NEWS RELEASE

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

July 8, 1999

CONTACT: Paul Thomas (941 648-3202)

FISHING TACKLE LOANER PROGRAM AT DOVER PARK

Take a public lake in a suburban setting, stock it annually with 6,000 - 9,000 channel catfish, add a free fishing tackle loaner program and guess what you have? No, it's not a dream, it's Dover Park and there's a good chance you can catch a big one.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the Dover Boys and Girls Club and the American Sportfishing Association (ASA) have teamed up to provide a great outdoor recreational opportunity for children and adults. Starting Friday, July 9, the Dover Boys and Girls Club will be loaning fishing tackle to prospective anglers, free of charge.

The fishing tackle loaner program is the brainchild of the ASA and targets those who do not have their own tackle or who are reluctant to buy their own equipment before first experiencing the thrill of fishing. With the help of the ASA, the Dover Boys and Girls Club has acquired 50 rod and reel sets from Zebco, a major manufacturer of fishing tackle. The FWC maintains the stocked lake located next to the Boys and Girls Club at Dover Park.

To get to Dover Park and the Boys and Girls Club, take State Road 60 east from Brandon to Valrico Road. Go north on Valrico Road to Martin Luther King Boulevard (MLK). Take MLK east to Gallagher Road. Turn north on Gallagher Road. Dover Park is located off the east side of Gallagher Road. (Map)

Fishing tackle will be loaned to responsible individuals for a specified period of time. Rod and reel sets will be available to new anglers on a first-come, first-served basis. The Boys and Girls Club is open Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information on the fishing tackle loaner program, contact Juli Papka at the Dover Boys and Girls Club at (813) 659-2800.