CRESTVIEW — The next time Gavin Raabe, 5, hauls in the big one, it could be with a fishing lure he received from Bass Pro Shops.
Ryan Cox, the Destin sporting goods store’s manager, donated goodie bags to six registered participants of the city's annual fishing camp. Contents included fishing lures, a battery-powered LED lantern for night fishing, and other useful equipment.
See summer fishing camp photos>>
Crestview High School outdoor education teacher and sports coach Ernie Martin, who led last week's camp, has shared his love of fishing with young anglers for almost 15 years.
Between sage advice, stories of his “ones that got away,” and homespun humor, Martin imparts life lessons on respecting the environment and perpetuating Northwest Florida outdoors traditions.
Indicating fish swimming around the campers’ baited hooks, Martin shared what makes Twin Hills Park's footbridge a prime fishing spot.
“I’m kinda like the fish,” he said. “I hang around where I get fed.”
The camp is now on its second generation of fishermen, as evidenced by Brantley Conway, a 2-year-old whose dad, Patrick, a Crestview High alumnus, was one of Martin’s campers years ago.
Though Brantley was too young to be an official fishing camper, that didn’t douse his enthusiasm as he pulled in a small wiggling bream while perched on the bridge’s top rail where Patrick held him.
For five days, Martin said, his students daily caught — and released — between 20 and 25 fish, including catfish, bream, war mouth “and a few turtles thrown in."
Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Bass Pro goodie bags enhance Crestview summer fishing camp (PHOTOS, VIDEO)