A popular Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Region 6 program, Kids to Fish Rod & Tackle Loaner Program, that allows children to check out free fishing rods and tackle has been expanded again this year.

The “Kids to Fish” program allows youngsters to check out fishing rods and reels and basic tackle for free at 47 different sites across Montana’s Hi-Line. Nationally known rod and reel manufacturers and tackle retailers D & G Sports & Western in Glasgow and Stromberg’s Sinclair and the Big R store in Havre give FWP substantial discounts that help keep the program sustainable.

New loaner sites have been set up this year at the Rock Creek Marina on Fort Peck Reservoir, the Bainville School, R & C’s Daily Grind in Saco, and the TruValue Hardware store in Scobey.

The sturdy loaner rods come rigged with bobbers, split-shot and hooks. Bait is not provided, so young anglers participating in the program have to supply their own leeches, minnows, worms or lures. Youngsters are required to sign out the equipment and return it in good working order within a reasonable amount of time.

FWP Region 6 aquatic education intern Adam Sieges, a senior at the University of Montana-Western in Dillon, has been busy maintaining the gear and helping resupply the sites this summer.

Sieges said more than 400 fishing rods are now available to be checked out from the outlets by individuals, families, organizations, church groups and schools. The Region 6 Kids to Fish loaner program was first established in 2007.

“Just because someone doesn’t own a fishing rod doesn’t mean they can’t go fishing,” Sieges said. “We want as many kids as possibly to be able to go out and fish, no matter where they live. The many business owners and other folks who participate in the program deserve special thanks. They’re helping a lot of kids have fun.”

Fishing rods and tackle are now available to check out at these locations:

• FWP Region 6 headquarters
• City-County Library
• Cottonwood Inn
• Ezzie’s West End Conoco
• Glasgow Recreation Department

• Downstream (Kiwanis) Campground
• Fort Peck Fish Hatchery
• Lakeridge Store & Tackle Shop
• Fort Peck Marina
• Fort Peck Interpretive Center
• Rock Creek Marina

• R & C’s Daily Grind
• Sleeping Buffalo Hot Springs store & café (near Nelson Reservoir)

• Phillips County Library

• Al’s Town & Country Store

• Kwik Stop store

• EZ Mart store

• Finley’s Food Farm

• FWP Havre Office
• Stromberg’s Sinclair
• Hill County Library
• The Walleye Tavern (near Fresno Reservoir)

• Chippewa-Cree Tribal TANF office

• The Grocery Store

• Midway Mercantile

• B&B Foods
• Bergie’s ice cream store

• Cenex West station

• Tribal Express store

• B & S Quick Stop

• Culbertson Library

• Lake Pit Stop store

• Sheridan County Library
• Ace Hardware

• Grain Growers Oil Company store
• TruValue Hardware

• Pro Co-op Ag Center

For More Information Visit Montana Fish Wildlife & Park’s Webiste