North Carolina Fishing Education Center Offers Free Fall Classes

**Backlash** Thu Aug 23, 2012 10:07 am

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is offering five fishing-related events, clinics and workshops this fall at the John E. Pechmann Fishing Education Center in Fayetteville. Each one is free and open to the public. For fishing events and clinics, loaner rods and reels are available free of charge on a first-come, first-serve basis. Free bait also is provided.

Sept. 5, 6, 7 - Three-Day Basic Rod-Building Course from 6:30-9 p.m. each night. This course, open to the first 15 registrants ages 14 and older, will cover the basics of building a fishing rod. Participants will make a rod to take home with them. Pre-registration is required.

Sept. 22 - 5th Annual Wildlife Expo from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. This free, family-oriented event highlighting fishing, hunting and wildlife conservation in North Carolina offers more than 15 interactive and hands-on activities, including kayaking, archery and fishing.

Oct. 13 - Fishing Skills Workshop: Bass Jigs Lure Making from 9 a.m. to noon. This basic skills workshop for participants ages 8 and older will cover the fundamentals of creating a bass jig. Pre-registration is required.

Nov. 10 - An All-Day Basic Fly-Tying Course from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. This basic skills workshop for participants ages 14 and older will cover the fundamentals of tying flies. Pre-registration is required.

Nov. 15 - Fishing Skills Workshop: Soft Plastics Lure Making from 9 a.m. to noon. This basic skills workshop for participants ages 8 and older will cover the fundamentals of creating artificial worms, lizards, crayfish and other soft plastic baits. Pre-registration is required.

For events and workshops requiring pre-registration, contact Kristopher Smith, Pechmann Center director, at 910-868-5003, ext. 14, or kris.smith@ncwildlife.org.

The John E. Pechmann Fishing Education Center is located at 7489 Raeford Road, across from Lake Rim. Wildlife Commission staff at the Pechmann Center conducts fishing workshops, events and clinics throughout the year. Most programs are free and open to the public. For more information about the center, or to check on clinics, visit www.ncwildlife.org and click the "Learning" link.

For more information on fishing in public, inland waters, visit www.ncwildlife.org/fishing.