Dansville Public Library and NYSDEC:

DEC, Local Officials Team Up to Offer New Fishing Opportunity 

Patrons Can Borrow a Fishing Pole from the Dansville Library 

In a new initiative aimed at getting New Yorkers outdoors, the state Department of Environmental Conservation has joined with the Dansville Public Library to provide fishing poles for patrons to borrow free of charge, DEC Regional Director Paul D’Amato announced today. 

Sponsored by DEC and the local Fish and Game Club, the program allows Dansville library patrons to sign out one of 16 fishing poles, complete with a bobber, a hook and sinker, a package of spare tackle to keep and informational materials for up to two weeks.           

“The intent is to give families and youth a terrific opportunity to discover nature through fishing,” D’Amato said. “This initiative was made possible thanks to the tremendous efforts and support of the many sponsors –State Senator Catherine Young, the Dansville Library, the Dansville Fish and Game Club and the New York Conservation Officers Association. This is a perfect example of leveraging limited resources in a cooperative effort to better benefit the youth and citizens of the state.”

DEC used federal funds to purchase the fishing equipment. The federal Sport Fish Restoration program is funded by revenues collected from manufacturers of fishing rods, reels, creels, lures, flies and artificial baits. They pay an excise tax on these items to pay for the management of fishery resources, conservation and habitat restoration.

Fishing poles will be lent to area residents who have a Dansville Library card. All program participants must adhere to all appropriate fishing laws, including have a fishing license for anyone 16 years old or older. Season, length, and daily limits must also be followed. 

The Dansville Fish and Game Club will supply the bobbers, hooks and sinkers, keep the equipment in working order and conduct fishing clinics. The Dansville Fish and Game Club recently licensed their club property as a fishing preserve which allows the public to fish there for free, without needing a license. Their first fishing clinic is planned for May with a local Cub Scouts Pack and the Dansville After School Program is scheduled to take part for June. 

The New York Conservation Officers Association provided funds from the Shikar Safari grant to print informational materials on how to fish. These educational supplies are also available to be signed out with the fishing poles from the library. 

“This is a great addition to our library that would not have been possible without this great partnership between the Library, DEC, the Dansville Fish and Game Club and the New York State Conservation Officers Association,” Dansville Public Library Director Teresa Dearing said.

“Fishing is such a great pastime, but a lot of our kids never get a chance to experience it,” said Senator Catharine Young. “This program will teach individuals of all ages to fish, to provide better local fishing opportunities, and to give participants an understanding of and a greater appreciation for natural resources."

See more details and the "how to" on our Activities page!

Library Fishing Pole Program with the NYSDEC:

HOW TO START A FISHING POLE LENDING PROGRAM

AT YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY 

            The Fishing Pole Lending Program at the Dansville Public Library is a joint effort by the Library and the Dansville Fish and Game Club (the Club) with help from the New York State Conservation Officers Association (NYCOA) and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).

            Our fishing poles were provided by the DEC, but there is a limited amount of federal Sport Fish Restoration money available.  Check with the Bureau of Fisheries at your regional DEC office to see if they will have poles available.  If not you will have to seek other funding.  If DEC supplies the poles they remain the property of the DEC.  The library lends them out as they would a book, and the Club maintains the poles and supplies the hooks, sinkers and bobbers.   The handbook “Getting Started” is loaned out with every fishing pole and a limited number are available to be given away at fishing classes and clinics.  These were paid for by NYCOA and are available through the regional Law Enforcement office. 

            It is also important to let the library know where people can go to fish on public property.

            The equipment needed for a library to start a program is listed below with average prices.  The number and type of each item can be adjusted to fit local needs, this is the list we used.  We supply a small bag that each person can keep when they sign out a pole.  Each bag contains a bobber, 3 sinkers and 5 hooks.

Fishing poles with reels - 5 ½ foot medium, closed spinning reel, 6-10 pound test line.

                                                                         16 poles X $10-$12 each =                 $192.00

Bobbers – 1 inch                                                          100 X .25 each =                      $25.00

Sinkers – lead free split shot, size 7                               200 X .10 each =                     $20.00

Hooks – size 6, (barbless is best)                                  500 X .01-.04 =                       $20.00

We also provided two racks that each hold 8 poles.   2 X $30.00 = $60.00                  $60.00

(These racks are very handy if you are going to transport a number of poles for a class or clinic.)

                                                                                    Total Cost:                             $317.00

NOTE:  These are average prices actually paid, shopping around may get better deals or you can try you get donations from local businesses.

            Any local service group can set up a program like this. 

            To help start off our program the Club has donated some fishing equipment to the Library to used as prizes in a “Fish Tale” writing contest that is being run in conjunction with all the school libraries.  Prizes will be awarded for the best Fish Tale. 

Contact any of the following for more information:

Dansville Public Library                                                            dansvillelibrary.org

Dansville Fish and Game Club                                       dansvillefishandgame.org

New York Conservation Officers Association               nycoa.org

New York State Dept. Environmental Conservation                  www.dec.ny.gov