A popular Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Region 6 program that allows children to check out free fishing rods and tackle has been expanded again this year.

 

The “Kids to Fish” program allows youngsters to check out fishing rods and reels and basic tackle for free at 47 different sites across Montana’s Hi-Line. Nationally known rod and reel manufacturers and tackle retailers D & G Sports & Western in Glasgow and Stromberg’s Sinclair and the Big R store in Havre give FWP substantial discounts that help keep the program sustainable.

 

New loaner sites have been set up this year at the Rock Creek Marina on Fort Peck Reservoir, the Bainville School, R & C’s Daily Grind in Saco, and the TruValue Hardware store in Scobey.  

 

The sturdy loaner rods come rigged with bobbers, split-shot and hooks. Bait is not provided, so young anglers participating in the program have to supply their own leeches, minnows, worms or lures. Youngsters are required to sign out the equipment and return it in good working order within a reasonable amount of time.

 

FWP Region 6 aquatic education intern Adam Sieges, a senior at the University of Montana-Western in Dillon, has been busy maintaining the gear and helping resupply the sites this summer.

 

Sieges said more than 400 fishing rods are now available to be checked out from the outlets by individuals, families, organizations, church groups and schools. The Region 6 Kids to Fish loaner program was first established in 2007.

 

“Just because someone doesn’t own a fishing rod doesn’t mean they can’t go fishing,” Sieges said. “We want as many kids as possibly to be able to go out and fish, no matter where they live. The many business owners and other folks who participate in the program deserve special thanks. They’re helping a lot of kids have fun.”

 

Fishing rods and tackle are now available to check out at these locations:

 

GLASGOW

FWP Region 6 headquarters

City-County Library

Cottonwood Inn

Ezzie’s West End Conoco

Glasgow Recreation Department

FORT PECK

Downstream (Kiwanis) Campground

Fort Peck Fish Hatchery

Lakeridge Store & Tackle Shop

Fort Peck Marina

Fort Peck Interpretive Center

Rock Creek Marina

HINSDALE

·         Gouse Engraving & Gun Sales

SACO

R & C’s Daily Grind

Sleeping Buffalo Hot Springs store & café (near Nelson Reservoir)

MALTA

Phillips County Library

DODSON

Al’s Town & Country Store

FORT BELKNAP AGENCY

Kwik Stop store

HARLEM

EZ Mart store

CHINOOK

Finley’s Food Farm

HAVRE AREA

FWP Havre Office

Stromberg’s Sinclair

Hill County Library

The Walleye Tavern (near Fresno Reservoir)

GILDFORD

·         Gildford Mercantile

HINGHAM

·         Spencer’s Hi-Way Bar & Grill

 

RUDYARD

·         Sorehead Cafe

BOX ELDER

·         Jitter Bugs store

ROCKY BOY AGENCY

Chippewa-Cree Tribal TANF office

BIG SANDY

The Grocery Store

LOMA

Midway Mercantile

NASHUA

B&B Foods

Bergie’s ice cream store

FRASER

·         Boys & Girls Club

WOLF POINT

Cenex West station

POPLAR

Tribal Express store

BROCKTON

B & S Quick Stop

BAINVILLE

·         Bainville School (Chuck Hyatt, 769-7111)

CULBERTSON

Culbertson Library

FROID

·         Froid Grocery

MEDICINE LAKE

Lake Pit Stop store

PLENTYWOOD

Sheridan County Library

Ace Hardware

FLAXVILLE

·         Grain Growers Oil Company store

SCOBEY

Grain Growers Oil Company store

TruValue Hardware

OPHEIM

Pro Co-op Ag Center