U-Fishing with Fannin Fishing Club at Mercier’s Orchards

Glorious spring weather made fishing comfortable for the young kids at Mercier Orchards at the spring U-Fish on Saturday, May 7th.  The Fannin Fishing Club was there to make it successful for the kids by helping them bait hooks, cast and unhook fish.

Fannin County Fishing Club is in its first year.  The club is for students from 7th to 12th grades.  The club is sponsored through Fannin County schools, but receives monetary support from various local and commercial sponsors.  Club members compete against other schools and organizations in fishing tournaments as local as Lake Nottely and as far as Lake Chickamagua.  Some of the competitions have as many as 644 people (322 boats) out in two-man teams.

Wesley Chastain is Fannin County Fishing Club’s coach.  He works in the maintenance department for the Fannin County School System.  Mr. Chastain volunteered to start the club  because he wanted to give students a chance to get “hooked into” fishing and receive guidance while they are at it.  Also, he is thinking about the students’ education after high school.  Mr. Chastain states that many colleges now have competitive fishing teams and the schools offer athletic scholarships for team members.  In fact, Mr. Chastain has already arranged scholarships for club members.  The Lake Blue Ridge Civic Association is giving $2,000 scholarships to team members to use for university, college or technical school training.  Mr. Chastain invites local fishing enthusiasts to see pictures of the Fishing Clubs’ competitions on the Fannin Fishing Clubs’ Instagram page.