BY DANI TIETZ
dani@mahometnews.com
The Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve will host Take Me Fishing on July 27 from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Boathouse Peninsula.
The Champaign County Forest Preserve puts on family-friendly fishing events throughout its parks each year to promote the park system and to encourage children to be active. Other locations include the Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve.
Children age 17 and under can compete in a fishing derby. Three medals are awarded at the end of the derby to the child who caught the most fish, the biggest fish, and to the child who showed good sportsmanship.
Guides are available throughout the event to hand out bait or extra fishing supplies, to measure and record all the fish.
The Champaign County Forest Preserve provides cane poles and bait for guests who need them, but everyone is also welcome to bring their own pole, too.
Instruction stations will run continuously throughout the event for children who have never fished or used a cane pole. They will learn how to drop the line in the water, what to do when you get a fish on the hook and how to remove the fish from the hook.
All children under 15 must be accompanied by an adult. All fishing is catch and release.
Under the IDNR, anglers 16 and under are not required to have a fishing license. Adults fishing in these events should purchase a license. This event is free and open to the public.
