Lake Royale Youngster Receives Lifetime License

RALEIGH, N.C. (July 10, 2008) – A largemouth bass — the size that dreams are made of — has eluded his hook all summer long.

However, 10-year-old Dylan Gilbert of Lake Royale will be able to practice his technique — free for life, courtesy of Neuse Sport Shop, located in Kinston. Dylan won a lifetime fishing license — the grand prize offered in a statewide drawing for participants in 40 “Fish-for-Fun” events held during National Fishing and Boating Week last month.

He, along with his family, traveled to Raleigh on Wednesday to receive his lifetime license and certificate from Wildlife Commission Chairman Wes Seegars at a N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission’s business meeting.

The $450 license, donated by Neuse Sport Shop, gives Dylan fishing privileges in all North Carolina public waters, including coastal waters and designated Public Mountain Trout Waters, where a special trout fishing license is required.

He registered for the random drawing at a kids’ “Fish-for-Fun” event at Lake Royale in Louisburg on June 7.

Dylan, an avid angler for almost two years now, says he fishes every day — even during the school year. Now that school is out for the summer, he spends most of his time down by the lake practicing his casts and trying to reel in a lunker bass that has broken his line several times this summer. He said his most exciting fish experience so far has been hooking the “very large bass” with a Berkley Gulp red worm, getting the fish up to the dock and watching it break his line.

Dylan is the son of Betsey and Jerry Gilbert and the grandson of Harold Sines of Louisburg. He is a 5th grader at Edward Best Elementary School.

For more information on fishing in North Carolina’s public, inland waters, click here or call the Division of Inland Fisheries, (919) 707-0220.