Special thank you to CTFISHERMAN members!
The DEEP - Fisheries Division - Connecticut Aquatic Resources Education (CARE) program would like to once again thank all the attendees at the 2016 and 2017 Game Dinners for your continued a portion of the proceeds to help the future of fishing.

This year, the CARE program has used the donation proceeds to purchase 81 spincast rod and reel combinations for distribution to children and families who attend CARE Family Fishing classes and events. We were also able to purchase 48 jars of PowerBait to be distributed to families at our “FREE Family Fishing day” on May 13th at Chatfield Hollow State Park.

One of the most significant hurdles families face in continuing to fish on their own after taking a CARE class is obtaining quality gear. The CARE program supplies rods for students to borrow during class fishing field trips, but some cannot afford to purchase rods for their entire family to continue fishing on their own. CARE staff attending Family Fishing classes are able to assess the enthusiasm and need in families, and ask about barriers stopping them from continued angling. If the answer is “we can’t afford to buy fishing equipment”, CTFISHERMAN’s donation will make it possible to supply such families with a couple of these donated rods to get them started.

We all know that once a kid gets a new rod they will be bugging their parents to get them out on the water!

The Fisheries Division and CARE would like to welcome all members of CTFISHERMAN to visit us at Chatfield Hollow State Park in Killingworth on May 13 from 9:00am to 3:00pm for our annual “Free Family Fishing Day”, and you can see (and take part in) what we do with all the donations you have given us over the years! If you are interested, please contact Tom or Justin at (860) 663-1656.

Thanks again for your continued support!

Justin Wiggins and Tom Bourret