Last week was the first-ever Fannin Fishing Camp sponsored by the Fannin County Recreation Department.  17 children ages 7-11 participated in a week-long camp learning how to tie hooks, cast, and the location of sweet fishing spots around Fannin County.  The last day of camp, campers fried up their week’s catch and took a dip in Lake Blue Ridge.

According to Evan, counselor-in-training, from Hemptown here are how the fishing spots that the campers went to stacked up.

Rock Creek – 42 fish, brook trout and rainbow trout

Fannin Rec Center Complex Pond – 20 fish, bass, brim and catfish

Horseshoe Bend – 4 fish, rainbow trout and horny head

Tammen Park – 0

Lake Blue Ridge – 2 fish, brim

Evan admits that the hefty haul from Rock Creek was helped by the 200 lbs of trout that the Fish Hatchery released up from the creek a few days before the fishing camp went to the creek.

When FetchYourNews asked Dalton from Morganton what he liked best about the camp, he said, “You get to fish.”

John Scalera, Director of Fannin County’s Recreation Department, set up the Fishing Camp based on his experience working with the Fishing Camp that Cherokee County Recreation Department set up.  The first year Cherokee County only had 15 kids, now the fishing camp fills up within thirty minutes of opening registration.  Next year, Mr. Scalera hopes to have two camps sessions with 25 campers in each session.

Jared from Mineral Bluff hopes the next Fishing Camp will be two weeks instead of one.  “It was awesome!” he says.