Take a kid fishin’, you’ll be happy you did!,” says Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris, amid challenging families everywhere to get outside and enjoy the wonders of fishing and the great outdoors this summer with the Gone Fishing event.
To kick off the event, Johnny, Bass Pro Shops, and Cabela’s are donating more than 50,000 rods and reels nationally to not-for-profit partners that help kids of all backgrounds connect to the great outdoors.
As part of the company’s effort to inspire future generations to enjoy, love, and conserve the great outdoors, Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s also will host free, family-friendly, in-store fishing events over the following two weekends: June 8-9 and 15-16, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
![HiRes JPG-2023_GoneFishing_NationalDonationDay_00044.jpg HiRes JPG-2023_GoneFishing_NationalDonationDay_00044.jpg](https://memphisparent.com/downloads/11060/download/HiRes%20JPG-2023_GoneFishing_NationalDonationDay_00044.jpg?cb=42b546832519b57fc425ba11e837b843&w={width}&h={height})
Photo: Courtesy of Bass Pro Shops
Kids of all ages are invited to catch their first fish at the store’s free catch-and-release ponds and to take home a free “O-Fish-Ally an Angler” photo certificate to commemorate the moment. While supplies last, free fishing logs and fish pens will be available to help kids keep a record of their fishing adventures.
New this year, kids can share their favorite fishin’ photos for a chance to be featured on the new Johnny Morris Bass Pro Shops Kids’ Braggin’ Board. The online photo board is a great way to keep a record of a memorable day on the water and share with family, friends, and loved ones that great catch that didn’t get away. For more details, visit basspro.com/bragginboard.
Since the inception of Gone Fishing, Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s have donated more than 450,000 items to youth-focused nonprofit organizations across North America.