Otter River State Forest kicks off its 100-year anniversary
Joseph Benavidez
News Staff Writer
TEMPLETON Nearly 100 residents came to celebrate Otter River State Forest’s 100th anniversary Saturday morning with a Family Fishing Festival — the first of many events this season.
“We wanted people to go outside and learn about the natural world,” said Jim Lagacy, a representative with the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. “Get away from your electronics and be inspired by nature.”
Mr. Lagacy said he was happy to see a large number of families with young children attending the fishing event because he hoped it would encourage the next generation to spend more time outdoors.
To help the younger fisherman learn the basics of the sport, MassWildlife brought fishing instructors, poles and bait. The instructors gave one-on-one lessons and provided tips such as successful wrist flicking and how to reel in a trout without breaking the line.
Ethan Bisbee, 6, of Templeton, said he loves fishing and was happy that the state park was sponsoring an event where he could fish with his mother and brother.
“Fish are cool,” Ethan said. “I like catching them.”
News staff photo by JOSEPH BENAVIDEZ
Brothers Ethan, 6, left, and Brady Bisbee, 9, of Templeton, try to catch some fish during the Family Fishing Festival, held to celebrate 100 years of Otter River State Forest on Saturday afternoon.
Ethan’s 9-year-old brother, Brady, said the brother duo was working hard to catch a fish before the festival ended. Brady said he likes to go fishing because it is “fun to be outside” and that it is good to play in the pond after he catches a fish.
Nearby, Holden resident Amber Aynesworth, 18, was tying down a recently caught trout in front of the wide eyes of the Bisbee brothers.
“Patience is the key to fishing,” Ms. Aynesworth advised. “You have to patient and wait for the fish to come to you.”
Ms. Aynesworth said she enjoys fishing because it allows her to spend time with family in a relaxed setting not worrying about work or other responsibilities, if only for a moment.
Holden resident Amber Aynesworth, 18, holds a trout her family caught during the Family Fishing Festival to celebrate 100 years of Otter River State Forest Saturday afternoon.
Before the festival ended, MassWildlife members raffled off fishing poles and hats and distributed information on the park.
Park Supervisor Ron Warren explained that the fishing festival was the start of celebrating Otter River’s 100 years.
“There’s going to be a lot to learn and a lot to do this summer,” Mr. Warren said.
According to the Department of Conservation and Recreation website, the state took ownership of the 27,000 acres including the 2-acre-wide pond in 1914 for $90,000 — making it the first state park in Massachusetts. Townsfolk had attempted to preserve the land since 1891 but it was not until the state assisted that the land was secured.
Otter River has survived blizzards, hurricanes, forest fires and even having large swaths of woodland removed in the early in 1910s to support the war effort.
“We’re a small, family-oriented park with a calming atmosphere to us,” Mr. Warren said. “People come out here to relax.”
I hope the kids were told how unfriendly Birch Hill is to fishermen, putting gates all over the place and they used to keep the roads graded it was a nice area to grow up in.state to lazy to keep things up these day.you kids enjoy fishing now before u get charged for license.HOPED U ENJOYED YOUR DAY
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