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"DERBY LOCATOR"
HELPS KIDS FIND NEAREST FISHING EVENT
Hooked On Fishing International Announces
Web Site Upgrades
To Help Match Young Anglers To Nearby Fishing Opportunities
KETCHUM, OK - April 19, 2002 - Hooked on Fishing International has
announced a newly-designed web site - www.kids-fishing.com --
to go
with its expanded series of Wal-Mart Kids All-American Fishing
Derbies.
Among the new features of the web site is a "Derby Locator"
which HOFI says will match up young anglers with approximately
1,500
events. "We're growing so fast we had to find a way to match
kids with
events, and the Derby Locator is our matchmaker," said Gordon
Holland,
executive director. "Simply go to the website and enter
your zip code and
the Derby Locator will search the database of derbies and list
the nearest
event, location, the name of the contact person and his or her
phone number," said Holland.
Most of the derbies will be held during
National Fishing and
Boating Week June 1-9. Young anglers will gather at fishing
venues across the country, usually in the morning, and with help
from their
parents and adult volunteers, participate in casting and fishing
activities. The half-day events are usually followed by food
and beverage
for the kids.
Another feature of the revamped web site,
Holland said, allows
participants to locate the nearest Wal-Mart store. Wal-Mart,
Inc. is the title sponsor of the popular series in all 50 states.
HOFI puts
on the youth fishing derbies with the financial and product help
of its
corporate sponsors. Some sponsors put on special events within
the derby format, said Holland. For example, Southwest Airlines
sponsors the "I Caught a Fish" contest. If a contestant
catches a fish of any size it qualifies the young angler for
a drawing for four round-trip tickets anywhere Southwest Airlines
flies.
The Fujifilm "Big Fish" Contest
is for anglers age 16 and under.
The largest fish by weight caught at each derby, with photo
and application submitted, becomes eligible for state level
competition. The big fish winner from each state receives a
Fujifilm Quick-Snap 2-Pack. From all the state winners, a
national Freshwater Champion and a national Saltwater
Champion are chosen, with each receiving a $500 savings bond
and a Fujifilm "Gift Basket."
In the Frito-Lay/Pepsi/Zebco Casting Contest,
participants
simply cast at targets with rods and reels provided by
Zebco. Local prizes vary but every local winner will receive
an award certificate and a reel and rod combo from Zebco.
All participants regardless of casting skills are eligible to
enter
the nationwide drawing for a fantastic stock car-styled
Go-Kart provided by Frito-Lay and Pepsi.
Now in its 16th year, Hooked on Fishing
International
produces the events with on-site support from local adult
volunteers, many from organizations such as state fish and game
departments, the U.S. Forest Service, parks and recreation
departments, chambers of commerce, YMCAs, Optimists, Lions,
Kiwanis, and Elks.
In addition to title sponsor Wal-Mart Stores,
Inc., additional
sponsors include Bar-S Foods, Berkley PowerBait, Dubble Bubble
Bubble Gum, Eagle Claw, EverStart Batteries, FishingWorld.com,
Frito-Lay, Fujifilm U.S.A., Jadico (Laker), Kellogg's, Pepsi,
Pradco Outdoor Brands (Heddon/Rebel), Strike King Lure Co.,
Southwest Airlines, Trilene, and Zebco.
Adult groups interested in organizing a
local derby in 2003 can get
information from the HOFI web site - www.kids-fishing.com,
or by requesting information via email at
info@kids-fishing.com, or by writing Hooked On Fishing
International, P O Box 660, Ketchum, OK 74349.
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