By Dominic Abassi

Free family fun on the line for Fishing Day at Colliery Dam

Jun 18, 2017 | 8:59 AM

NANAIMO — Whether you’re an avid angler or a freshman fishermen, Nanaimo’s Colliery Dam Park is the place to be this Father’s Day.

The City of Nanaimo and several local community groups, inlcuding Fishing for Fun, are hosting the fifth annual Family Fishing Day on Sunday, June 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the lower dam.

The City’s recreation coordinator Deb Beck said the event typically draws a few hundred people.

“It’s a free event, it’s a great thing to do as a family. Just exposing kids, or even adults, to this as a recreational sport…Being exposed to being outside, learning how to fish and using that as a recreational activity that you can do for life,” Beck said.

Beck said all of the gear you need to catch a trout from the freshly stocked lake will be there free to use, as well as people to offer advice and tips.

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“Last year actually we had lots of our new immigrants coming to give it a try and the smiles on their faces as they were throwing their lines into the water was really cool.”

It’s also Family Fishing Weekend province-wide, which means you don’t need a licence to cast a line, although a few specific regulations still apply.

The weekend has grown from four coordinated events in 2002 to nearly 50 across B.C. this year, according to Owen Bird with the Family Fishing Society of BC.

“In a world where there’s a lot of distractions there has been a decline in folks getting out and buying (fishing) licences,” Bird said. “The thought was if we could reintroduce people, or introduce kids, they’d appreciate what a great opportunity we have in this province.”

Bird said stats show if you fish before the age of 14, you’re 80 per cent more likely to do it as an adult.

Several other community groups will be in Colliery Dam Park Sunday offering demos. At 1 p.m., kids will be able to grab a bucket and release trout into the lake.

dom@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @domabassi