HARTFORD, Conn. — The Connecticut B.A.S.S. Federation Nation helped add a new twist to the fishing segment of the Riverfront Recapture's A Sporting Chance for Youth Day, June 13.
For the third year, the Connecticut was involved in the Riverfront Recapture event, which gives inner city children a chance to participate in sports such as football, orienteering, rock climbing, soccer, rowing, golf, basketball and fishing. Riverfront Recapture is a nonprofit organization that advocates access to the Connecticut River through a network of parks and public recreational facilities.
In previous youth days, the Federation Nation volunteers helped the kids fish from piers. "This year [the event coordinators] wanted to add boats to the event, so four members brought their boats down," said David Santos, conservation director for the state chapter. Bryan McCleary, Paul Dingee, Jim Morris and Jerry Hammond took kids out in their boats, one or two children at a time, in 30-minute intervals.
Santos estimated that 800 kids participated in the overall event, and many of the youngsters tried the fishing. "We would do it in shifts giving them 15 to 20 minutes [on the pier] and then we would switch out and bring another group of kids down," said Santos.