PIERRE PART, La. — Bassmaster Elite Series pro Cliff Crochet and members of the Louisiana B.A.S.S. Nation taught 50 children about fishing during the Youth Fishing Day, July 20 at Bayside Tackle in Pierre Part, La.
The day camp was the first in a series of annual events to come. Children ages 5 to 17 attended a series of half-hour-long seminars taught by Crochet and anglers from the Louisiana B.A.S.S. Nation anglers.
“We taught a lot of different skills at the camp,” said Crochet, “including a boat walk-through, boating safety, knot tying, rigging live bait, casting, flipping, pitching and moving baits.
“It was an introduction to fishing for some of the kids, but for others it was a workshop on how to improve as an angler,” Crochet continued. “Our goal was to target different groups of kids from those who have never fished to those who go out regularly.”
Each participant in the camp received a gift bag containing merchandise from event sponsors, including a Skeeter Boats hat, Rat-L-Trap and Luck-E-Strike lures, and a Bass Pro Shops gift card, plus merchandise from Biobor, Falcon Rods, Humdinger Baits and Flambeau Outdoors.
“The camp was a great success,” said JD Blackburn, who helped organize the Youth Fishing Day, “and we are definitely planning on making it an annual event. We hope all the kids from this year come back and bring their friends.
“Without the help of Sara Theriot and State Farm Agent Cliff Ourso, this event wouldn’t have been possible,” added Blackburn.
See photos from this event and keep up with announcements for next year’s event here.