Bass Pro Shops’ ‘Gone Fishing’ event returns

An event that encourages kids to put their phones down and enjoy the outdoors returned after taking the year off due to the pandemic.

Bass Pro Shops’ “Gone Fishing” event teaches children about the joys of fishing.

Whether it’s catching a gar or a bass, fishing has always been exciting for 6-year-old Logan Baum and 10-year-old Camden Celaya.

It doesn’t matter how many fish the two caught.

“Three. And wasn’t it two alligator gars? So yeah, so it was actually five,” Logan said.

“You get to hold them and take pictures with them,” Camden said.

Both of them got to smile for the camera with their catches and they weren’t the only ones smiling.

“Relieved that they weren’t, you know, going to be upset that they didn’t catch anything,” said Matthew Baum, Logan’s dad.

When kids catch that first fish, they’re hooked. That’s why they were so excited to be back out here to cast their lines and try to reel one in again for the first time in over a year.

Anglers young and old decided to grab a fishing rod and started casting, all of them hoping to catch a fish, some for the first time.

“We like to see them come out and have a good time, see them have a positive effect on them getting outside and getting outdoors,” said Mark Voytek, a Bass Pro Shops fishing associate.

Parents and grandparents joined in on the fun as well. They enjoy passing down a love for fishing to younger generations.

“Nowadays they just want to be on the iPads and cell phones and everything else, so getting them out here away from some of the electronics is always a plus for us,” Baum said.

This wasn’t Camden’s and Logan’s first time fishing, so they shared some tips for their friends just starting: Be patient – and be ready for that picture.

“Gone Fishing” will be back Sunday and next weekend. Then, beginning July 3, it will be back to its normal schedule of the first Saturday of every month.