing and Boating Week are:

Andrew Beach, 12, of Raleigh who attended the Lake Wheeler Fishing Derby
Morgan McClure, 8, of Franklin who attended the fishing event at Cliffside Lake
Joshua Collart, 7, of Rocky Mount who attended the fishing event at Pell’s Pond
Collin Manning, 11, of Battleboro who attended the Indian Lake fishing event
Miranda Bethea, 6, of Fayetteville who attended the fishing event at the John E. Pechmann Fishing Education Center
Tesa Anderson, 11, of Robbinsville who attended the fishing event at Santeetlah Creek Rattlerford
Olise Obi, 10, of Hurdle Mills who attended the fishing event at Bob Strayhorn’s Pond

In addition to the seven grand prize winners, 130 other young anglers netted prizes from North Carolina’s National Fishing and Boating Week events.

Bass Pro Shops donated 50 fishing prizes, including tackle boxes, rods and reels and spools of fishing line. The Wildlife Commission also contributed prizes, including mini tackle boxes, rods, reels, fishing towels and decks of playing cards featuring 13 popular game fish species. A complete list of winners and prizes is below.

The events, coordinated by the U.S. Forest Service and the Wildlife Commission, gave kids and their parents opportunities to learn about protecting and conserving aquatic resources while enjoying the thrill of reeling in a variety of game fish. To improve fishing at these events, the Commission stocked catfish in many of these lakes and ponds, as well as trout in the mountain streams.

“We’re grateful to everyone who made the Fish for Fun events possible this year,” said Bob Curry, chief of the Commission’s Division of Inland Fisheries. “Generous donations by Progress Energy, the Tarboro Association of Saltwater Sportsman and Bass Pro Shops, along with the assistance of the U.S. Forest Service and local sponsors, make these events fun, inexpensive outings for the entire family.”

For more information on fishing in North Carolina’s inland, public waters, visit the Wildlife Commission’s Web site, www.ncwildlife.org, or call (919) 733-3633.