Young Anglers Win Lifetime Licenses

Hamlet anglers, Drew Norton, 8, and Dalton Leviner, 6, proudly display a stringer of bream they reeled in during the kids' Fish For Fun event at McKinney Lake. Media: A hi-res version of this image may be downloaded here. Please credit the NC Wildlife Resources Commission.

RALEIGH, N.C. (June 30) – “I don’t like to bait the hook, but I love to fish, especially for catfish,” said 12-year-old angler, Katie Paxton, of Fayetteville. Thanks to Progress Energy and the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, Katie, along with Payton Robinson of Highlands and Emily Blaylock of Thomasville, will be able to indulge that passion for the rest of their lives — without ever having to pay for a fishing license!

The three lucky anglers’ names were drawn from more than 2,100 other young anglers’ names to win lifetime comprehensive fishing licenses, the grand prizes offered in a statewide drawing for participants in 25 Commission-supported “Fish For Fun” events held during National Fishing and Boating Week, June 5-13.

The licenses, donated by Progress Energy and valued at $250 each, give Katie, Emily and Payton lifetime fishing privileges in all North Carolina public waters, including designated Public Mountain Trout Waters.

“We’re grateful to everyone who made the Fish for Fun events possible this year,” said Bob Curry, program manager for the Commission’s Division of Inland Fisheries. “The Wildlife Commission has always been a local supporter of kids’ fishing events by supplying fishing ‘grab bags,’ staffing fishing events and stocking fish in public waters. However, generous donations by Progress Energy and Bass Pro Shops, along with the assistance of the U.S. Forest Service and local sponsors, have made these events fun outings for the entire family.”

Katie, who fishes often with her dad, Jerome and 15-year-old sister Tabitha, reeled in an impressive stringer of nine channel catfish from Lake Rim during the June 5 kids’ fishing event at the Wildlife Commission’s Fayetteville Fishing Center in Cumberland County.

Bass Pro Shops donated 50 fishing-related prizes, including tackle boxes, rods and reels and spools of fishing line.

Emily, another avid catfish angler, reeled in two whoppers from Oak Hollow Lake during the youth fishing derby on June 5. Emily, the 6-year-old daughter of Brandy Morris, began fishing at the tender age of 4 and goes fishing with her family about twice a month.

Five-year-old Payton, who is new to the sport of fishing, was one of 84 young anglers who attended the June 5 Kids’ Fishing Day at Cliffside Lake. Payton is the son of Charissa Robinson, also of Highlands.

In addition to Katie, Payton and Emily, 102 other anglers netted prizes at the fishing clinics, which were held statewide in celebration of National Fishing and Boating Week.

Progress Energy donated the lifetime fishing licenses, while Bass Pro Shops donated 50 fishing-related prizes, including tackle boxes, rods and reels and spools of fishing line. The Wildlife Commission also contributed prizes. A complete list of winners and prizes are listed below.

National Fishing and Boating Week gives children and their families an opportunity to learn about protecting and conserving aquatic resources while enjoying the thrill of reeling in a variety of fishes. To improve fishing at these events, the Wildlife Commission stocked catfish and sunfish in many of these lakes and ponds, as well as trout in the mountain streams.

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