Ron Thompson of the Kamloops Fly Shop checks out a returning rod borrowed from the loan program.
Not having fishing gear is no longer a barrier for those looking to get into the time-honoured sport of fishing.
The Kamloops Fly Shop is now one of 16 locations across the province taking part in the Freshwater Fisheries Society of B.C.'s Go Fish B.C.! Rod Loan Program.
"This is about giving the people who don't have the gear the chance to go fishing," said Ron Thompson, the fly shop's owner.
Earlier this week a grandmother and grandson visited the shop who wanted to go fishing. So Thompson set them up with a rod each and tackle box with bait.
"It's absolutely free," he said. "It works out quite fine."
There are 20 rods available to borrow at the shop on Hillside Drive and the Kamloops Visitor Centre at 1290 Trans-Canada Highway. Thompson said two were on loan when The Daily News talked with him on Friday.
Borrowing a rod and tackle box is easy. All the borrower needs to do is fill out a form and provide a credit-card number. Thompson said people can borrow a rod and tackle box for a week to 10 days and staff are happy to volunteer tips as needed.
"We give all the help we can to get people going," he said.
There was a time when Kamloops was a world-renowned fishing destination, said Thompson. While the fishing is still great, grandparents and parents aren't passing the sport on to their children and grandchildren like they used to.
By being a part of the Go Fish B.C.! Rod Loan Program, Thompson hopes to lure more people to the sport and see it thrive again, he said.
The Go Fish B.C.! Rod Loan Program was introduced in 2011 at visitors centres in Terrace, Prince George, Williams Lake and Quesnel.
The Freshwater Fisheries Society of B.C. is a not-for-profit organization funded by anglers through freshwater fishing licence revenues. For more information visit gofishbc.com.
