There's an old fishing expression that says ‘you've got to fish where the fish are. That's getting harder and harder these days as more of us live in urban settings.
A unique inner city fishing experience is available in Calgary and fishing groups hope it attracts a whole new generation of anglers.
The problem surfacing in the sport fishing world is not the disappearance of fish populations, but a decrease in new anglers, especially young ones.
“It's a problem that exists right across Canada,” says Don Pike with Trout Unlimited.
Many youngsters don't ever get a chance to cast a line.
“There's a lot of competition for kids recreational time,” says Pike.
If the city kids can't get to where the fish are, one solution is to move the fish to where the city kids are.
And that's what's happening in Calgary.
On Saturday, the “Kids can catch” pond opened at the Bow Habitat Station inside Pearce Estates Park.
“We always want to encourage that our youth will continue to make fishing very important in their lives,” says Diana McQueen, Alberta Environment Minister. “I think this is one way that we can do that.”
Stocked with 200 rainbow trout, the catch and release pond cost $750,000. Most of the money came from taxpayers.
The Alberta Environment Minister claims the money was well spent.
“It's one of many opportunities that as Albertans we provide to our youth so they can grow in many different ways,” says McQueen.
Young fishers here maintain angling makes them into environmentalists.
“For us, the environment isn't just something that's just there, it's more something that's part of your life,” says Colton Quinn. “We are directly connected to it.”
July 7 and 8 is considered a free fishing weekend where anyone can fish in Alberta without a fishing license.
The catch and release pond at the Bow Habitat Station is free to children under the age of sixteen. Anyone sixteen or older can use the pond if they have a valid fishing license.
