Free Fishing Days and Fishing Rodeo is This Weekend

Last weekend was Missouri’s chance to fish its lakes and streams for free without a license and this weekend it is Illinois’ turn.

Every year when this weekend comes around I think of all the times Dennis Oliver and I would go out and fish live on the air.  Sometimes we were at the Mississippi River and other times at ponds and lakes in the area. Oh, I have caught a few fish during our live broadcast times, but Mr. Oliver never caught a fish with me during those times. Not one fish has ever been harvested by him in over those 20 or so years.

Well, we have had some fun trying to catch fish.So with that in mind, one time a few years ago, we did the "live" fishing thing and I made sure he caught some fish. He drove the station van to Moorman Lake, the site of this Saturday's Quincy Park District Fishing Rodeo, and I was already there with two poles with lines cast into the water.

One was mine and the other was for Dennis. My line had a worm on it and his was resting beneath the water on the bottom of the lake.  Once he was set to join me we talked a bit and then it happened. I turned to him and said he "had a bite". With all kinds of excitement he began to reel in his catch. He turned that handle on the reel as fast as he could and as it came out of the water there it was in all its glory. A yellow mesh bag with a can of tuna fish inside it. I finally got to witness him catch some fish. We still laugh about that today.

It's a laugh and a memory we share every year. You too can share or make new memories during Free Fishing Days in Illinois.  In Illinois you can fish without a license from Friday, June 14 through Monday, June 17.

So grab that old rod and reel you haven't touched in years and take you kids or grand- kids fishing to the Fishing Rodeo this weekend. The Quincy Park District and Townsquare Media (Y101/KICK-FM/KICK-AM/KHMO) are presenting the free ‘Fishing Rodeo’ at Moorman Park Lake and all ages are welcomed. It starts with registration at 12:30 p.m. Saturday and fishing from 1:00 to 2:45 at Moorman Park, the site of Dennis Oliver's "catch". Prizes will be awarded.

I guarantee you will make some memories.