Anacostia River Fishing With Free Gear Returns to Navy Yard

Locals without a fishing pole at home will have a chance to cast a line for free this week along the Anacostia River in Navy Yard.

Anacostia Riverkeeper and Earth Conservation Corps will host their first fishing event of the year Friday at Diamond Teague Park, just south of Nationals Park.

Children and adults can fish from 5 to 8 p.m. with the use of free gear, bait and basic instruction.  The program will continue to take place every Friday night until Sept. 4.

Mike Bolinder, the local riverkeeper for almost five years, said Anacostia Riverkeeper is focused on restoring the river from its polluted state.

He expects about 50 attendees on Friday and 300 different anglers throughout the summer.

“When people have meaningful interactions with the river it gives us a constituency to support our efforts in restoring the river,” Bolinder said. “We want to get it better so you can actually eat the fish that you catch.”

The program is in its third year. Wal-Mart, Capitol Hill Community Foundation and SuPau Trust Private Foundation fund the program in full.

Image via YouTube/Anacostia Riverkeeper