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Local High Schooler to Stage James River Charity Fishing Tourney
Andy Thompson
May 16, 2016 · 2 minute read
There are some pretty cool kids bouncing around Richmond. Kids that are passionate about a particular corner of the world they live in. Take Nick Fowler. Born and raised here, Fowler is 15 years old and attends Glen Allen High School. He loves to fish and loves the James River. That probably describes a lot of kids in Central Virginia, but Fowler takes his love of fishing and our fair river further than most.
Local fishing legend Mike Ostrander with a good looking James River smallmouth. Credit: Bay Journal
Nick Fowler recently started an organization called “Fishing for the Future,” and this weekend the group will hold the its first fishing tournament. Funds raised will go to the James River Association to aid their mission to champion and protect the James. Pretty cool, right?
Fowler said the idea for the tourney came to him when he was in VCU’s Service Learning program. His teacher, Amanda Hall, inspired him to find creative and unique ways to help the community that he lives in.
“I have a personal connection to the James River,” he said. “Ever since I was little, my family would go canoeing and fishing on the James multiple times a year. I always look forward to spending time outside on the river.”
Fowler said he decided to put on the event “because I love the outdoors and I do not want to see it become polluted and its beauty lost. Also, I want to help the Richmond community to take pride in the James River. I partnered with the JRA because I felt that we share a passion for protecting the outdoors, especially the James River and its surrounding environment.”
“I would encourage people to come to this event to have fun being outside and on the water, enjoying nature and seeing why it should be taken care of.”
The fishing tournament will take place this Saturday on May 21st from 9 a.m. to noon. It will start at Powhatan State Park and will end at the boat ramp in Maidens (click here for a map of the area). Participants will fish, and the winner will be decided by the total length of fish caught. The first-place winner will receive a 100$ gift card to Bass Pro Shops; second place a 50$ gift card; and third place a 25$ gift card. Click here for more information.
