It's hard to pack a fishing rod when you are going on vacation, thankfully travellers won't have to anymore because of a new program called Go Fish BC! Rod Loan Program.
The Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC (FFSBC), the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, Tourism BC and the Angler's Atlas have joined forces to create the Go Fish BC! Rod Loan Program, to promote sport fishing in Northwestern B.C.
"British Columbia has some of the best fishing and this program enables anyone in the Quesnel, Williams Lake, Prince George or Terrace areas, caught without a fishing rod handy, to try out one of our favourite pastimes," said Pat Bell, minister of jobs, tourism, and Innovation.
Under this program, anglers can stop at one of the participating visitor centres, and purchase a freshwater fishing license, borrow a rod, reel and tackle box and receive the latest information on local fishing hot spots before heading out and trying their luck on the water.
"The program is really going over well... we are constantly hearing feedback about how fortunate we are to live here," said Sherry Powney, manager of visitor services for Tourism Prince George.
"Over the past decade we've been steadily reducing the barriers to sport fishing," said FFSBC president Don Peterson.
"We're stocking lakes, we're improving fishing opportunities, we're teaching would-be anglers how to fish and now we're even loaning people fishing gear."
Once visitors rent rods and tackle boxes and get licensed they are directed to local stocked lakes, Ferguson Lake and Shane Lake, "they have a better chance of catching a fish that way," said Powney.
"Visitors just need to bring their spirit of adventure," said Angler's Atlas president Sean Simmons.
The rods are available to rent for free at the Prince George Visitors Centre at 1300 First Avenue or at the temporary summer location at the Mr. P.G. statue.
For more information on the rod rental program, visit www.tourismpg.com
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