From the Kentucky Department Fish of Fish & Wildlife Resources

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources hosted a ‘Hook & Cook’ event, the first of three sessions of a free statewide program, Monday, Oct. 14 at the Warren County Cooperative Extension Office to educate beginner fishers about fishing, rod and reel setup, cleaning and cooking basics hands-on.

Aquatic Education Coordinator Easton Copley led the instruction, where attendees practiced various skills on provided fishing rods such as attaching hooks, sinkers and bobbers as well as understanding casting mechanisms. After the lesson, “someone who has never seen a pole can set it up and know what the purpose is,” according to Copley.

Future sessions will occur Oct. 21 and 28, with ongoing registration until the 21st. The next session will focus on cleaning and cooking fish. The extension office’s partnership with the Fish and Wildlife Department allows attendees usage of free materials and access to recipes. The final session will take place at Three Springs Park, where attendees will be able to put their knowledge to practice and fish.

One of the program’s main goals is to connect with and service communities. Hook & Cook targets areas with large populations in Kentucky, including Louisville, Lexington, Elizabethtown and Bowling Green.

Hook & Cook attracts attendees mostly through word of mouth. The event hosted only six attendees despite being held in a city with a population of over 70,000.

“The hard part is behind the scenes… where’s the other 50 to 100 people we could have had?” Copley said. He asked the people attending to invite friends to the next sessions.

 The benefits of attending Hook & Cook are not limited to education. Jeremy Krans attended with two of his children. His motivation was “to hang out with my kids and bond with them beyond screens,” as well as general enjoyment of fishing as an art and sport.

The event boasts a hands-on experience of fishing basics.

“You can sit and watch this stuff on YouTube, but feeling it and doing it, it registers easier,” said Copley. 

The event connects its attendees to other resources provided by the department. The fishing and boating mobile app lets users access information on water bodies, boat ramps, stocking records, forecasts, and licenses.

Fishing locations are available even in largely urban areas through the Fishing In Neighborhoods (FINs) program. The Kentucky Fishing and Boating Guide charts the annual stocking of thousands of sizable trout and catfish into FINs lakes. Licensed fishermen are encouraged to catch their limit in these areas, as the fish die when temperatures drop in the winter.

In addition to Hook & Cook, the department occasionally hosts a Field to Fork event. Field to Fork focuses on hunting and cooking basics for game such as deer, turkey and squirrel. Check here for updates about upcoming events.

To participate in Hook & Cook, visit the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resource website. 

News Reporter Natalie Freidhof can be reached at [email protected]