Mission for Fishin’

Casting contest by Mike Riordan

Mike Riordan is on a mission.



“It is my desire to give back to the community,” says the Central Square resident.

And he’s doing it in the fishiest way imaginable.





In his personal response to the old saw: Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime, he started the Calvary Baptist Church Fishing Seminar five years ago, a program designed to teach youngsters all they need to know to go fishing and actually catch something.



The inspiration for Riordan’s goal came from a typical source: memories of fishing with his dad. After the elder Riordan died, Mike passed on the legacy to his own teenage son. But that only scratched the surface of his deep need to bless others with the gift his father left him.



His quest for fulfillment led him to takemefishing.org where he took its “Anglers Legacy” pledge, agreeing to teach others how to fish.



One thing led to another and before you know it, Mike’s church got in on it and the program has blossomed. Now in its fifth year, the CBC Fishing Seminar has grown from a series of beginners classes to a program offering something for every level of fishing experience.



For instance, this year’s event, to be held on March 26, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., will have classes on everything from the little things like casting a fishing pole, arranging terminal tackle, tying knots and bait selection to specialized techniques like fly-fishing, casting for bass, and trolling and jigging for walleyes. One section will even demonstrate how to fillet your catch.



The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and Carpenter’s Brook Fish Hatchery will provide live fish for the touch-and-feel and fish identification portions of the seminar.



To ensure you don’t forget what’s been discussed, everyone will be given a book containing all the information—and then some—covered during the day.



Riordan promises an hour break mid-day in which pizza will be served.



Every kid in attendance will get tackle packs, including one from Oswego County Tourism containing Berkley Trilene XL line, Berkley PowerBait Wigglers and PowerBait Atomic Teasers. Door prizes and freebies will be handed out throughout the day. And several raffles will be held.



Best of all, it's all FREE.



For more information and to register go to http://www.cbcbrewerton.org/; or call 315-668-7150.



Calvary Baptist Church is located on the corner of US Rt. 11 and Mudmill Road on the south side of Brewerton.



The following photos are courtesy of Mike Riordan and the Central Square Calvary Baptist Church:

Fish lesson

Live Walleye

Casting lessons



Playing fish

Touchy-feely session