CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Ohio and Erie Canal is loaded with fish and on Saturday, its shoreline will be loaded with anglers. Jesus Sanchez, Manager of Youth Outdoors for the Cleveland Metroparks will be there too.
"Here at the Ohio and Erie Canal Reservation, we're having our Fall Family Fishing Fest," he says. Fantastic! Family fun fervently fighting fierce fish.
With the help of Trout Unlimited, Jesus says they stocked, "a thousand pounds of trout, six hundred pounds of catfish."
Along with some cool fish like golden rainbow trout and albino catfish, they're giving away some cool prizes. Outdoor education specialist Elizabeth Kresse-Durkalec says, "We save the gifts and the prizes for those kids from the little ones on up to fifteen years old."
There is a special drawing for those 18 and over: A Lake Erie walleye charter with Captain Gary Norman, owner of Dog Pound Charters.
"I'm excited about this because Captain Gary is very passionate about reaching kids and getting kids hooked on fishing," adds Kresse-Durkalec.
This event is much more than prize giveaways and free stuff. It's educational. "We have a casting station. We'll have a know-your-bait station where we'll teach you how to put a worm on a hook. We also will have a know your fish identification station," explains Sanchez.
Kresse-Durkalec says fishing is something anyone at any level of skill can do and enjoy. "Fishing, I think is one of those amazing things. It goes across any culture and it's a great unifier. It's a great time to just get outside and relax with your family."
Well, the worms are ready and waiting. The event begins Saturday morning, October 15, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Rod and reels, tackle and bait are available for those who don't have it.
More from Carl Bachtel: