Fishing Festival & Heritage Centre Fun – You Choose!

OFAH FILE: 842
February 14, 2012

Fishing Festival & Heritage Centre Fun – You Choose!
OFAH is making it easy to enjoy the outdoors this winter

The Bridgenorth Panfish Festival is sure to entice families out to Bell Rotary Park on Chemong Lake for some free family fun this weekend. The third annual ice fishing festival is taking place this Saturday, February 18 from 10 am to 2 pm in conjunction with Ontario Family Fishing Events, which runs February 18-20, including Family Day. The Festival is also running a satellite event at the OFAH/Mario Cortellucci Hunting & Fishing Heritage Centre.

“The OFAH TackleShare program, sponsored by Ontario Power Generation, is proud to partner with Clear View Organizing to host the Bridgenorth Panfish Festival,” said Mike Reader, Executive Director of the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH). “We are also happy to host a special day at our Heritage Centre with lots of activities planned. Whether you can fit one or both events into your day, be sure to get out and have some fun this Saturday.”

“We are fortunate to have a year round panfish season that friends and families can enjoy at the Festival this weekend, or any time over the winter when ice conditions are safe,” said event spokesperson, Mike Brown. “There are prizes for all youth participants, food and drinks are available and a free shuttle service is being provided between the lake and designated parking spots.” Visit www.bridgenorthpanfishfestival.com for details.

The Heritage Centre is offering activities to keep the whole family busy. The event runs Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm and includes lure making, fly tying, laser shot and crafts and games, as well as free hot chocolate and popcorn. Visit www.hfhc.ca for more information.

OFAH TackleShare, sponsored by Ontario Power Generation, is an outdoor experience program that loans rods and reels to first time anglers in much the same way as libraries loan books. New this winter, the OFAH is hosting an ice fishing TackleShare loaner site at the OFAH Conservation Centre on Guthrie Drive in Peterborough. Visit www.tackleshare.com for a complete list of loaner sites.

Fast Facts:

• Ontario Family Fishing Events (OFFE) is an OFAH and Ministry of Natural Resources partnership supported by the Canadian Sportfishing Industry Association. The program includes a winter weekend and a summer event, which runs concurrent with National Fishing Week.
• Safety first. Check conditions before you head out on the ice and frequently while out. Clear ice should be at least 10 cm (4 inches) for walking. Have an emergency plan.

With 100,000 members, subscribers and supporters, and 675 member clubs, the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters is the leading nonprofit fishing, hunting and conservation-based organization in Ontario. To learn more, visit www.ofah.org.

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