Jason and Jeff Matity have a passion for fishing and use their skills to create how to fishing videos online at getfishing.ca; but, the brothers will be out and about during Saskatchewan’s free fishing weekend – July 8-9 – to put on Learn to Fish seminars at various Provincial Parks.
Jason will be found at Little Kenosee in Moose Mountain Provincial Park at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 8, and at Buffalo Pound on July 9th, while Jeff will be teaching at Duck Mountain on July 8th and at Echo Valley on July 9th.
“My brother and I learned how to fish on Kenosee when we were kids, it was where our love affair of catching perch on every cast developed,” Jason stated. “The water was high and there were lots of fish back then, and now the water has come back and it’s wonderful. This is an opportunity for our younger generation to get into fishing and we’re really excited to be able to do that.”
The Learn to Fish seminars are an initiative that Sask Parks has undertaken to help encourage people to embrace all that Saskatchewan has to offer. They also host Learn to Camp and other programs for people interested in spending time in nature.
“They set up the program [Learn to Fish] and needed people to teach it, so we were asked for our expertise in fishing,” Jason explained.
The program will last two hours with the first half an hour to 45 minutes focused on the basics – the kinds of fish they’ll be able to catch, how to catch them, about different tackle, and how to do a basic cast safely. The rest of the time will be focused on enjoying their time fishing and if there are fish caught, Jason says there will also be a filleting demonstration.
“It’s being put on during the free fishing weekend in the province, so you don’t have to pay for a licence to fish that weekend, but you do still have to follow the rules and the limits; so, it’s a good opportunity to get into fishing if it’s something you’ve wanted to try.”
For the first 15 people, fishing rods will be available to use, but if you have your own feel free to bring it along.
Additionally, for youth under the age of 12 it is necessary for a parent or guardian to be present.
“We want it to be a fun and safe experience for everybody and we need parents to stay and help coach if their kid is under 12,” Jason explained.
If in need of directions or help getting to Little Kenosee, Jason says the easiest way to find out where to go, is to simply ask at the gate when entering the park or if you’re at the Chalet the park interpreters will also be happy to help.
