Angler Education Program Schedule

2013 Schedule of Festivals, Clinics & Courses

No fishing license is required at the listed fishing events below! This schedule will be updated as events are confirmed throughout the year.

Some of the festivals below are annual events, occuring at about the same time of year. If you are part of an organization that would like to host a fishing clinic or to set up a fishing festival, contact our coordinator, Jim Lagacy at (508) 389-6309.

2013 EVENTS

April

April 21 -- Kids Casting Day, Earth Day at Springfield Science Museum, Springfield -- While celebrating Earth Day at the Museum Quad, take the opportunity to try your hand at casting at the Kids Casting station with the Angler Education Program. The event runs from 11AM - 4PM. For more information, contact the Springfield Science museum at (413) 263-6800 or at their website.

May

May 4 -- Westborough Spring Fishing Challenge, Westborough -- On the shores of Sandra Pond from 9am - 1:00pm. If you have fishing equipment, bring it along. A limited quantity of fishing equipment and bait will be available by MassWildlife's Angler Education Program. Contact: Jim Lagacy at jim.lagacy@state.ma.us or call (508) 389-6309.

May 4 -- Needham Recreation Family Fishing Derby, Needham -- On the shores of Needham Reservoir from 9am - 2:00pm, cast a line, learn about fish in our waters, safety, ethics, and fishing equipment. If you have fishing equipment, bring it along. A limited quantity of fishing equipment and bait will be available. MassWildlife is participating in this festival in cooperation with the Needham Recreation Commission. Contact: Karen Pierce (781) 455-7521.

May 4 -- Snows Pond Family Fishing Festival, Charlton -- On the shores of Snows Pond, located at Fay Mountain Farm off Cemetary Rod from 10:00am - 2:00pm, cast a line, learn about fish in our waters, safety, ethics, and fishing equipment. If you have fishing equipment, bring it along. A limited quantity of fishing equipment and bait will be available. MassWildlife is participating in this festival in cooperation with the Charlton Conservation Commission. Contact: Charlton Conservation Commission, Todd P. Girard (508) 248-2247 or email: todd.girard@townofcharlton.net

May 5 -- Brookline Reservoir Family Fishing Festival, Brookline--On the shores of Brookline Reservoir, from 9:00am - Noon, cast a line, learn about fish in our waters, safety, ethics, and fishing equipment. If you have fishing equipment, bring it along. A limited quantity of fishing equipment and bait will be available. MassWildlife is participating in this festival in cooperation with the Brookline Recreation Department. Contact Stephanie Springer by email sspringer@brooklinema.gov.

May 11 -- US Fish & Wildlife Service Kids Fishing Event, Hadley -- Bring your kids to the US Fish and Wildlife Service Regional HQ off Rtes 9 and 116 on 300 Westgate Center Drive, Hadley. MassWildlife's Angler Education Program is providing a limited quantity of fishing equipment for this event. For more information, contact Sam Parker at samual_parker@fws.gov or call (413) 253-8517.

May 11 -- Coes Pond Kids Fishing Derby, Worcester -- On the shores of Coes Pond, from 8:00am - 11:00am, cast a line, learn about fish in our waters, safety, ethics, and fishing equipment. If you have fishing equipment, bring it along. A limited quantity of fishing equipment and bait will be available. MassWildlife's Angler Education Program is participating in this festival in cooperation with the Worcester Fish & Game Association. Contact Jim Lagacy at (508) 389-6309 or email jim.lagacy@state.ma.us.

May 18 -- Disabled American Veterans Fishing Festival, Marlborough--This special festival is open to disabled veterans only at the Marlborough Fish and Game Club, 10:00 - 2:00pm. The Angler Education Program is partnering with the Marlboro Fish and Game Club. Contact Jim Lagacy at (508) 389-6309 or jim.lagacy@state.ma.us.

May 18 - Burlington Recreation Department Family Fishing Festival, Burlington -- On the shores of Burlington Reservoir, from 9:00 am - Noon, cast a line, learn about fish in our waters, safety, ethics, and fishing equipment. If you have fishing equipment, bring it along. A limited quantity of fishing equipment and bait will be available. DFW's Angler Education Program is participating in this festival in cooperation with the Burlington Recreation Department. Contact the Burlington Recreation Department at (781) 270-1695 for more details.

May 19 -- Whitmans Pond Family Fishing Festival, Weymouth -- On the shores of Whitman pond, from 10 AM - 2 PM, cast a line, learn about fish in our waters, safety, ethics, and fishing equipment. If you have fishing equipment, bring it along. A limited quantity of fishing equipment and bait will be available. MassWildlife's Angler Education Program is participating in this festival in cooperation with the Whitman's Pond Association and Weymouth Youth and Family Services. Contact Marie Feely at (781) 340-6976 for more details.

June

June 1 & 2 -- STATEWIDE FREE FISHING WEEKEND! Take a friend or family member fishing for free--you won't need a fishing license to fish any waterbody statewide for these two days! It is time well spent with family and friends. Your purchase of a fishing license directly supports fishing, stocking, education and fish habitat management programs.

June 1 -- Great Falls Family Fishing Day, Turners Falls -- On the bank of the Connecticut River, at Turners Falls (Montague) from 10 AM - 2 PM, cast a line, learn about fish in our waters, safety, ethics, and fishing equipment. If you have fishing equipment, bring it along. A limited quantity of fishing equipment and bait will be available. MassWildlife is participating in this festival in cooperation with the Friends of Great Falls Discovery Center and the US Fish & Wildlife Service. Contact Sarah Bevilacqua at (413) 863-3676 or Sarah_Bevilacqua@fws.gov for more details.

June 2 -- 22nd Annual Horn Pond Family Fishing Festival, Woburn -- On the shores of Horn Pond from 9 AM - 1 PM, cast a line, learn about fish in our waters, safety, ethics, and fishing equipment. If you have fishing equipment, bring it along. A limited quantity of fishing equipment and bait will be available. MassWildlife is participating in this festival in cooperation with the Woburn Elks. Contact Jim Lagacy at at (508) 389-6309 or jim.lagacy@state.ma.us.

June 8 -- Spot Pond Family Fishing Festival, Stoneham -- On the shores of Spot Pond (at Middlesex Fells Reservation) from 9 AM - 1 PM, cast a line, learn about fish in our waters, safety, ethics, and fishing equipment. If you have fishing equipment, bring it along. A limited quantity of fishing equipment and bait will be available. MassWildlife is participating in this festival in cooperation with the Department of Conservation and Recreation and the Stoneham Police Department. For more information, contact Jim Lagacy at at (508) 389-6309 or jim.lagacy@state.ma.us.

June 22 -- Family Fishing Day at Great Meadows, Sudbury -- From 10 AM - 2 PM, cast a line, learn about fish in our waters, safety, ethics, and fishing equipment at the Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge. If you have fishing equipment, bring it along. A limited quantity of fishing equipment and bait will be available. MassWildlife is participating in this festival in cooperation with the US Fish & Wildlife Service. Contact Susan Russo at (978) 443-4661 x34 or Susan J Russo@fws.gov for more details.

July

August

September

September 22 -- Fishing at the Massachusetts Outdoor Expo (The Big MOE), Sturbridge Learn about fishing from MassWildlife's Angler Education Program and many other fun outdoor and nature related activities at The Big MOE located on the Hamilton Rod and Gun Club grounds. Organized by FAWNS (Facts About Wildlife and Nature Society) this outdoor extravaganza is packed with activities for the whole family! For more information on MOE, contact Gary Zima at (508) 389-6314.
September 28 -- Friends of Myles Standish State Forest 5th Annual Take Me Fishing Event, Carver-- This family-friendly event will be at Fearing Pond at Myles StandishState Forest. It will be held from 10:00 - 3:00 pm in cooperation with the Friends of Myles Standish State Forest and the Department of Conservation and Recreation. Angler Education Program volunteers will be on hand to help novices cast a line, learn about fish in our waters, safety, ethics, and fishing equipment. If you have fishing equipment, bring it along. A limited quantity of fishing equipment and bait will be available. For more information, contact Sharl Heller at slheller@comcast.net