Stinky Bait Fishing Club. Next meeting 6.30pm Tues 13th Bill's place

Bill has started up a new fishing club for kids and their parent/s based at Beachlands and invited young people aged between 10 and 14 who live in the Maraetai, Beachlands, Whitford area to join.

There are still a couple of places left in the club for members so please call Bill on (09) 536-5327 if you're interested or email him here)

The Club is being mentored by Bill, and the kids will eventually run it themselves with a President, Secretary, Club Captain, club editor to tell the stories and some committee members.

Bill intends to teach the kids fishing, boating skills, and all that that entails. From getting the bait, making berley, about the fishing gear, casting, angling skills, splicing rope... the lot. The club will meet fortnightly to start on Tuesday evenings from 6.30pm to 9pm. Bill will conduct workshops, have guest speakers, and the kids will net their own bait (weather permitting) just to name a few of the activities planned for club night. Once a month there will be a local club outing so the kids can put their new found skills to the test. During the school holidays Bill will organise away outings where the club to go away over a few days camping.

We will be planning away trips in the coming school holidays in July.

Bill also sees the club entering the junior sections of some of the major fishing contests.

The club will be affilliated to the NZ Angling and Casting Association, the parent body for many of the fishing club in NZ. This allowed the members to apply for merit awards, NZ records in the various classes, pins and trophies. They also have an interclub championship that call the Nationals where clubs compete by entering teams of two. There is a junior section, and the club would work towards sending a couple of teams to the A&CA Nationals. In 2012 it going to be held in Feilding.

Club members will be able to work up to their Fishing Masters degree as they tick off a long list of achiements. A silmiliar fishing masters award is issued by the A&CA.

The Club will also have its own trophies that will be competed for each year.

There are a few membership places left so if you're interested just call Bill on (09) 536-5327 or email Bill here and he'll give you the club meeting address details.