Fly Fishing, Nature in Store for Campers

When school is out for the summer, 20 kids will get to do something most people don't because it's against the rules—fish in the lake at .

For children ages 8 to 14, the preserve is set to host a Youth Fishing and Outdoor Camp—along with and its more than 50 years of experience as a sport-fishing outfitter—on June 6 and 8.

"Last year, was a sponsor of our Family Festival and had a fly-fishing and fly-tying demonstration at the preserve," Executive Director Marina Robertson said in a press release. "A big part of Cohutta’s mission is to educate and advocate for preservation of unspoiled spaces, so there is a huge overlap in our missions."

The camp was a natural step due to that overlap.

Cohutta co-owner Andy Bowen said he’s looking forward to working with Pettit Preserve during camp. "The Preserve property is perfect for an outdoor camp and we are very excited about having our first youth camp with the Pettit Preserve as our partner."

Limited to 10 participants per day, a key feature of the camp is a low student-to-instructor ratio. The lucky campers will use the skills they learn to catch fish in Pettit Preserve Lake.

A U.S. Coast Guard licensed captain, Bowen and his staff will lead the camps.

Bowen grew up in south Georgia, where there were a lot of opportunities for largemouth and bream fishing along the Flint River. In 30 years of fishing, Bowen has been to the Virgin Islands, Mexico, Costa Rica, Chile and the Florida Keys, the Outer Banks of North Carolina and the rivers of the western U.S. He is a member of CCA, Trout Unlimited (Coosa Valley Chapter), Bonefish and Tarpon Unlimited, and the Atlanta Fly Fishing Club.

The deadline to register children for camp is Friday, May 25.

Geared toward children ages 8 to 10, the June 6 camp is set to include sessions on ecosystems, the identification of animal tracks and freshwater fish, gear and equipment, and casting.

The June 8 camp, for kids 11 to 14 years old, also is set for ecosystems and animal track and freshwater fish identification, but will introduce campers to fly fishing through exploring fish food, fly tying, spinning and fly casting.

Wednesday, June 6

• 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• For children ages 8 to 10.
• Includes cookout lunch, T-shirt, small group instruction and equipment use for fly fishing, spinning rods, fish identification and natural resource education.
• Requires a minimum of six participants, but is limited to 10.
• The cost is $75 per camper.
• Drop off and pick up participants at Pettit Environmental Preserve.

Friday, June 8

• 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• For children ages 11 to 14. 
• Includes cookout lunch, T-shirt, small group instruction and equipment use for fly fishing, fish identification and natural resource education.
• Requires a minimum of six participants, but is limited to 10.
• The cost is $95 per camper.
• Drop off and pick up participants at Pettit Environmental Preserve.

For more information, call Cohutta Fishing Company at 770-606-1100 or visit the store at 487 E. Main St. in Cartersville. Registration forms are available at the store or online at www.pettitpreserve.org/current-events/camps.