For Release: Tuesday, October 12, 2004
DEC and State Parks Announce Fall Fishing, Children's Festival
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Erin M. Crotty today announced that DEC, in cooperation with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP), "The Fishing Line" radio and television shows, and Entenmann's Bakery, will hold the annual Fall Fishing and Children's Festival on Saturday, October 23, 2004 at Hempstead Lake State Park, West Hempstead, Nassau County. This special day also marks the 75th anniversary of this beautiful New York State park.
"The Fall Fishing and Children's Festival is a great way to enjoy the outdoors and learn something about the great sport of freshwater fishing,"Commissioner Crotty said. "The festival combines the opportunity to fish with a variety of children's activities to provide a rewarding family experience."
No fishing licenses will be required for the special event. Admission is $3 for all those over 12 years of age and the vehicle use fee of $6 will be in effect also.
Rich Johnson, host and creator of "The Fishing Line" television and radio shows, said "We've been associated with this program from its inception in 1992 and are very proud to be part of it. This festival is a great way to get parents and kids together for a day of family fishing."
Festival activities begin at 10 a.m. and include fly fishing instruction, fishing instruction, a bass fishing seminar, free fish cleaning services, loaner rods and free bait. Additionally, a display area will be set up by DEC and local fishing clubs.
Children's activities will also begin at 10 a.m. and include an inflatable slide, pumpkin decorating, a magic show, and face painting. A casting contest in which kids can "catch" a pumpkin or "hook" a prize will be held. Prizes will be supplied by the Westbury Sports Authority, Hempstead Tent City, and Orvis. The Atlantic Bassmasters will also be holding a Casting Kids Contest.
Hempstead Lake State Park will be celebrating its 75th anniversary with a special cake provided by King Kullen to be shared with all patrons at the park that day.
The festival is also the highlight of the special fall trout stocking program in Nassau and Suffolk counties. Prior to the festival, South and McDonald Ponds in Hempstead Lake State Park will be stocked by OPRHP. Upper Twin Pond, Oyster Bay Mill Pond, Massapequa Reservoir and Massapequa Creek, and 12 Suffolk County lakes will be stocked with trout by DEC before October 20, 2004. The stocking will provide excellent prospects for fall fishing in Nassau and Suffolk counties. A second DEC stocking is expected to occur by Veterans Day, November 11, 2004.
In the event of rainy weather, call the DEC Bureau of Fisheries at (631) 444-0280 or Hempstead Lake State Park at (516) 766-1029 for event status. There is no rain date for this event.
To get to the Hempstead Lake State Park, take the Southern State Parkway to exit 18 off the Southern State Parkway. Make a right at the stop sign on the end of the exit ramp (coming from either the east or the west) to enter the park.
For more information about the festival or the fall trout stocking program in Nassau and Suffolk counties, call the DEC Bureau of Fisheries at (631) 444-0280. You can also find information on the festival at www.thefishingline.com/. General information on freshwater fishing on Long Island can be found on the DEC website.
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