Fishing events planned for Lake Wylie, Tega Cay, Indian Land

Most every week is fishing and boating week on Lake Wylie, but local stores are making it official.

Wal-Mart locations in Lake Wylie, Tega Cay and Indian Land are among more than 1,000 celebrating the June 4-12 National Fishing and Boating Week with in-store events. Numerous stores in Belmont, Gastonia and Charlotte are participating in North Carolina, too.

Fishing League Worldwide angler Chris McAbee will be at the Lake Wylie store at 2 p.m. June 3, where guests can test their casting skills, enter to win a trip to Amelia Island, Fla., and receive a digital subscription to FLW Bass Fishing magazine. Similar activities come to the Tega Cay store at 10 a.m. June 5, with pro angler Bryan Holmes, and to Indian Land at 3 p.m. June 5 with pro angler Jonathan Rackley.

Wal-Mart stores are partnering with the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation, South Bend and Fishing League Worldwide for the events offering games and techniques to help young or new anglers take up the sport.

“We want to make fishing and boating accessible and fun for everyone,” said Frank Peterson, boating and fishing foundation president and CEO. “We’ve made it easier than ever for people to get equipped to get out on the water with their families this summer.”

Winners of the Amelia Island trip will be featured on a “South Bend’s Lunkerville” television show.

“National Fishing and Boating Week is the perfect time to get involved in fishing,” said Scott Griffith, vice president of marketing for South Bend. “Whether the angler is experienced, or only gets out there occasionally for fun, this is the time of year to do it.”

Trisha Blake, president of marketing for FLW, said volunteers with her group are eager to share fishing tips to help grow the sport.

“If you want to learn how to catch fish on your local lake or river,” Blake said, “this is an opportunity you don’t want to miss.”

Fishing and boating week often comes near free fishing days, where states allow anyone to fish public waters without a license. Free fishing days in both Carolinas are July 4.

This story was originally published June 1, 2016 at 8:01 PM with the headline "Fishing events planned for Lake Wylie, Tega Cay, Indian Land."