Nutmeg volunteers needed for Operation Fishing Pole

Bridgeport Police have raised enough funds to give 300 10- and 11-year-old at-risk inner city Bridgeport youths a Shakespeare spinning fishing kit (rod, reel, line, bobber and bait). The idea is to give these children a healthy form of recreation to keep them away from trouble, especially when school is not in session.

On Saturday, April 13, from 9 a.m. to noon, Bridgeport Police, in collaboration with the Connecticut DEEP’s CARE volunteers, Beardsley Zoo and Nutmeg TU, will hold a rapid fishing class at the Hanson Exploration Station at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo. A minimum of nine volunteers are needed; no prior knowledge is required except for some very basic fishing know-how. Volunteers are asked to arrive at 8 a.m. to help assemble a few rods and to review the lessons (casting, a basic knot tying, fish ID, as well as a very quick overview of basic safety and what the Angler’s Guide is) for the day.

Volunteers will assemble the remaining 280 fishing rod and reel kits after training on April 13.

On April 20, 15 to 20 Nutmeg volunteers are needed when the kids get to go fishing from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The group will fish near where the Pequonnock River meets Bunnell Pond at Beardsley Park. For safety, there must be one instructor for every three children.

Children will begin to arrive between 8 and 9 a.m., and will fish from 10 a.m. to noon. After trophies are awarded at noon, there will be a barbeque.

Children will receive a free pass to Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo.

Information can be obtained by emailing admin@nutmegtrout.org. Updates will be at nutmegtrout.org.