Kids learn fishing skills at free clinic in Elkhart

ELKHART, Ind. (WNDU) - The Elkhart Environmental Center, City Parks and Recreation, and Aquatic Biology departments hosted their second annual free fishing clinic for kids at High Dive Park on Saturday.

Kids in attendance visited five stations to learn the basics of fishing, such as safely casting your line, knot tying, and basic tackle.

Afterwards, they were welcome to fish around High Dive Pond, where volunteers were available to help first-timers get a good start with their newly learned skills.

“There’s lots of water here, but not everybody gets a chance to learn how to fish,” said Jeff Zavatsky, director of the Elkhart Environmental Center. “I was very lucky. I had grandma and grandpa on the lake. I grew up fishing. I know how to fish, but not everybody has that. So, this a way for somebody to learn fishing and maybe not have been exposed to that.”

The first set of kids to complete Saturday’s clinic were also given their very own fishing rod.