Pettit Preserve To Host Cohutta Fishing Co. Camps for Kids

Thirty lucky youngsters will have an opportunity June 5 and 7 to do something that’s against the rules: fish in the lake at Pettit Environmental Preserve.

Pettit Preserve is hosting its second-annual Youth Fishing and Outdoor Camps for kids age 8 to 14, sponsored by Cohutta Fishing Company, which brings more than 50 years of experience as a sport fishing outfitter to the camp.

“Andy [Bowen] at Cohutta Fishing really has a heart not only for fishing, but for teaching kids about the environment,” preserve Executive Director Marina Robertson said in a statement. “He approached us about having the camps last year, which were a huge hit with the kids.”

Bowen, a U.S. Coast Guard-licensed captain, will lead the two camps, assisted by his staff and Preserve volunteers.

"Growing up in south Georgia there was abundant opportunities for largemouth and bream fishing along the Flint River," according to the release. "Over the past 30 years his fishing experience has taken [Bowen] to several destinations including the Virgin Islands, Mexico, Costa Rica, the Florida Keys, Chile, the western rivers and the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

"He is a member of CCA, Trout Unlimited (Coosa Valley Chapter), Bonefish and Tarpon Unlimited, and the Atlanta Fly Fishing Club."

A key feature of his camps are the low student-to-instructor ratio, as they are limited to 15 participants. Both groups will have an opportunity to use the skills they learn to catch fish in the Pettit Preserve Lake.

Here are the details on the two camps:

• This year's June 5 camp is geared to 8- to 10-year-olds and will include sessions on ecosystems, animal track identification, freshwater fish identification, a gear overview and casting instruction. The cost is $75 and includes lunch and an event T-shirt.

• The June 7 camp for 11- to 14-year-olds will include the ecosystem unit and track and fish identification, but will introduce campers to fly fishing by exploring the food fish eat, fly tying, spinning and fly casting. The cost is $95 and includes lunch and an event T-shirt.

For more information, contact Cohutta Fishing Company at 770-606-1100 or visit the store at 39 S. Public Square in Cartersville. Registration forms are available at Cohutta Fishing or online at www.pettitpreserve.org/current-events/camps.

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