For a day filled with fun and educational activities for the entire family, check out the Two Rivers Family Fishing Fair on Saturday, June 9 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Pere Marquette State Park near Grafton, on Illinois Route 100.

The 28th annual Fishing Fair will include a wide variety of favorite activities from previous years.  Participating children will find a new and improved catch-and-release bluegill pond, where young anglers can have their photograph taken with their catch; the popular One-Cast station, where everyone wins a prize; and, bowfishing stations where children can shoot at moving targets in a pool, or at a 3D target.

Every child who completes at least seven stations will receive a prize and have the chance to catch a trout in the trout pond.

The 28th annual Fishing Fair at Pere Marquette State Park will include favorite activities from previous years but also additional activities, include a new and improved catch-and-release bluegill pond, where they can have their photograph taken with their catch. (Photo courtesy of IDNR)

A 4,000-gallon mobile aquarium – Texas Bass Tanks with Brad Campbell – will be featured this year, stocked with many of the fish species found in the Illinois River. Fishing seminars will be presented all day, featuring local experts providing a variety of fishing information.

“Camo the Clown” will be back at the fishing fair this year, and the Lodge Brothers will be returning as part of the event entertainment.  There will be food available for purchase throughout the day.

“We want to get kids to get hooked on fishing, and not on some of the less desirable things that are available for our kids to do,” said Scott Isringhausen, Illinois Department of Natural Resources urban fishing coordinator. “Thanks to our generous sponsors, we are able to continue to offer this free event. We are very fortunate to have the support of the Phillips 66 Wood River Refinery as a Premier Sponsor, along with Farm and Home Supply, Cabela’s of Hazelwood, Walmart, the Jersey County Board, and many others.”

The event is hosted by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC), Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge (administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service), and Pere Marquette State Park (administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources).

There is no charge to attend the Two Rivers Family Fishing Fair, or to catch a fish, and parking is free. No fishing license or fishing gear are needed to participate in the event. For more information contact: Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge at 618-883-2524 or Pere Marquette State Park at 618-786-3323, ext. 1.

— Anglers ready to return to Pere Marquette for family fishing event —