When anglers launch their boats on Lake June for The Bait Shop’s Father’s Day Bass Open on June 20, there will be plenty of competition, prize money and bragging rights on the line. However, the real prize may be something that can’t be weighed at the scales. The tournament, hosted by The Bait Shop in Lake Placid, includes a special Father/Kid Big Bass prize, and owner John Pollak hopes families take advantage of the opportunity to spend time together on the water.
In an age when families often find themselves pulled in different directions by work, sports, school and screens, fishing remains one of the few activities that naturally encourages conversation and uninterrupted time together.
According to the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation, parents introduce more than 80 percent of children ages 6 to 12 to fishing and other outdoor activities. The organization also reports that fishing continues to be one of America’s most popular outdoor activities for families. Research on father involvement has consistently found that children benefit when fathers are actively engaged in their lives. The National Fatherhood Initiative reports that involved fathers are associated with better educational outcomes, stronger emotional development and improved overall well-being for children.
Those findings help explain why a day on the lake can mean much more than catching bass.
A child may not remember how many fish were weighed at the end of the tournament. They are far more likely to remember watching the sun come up over Lake June, learning how to cast a lure, hearing stories from Dad or Grandpa, and sharing a day together away from phones and distractions.
The Father’s Day Bass Open will be held Saturday, June 20, on Lake June. Fishing begins at safe light with weigh-in scheduled for 1 p.m. at Lake June Park.
Entry is $80 per boat with a two-angler maximum and 100 percent payback. The tournament features a guaranteed $500 Big Bass prize and a $150 Bait Shop gift card for the Father/Kid team that catches the biggest bass, including adult children fishing with their fathers.
Registration is preferred at The Bait Shop, 1451 U.S. 27 South in Lake Placid, although anglers may also register at the ramp the morning of the tournament.
For more information, call The Bait Shop at 863-531-3699.
