NEWS RELEASE

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

October 14, 1998

CONTACT: Phil Chapman (941) 648-3202 or Lt. Joy M. Hill (352) 732-1225

THE BIG CATCH IS AT FISH ORLANDO!

Fishing is fun and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) wants to show both children and adults just how much fun it can be at its first ever Fish Orlando! The Big Catch event. “The Big Catch” is a half day of free fishing activities specially designed for beginning through advanced anglers who want to learn some basic fishing skills, hone existing ones or learn something brand new.

The event is being held in Orange County at Barnett Park - Lake Lawne, right next door to the Central Florida Fairgrounds on Saturday, Nov. 7, from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. It is being co-hosted by the FWC, and Orange County Parks and Recreation Department. Major sponsors include Sports Authority, E&B Marine, and Aquatic Ecosystems.

There will be 11 different mini-workshops or events from which to choose including: Introduction to Fishing and Aquatic Biology for Kids; Kids’ Fishing on the Frog Pond; Beginning Casting; Introduction to Fly Fishing; Bass Fishing Techniques; Panfishing Techniques; Where to Fish in Orlando; Intermediate to Advanced Casting Class; Fishing Especially for Ladies; Boating Safety; and Kayaking and Canoeing Basics.

Instructors and others sponsors include John Bitter, of Bitter’s Bait and Tackle, for Intermediate and Advanced Casting Class; Don Teddy, of the Back Country Fly Fishing Club, and Phil Levine, of Fish Finder Guide Service, for Panfishing Techniques; Tommy Young, of Bass Challenger Guide Service, for Bass Fishing Techniques; Dave Olsen, of the Fly Fisherman, for Introduction to Fly Fishing; local fishing expert, John Evertsen, for Where to Fish in Orlando; Ladies Bait Your Own Hook instructor, Linda Holder, for Fishing Especially for Ladies; and Travel Country Outdoors for Kayaking Basics.

In addition, there will be a computerized virtual fishing simulator, sponsored by Shimano, set up for some real virtual fun, as well as informational and educational displays, fishing literature, door prizes and fishing-related vendors displaying theirs wares.

The Big Catch is part of Fish Orlando! - a FWC program that aims to make fishing easier, more accessible and enjoyable for city-dwelling anglers or prospective anglers.

“The whole day has been planned as a way to introduce people who live in metropolitan Orlando to the fun of fishing, and to show them how easily they can do it in lakes practically right in their backyards,” said Phil Chapman, a FWC fisheries biologist and event coordinator.

Fish Orlando! was started about a year ago. Its focus is to improve fishing opportunities at about a dozen lakes in the greater Orlando area by building fishing piers, stocking fish, providing handicapped accessible fishing areas, holding fishing clinics and contests, educational workshops and more for Orlando area families and visitors. For more information on Fish Orlando! The Big Catch at Barnett Park, call the FWC at (407) 317-7329 or (352) 732-1225, Barnett Park at (407) 836-6248 or Marks Street Senior Center at (407) 245-0921.

Click here for an interactive map to Lake Lawne