CITY OF SULLIVAN, NY — Shane Pinard’s Future Fishermen’s Foundation will host an ice fishing event on February 19 at Chapman Park, City of Sullivan. The event will offer hands-on experience and fun, in memory of Pinard, a dedicated angler who died in 2020.
“My son Shane was an avid fisherman who fished year-round,” said Mindy Robiner-Kling, Pinard’s mother. “I wanted to start a program after I graduated from college to teach kids how to fish since there really isn’t anything like it in the area.”
Chapman Park is located at 1463 Rte. 31 in Bridgeport. The event is free for all participants and will take place from 1 to 3 pm. Robiner-Kling said all equipment will be provided and asked everyone to dress warmly. “Warm socks and boots are a must,” she said.
Shane graduated from Canastota in 2020 with plans to attend college in Morrisville to study aquaculture and aquatic science. He died in a car accident while on his way to his graduation party on August 1, 2020.
“His stepmother and I decided to create a foundation to bring Shane’s dream to life,” Robiner-Kling told the SPFFF website. “Our club is open to children in elementary through twelfth grade, and any event we hold is free of charge to participants.”
Mindy Robiner-Kling, Shane’s mother, and Kera Pinard, Shane’s stepmother, co-founded SPFFF.
Since Shane could hold a rod, he had always had a passion for fishing.
“As Shane grew as an angler, he became passionate not only about his fishing, but also about taking others fishing and teaching others as much as they wanted to know about his passion,” Robiner-Kling said. “I wanted to give the kids a chance to feel what it was like to have one live.”
Just a few months before Shane died, he and Kera talked about the lack of fishing programs or clubs for kids.
“Shane was interested in learning more about it and possibly seeing how to start a program at school, so that other kids, who might not have the opportunity to fish at home, could have the opportunity to do so through the “school”, Robiner. Kling said.
“He talked about doing this once he graduated from the college in Morrisville that he had planned to attend,” she continued. “That’s the purpose for starting this foundation, to build a program or programs that will allow others to have opportunities to explore fishing and maybe even experience the passion of fishing like Shane did.”
Instruction at SPFFF includes environmentally friendly fishing, orientation to Madison County waterways, state DEC regulations and education on fishing techniques. These techniques include tying knots, lining reels, casting, fish identification, cleaning and harvesting fish, bait and lure selection, fishing safety, bait/fly making and fly fishing, local fishing history , fish storage, wading, shore and boat safety. to fish
The SPFFF club meets throughout the year, once a month, and each month the organizers choose a different topic to talk about. They also send the kids a monthly newsletter that includes a fish of the month, tips for catching that particular fish and a “Kid of the Month” section to introduce the kids, as well as trips to local fish farmers.
SPFFF is based in Canastota and its website, www.shanepinardfuturefishermensfoundation.org, lists upcoming events, programs, contact information, a photo gallery and volunteer opportunities.