COURTNEY McCLURE, The Standard
UXBRIDGE: Get your rod, bait and tackle ready for the Uxbridge Huck Finn Youth Fishing Days, at Elgin Pond in Uxbridge.
The annual fishing festival will start on Saturday, April 22nd and last for eight days, ending on Saturday, April 29th.
“Based on last year, there was [participant] activity all day, every day,” said Pat Higgins, the owner of the Canadian Tire in Uxbridge and one of the Huck Finn Fishing festival organizers.
There are many daily prizes for participants, 15 years old or younger; you only have to post your pictures on social media. The pictures must include your family members or your catch around the pond. Photos can include older participants but must include someone 15 years or younger in order to be considered for a prize.
Participants are asked to use the hashtag #huckfinnUxbridge when posting their photos online, in order to be eligible to win a prize. If you would like to submit your contest photos but would like to do that privately, not on social media, please email angela@1055hitsfm.com.
During the festival, tune into Hits105.5fm radio, where daily prizes will be announced.
No registration is required for this event or to win daily prizes.
Participants who are under the age of 18 or over the age of 65 do not need an outdoors card or fishing licence to participate in the Huck Finn Fishing festival. All other participants will need a valid fishing licence or outdoors card.
A legal guardian or parent must supervise participating children at all times during the event. Participants must follow catch and possession limits, and only fish which are in season be kept.
The road will be open during the Huck Finn Fishing festival, but please proceed with caution when crossing the street.
Cars parked illegally will be ticketed by local law enforcement. No smoking or vaping of any substance is allowed, while in a Township park or on Township property.
“[The Huck Finn Fishing festival] is a great way to take your family out and have some fun,” said Mr. Higgins. “There’s great prizes to be won every day.”
On the first day of the event, the Pickering Rod and Gun Club will loan fishing rods and offer free bait to participants. On the other days, free bait will also be available at the Uxbridge Canadian Tire.
He encouraged all participants to “take advantage” of the free bait. “It will be a great, fun family event,” shared Mr. Higgins.
If you would like to volunteer for the Huck Finn Fishing festival, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Uxbridge Township’s parks, trails and facilities manager, Courtney Clarke.
To learn more about the Huck Finn Fishing festival and the rules, please visit https://www.uxbridge.ca/en/explore-and-play/huck-finn.aspx or contact Courtney Clarke by phone, at 905-852-3081 or by email, at cclarke@uxbridge.ca.