Chattahoochee Riverkeeper and Bearden to team up for fishing workshop

Published 6:24 pm Friday, April 6, 2018

The Chattahoochee Riverkeeper will hold a fishing workshop with Ken Bearden  on West Point Lake May 5. Bearden, a local fishing guide, will be teaching skills including casting, selecting fishing gear, knot tying, spooling lines and selecting hooks, weights and bait.

Bearden has previously won Bass Fishing State Champion and West Point Lake Fisherman of the Year.

Bearden is also the founder of Veterans Fishing Organization, a non profit that provides guided fishing trips for military veterans.

In addition, Chattahoochee Riverkeeper staff will talk about the water quality in West Point Lake and the Chattahoochee River.

After 20 years, much has been done to revive the river downstream of Atlanta.

Since CRK’s lawsuit against the City of Atlanta in 1995, the city has invested nearly $2 billion dollars in upgrades to its storm water and sewer infrastructure, according to the press release from the Riverkeeper. As a result, the volume of sewer overflows has been reduced by 99 percent.

Established in 1994, CRK is an environmental advocacy organization with more than 8,600 members dedicated solely to protecting and restoring the Chattahoochee River Basin — drinking water source for nearly 4 million people, according to the press release.

The event will take place on the Riverkeepers Miss Sally, the West Point Lake floating classroom.

The cost of the cruise is $20 for adults and $15 for students. The outing is from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The cruise will depart and return at Pyne Road Park. All participants over the age of 16 must have a valid Georgia Fishing Permit.

Those interested may register online by visiting www.chattahoochee.org. Preregistration is required.