ANSONIA – The Light Foundation’s Hooked on Fishing partnered with the Mississinawa Valley third graders, hosted by SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions), for a fishing experience.
“We have many students out here,” said Light Foundation Chief Operations Officer Troy Eden. “Many of the older students are mentoring; they each have two or three kids. We have 50 kids out participating, and 25 SADD students who are helping.”
“This is our fourth year,” Eden continued. “It is a great event. Kids are catching fish and having a lot of fun.”
The event teaches young people to fish, provides better local fishing opportunities, and gives participants an understanding of and a greater appreciation for natural resources.
The Light Foundation believes fishing is a great way for families to spend time together outdoors, and their events give hundreds of young people each summer a chance to experience the thrill of the sport — some for their very first time.
At each event, information is provided on fish and aquatic life, rules and regulations for fishing, as well as basic instruction on baiting a hook, tying a knot, casting, important tactics on how to catch a fish, and finally, how to handle and return fish to the water. Each event includes the provision of rods, reels, bait, and tackle to participants for 90 minutes of catch-and-release fishing.
“We start the day with some trivia,” Eden noted. “We talk about how fish live, they need clean waters, the anatomy of the fish, what to look for when you’re fishing, and catch and release. We like to return the fish healthy to the water.”
“We ask questions, including what kind of fish do you think live in this pond, and how do ponds get populated?” Eden added. “We talk about kindness, being a good citizen, helping someone fishing beside you that needs help, helping them out, pay it forward. We talk integrity, what does integrity mean, what does it mean, service before self, helping your community before you help yourself, we add leadership lessons into it.”
The next Light Foundation Hooked on Fishing currently has three more events scheduled, with the next set for May 17, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the foundation’s Chenoweth Trails, located west of Greenville.
“Everyone is invited,” said Light Foundation Program and Marketing Manager Brandi Turner.”
Please RSVP on our website MattLight72.com/RSVP
“We are open to opportunities that are open in the summer,” Turner added. “We are always looking for different places to go fishing. “If someone has a pond and we can do the event there, that would be great.”
