Catfishing Gear Library
2024 Reflection
Reeling in a year of fun at the Missouri River
2024 was the year we jumped into the world of catfishing on the Missouri River! From consulting with our local tackle shop (check out Tombstone Tackle in Columbia, MO!) and performing on-the-river research with a local catfishing guide, to building the gear shed and hiring catfishing instructors - creating this program has been so much fun from start to finish.
We think there's something really special about fishing. It's an activity that connects people to each other, and to the outdoors. Whether it's making new family memories, catching a delicious dinner, or just having a moment of peace and solitude at the river - fishing has a little something for everyone. And Mid-Missouri was ready to give it a try! There were 329 people who went catfishing on the Missouri River with us this year. Wow! We're so excited to continue offering this free program to increase access to the benefits of fishing for all.
To learn more about everything the Catfishing Gear Library has to offer, visit the Catfishing Gear Library webpage.
Photo by Stephen Bybee
Photo by Lara Cox
Photo by Lara Cox
Catfishing Gear Library Kick Off
In May, we welcomed our friends and partners to a kick off event to celebrate the opening of the Catfishing Gear Library. The Columbia Chamber of Commerce facilitated a ribbon cutting, and KRCG-13 News helped us get the word out with a great news story.
Gear Checkouts Begin
The Catfishing Gear Library opened for checkouts in May and we began seeing interest from families and individuals who were looking to add something different to their weekend activities. We saw many families who were new to the area and who got to connect with the Missouri River for the very first time. Some loved it so much, they came back several times throughout the year to keep the fishy fun going!
Catfishing Lessons
In June, October, and November, we hosted catfishing lessons at Cooper's Landing Riverside Resort & Marina. Our expert catfishing instructors led them through the basics of fishing along the banks of the Missouri River. For many, it was their first time fishing. For some, they'd always just been curious about the mysteries of the Missouri River. Nothing beats the excitement of catching your first fish, but we also saw that in the quiet moments of waiting, people were connecting with each other and with the world around them.
A Big Muddy thank you to: Matt "Mud" Britt, Terry Martin, Joseph Deiner, Mason Deja, Hannah Siegel, and Mike McCurdy who all played an invaluable role in making river magic happen during these lessons.
"Matt's knowledge poured out naturally to us. It made us want to know and understand more. Thank you for providing this opportunity. We would have never done this on our own and now I think we will definitely give it a go with the kit. We appreciate your efforts to make nature accessible to all and sharing the joy that comes from connecting with the outdoors."
- Catfishing Lesson Participant
Special Programs
The Catfishing Gear Library has also allowed us to offer fishing as an activity during some of our other river programs. 44 summer campers got to spend a day fishing alongside professional catfish anglers at our Missouri River Adventure Camp. Members of the Job Point YouthBuild program reeled in fish with new friends from across the state during our Stewardship on the Missouri River program. Veterans participating in a substance abuse treatment program spent their afternoon soaking in the peace and quiet of a Missouri River sandbar while waiting for the catfish to bite.
Here are some of the things veterans had to say about their day of fishing on the Missouri River:
"A huge uplift of peacefulness"
"Shared fellowship together"
"Great escape from the city"
"I could stay for four more hours"
Meet Our Sponsors & Partners
The Catfishing Gear Library is largely funded by a grant from the National Park Foundation. The Catfishing Gear Library gear shed was made with donated materials from Boone County Lumber, Economy Metals, and Boone County Millwork. The Catfishing Gear Library is also supported by the Veterans United Foundation, the Downtown Optimist Club of Columbia, MO, Sam's Club Columbia, AmeriCorps, Missouri Environmental Education Association (MEEA), Boone Electric Community Trust, Cooper's Landing Riverside Resort & Marina, and our friends at Tombstone Tackle in Columbia, MO. Thank you!
