Image for FLW Outdoors, Wal-Mart partner to get kids hooked on fishing
June 3, 2004 • MLF • Archives

MINNEAPOLIS – For the seventh time in as many years, Wal-Mart and FLW Outdoors will partner to bring children and parents together for a rewarding day of fun in the sun through the Casting Smiles-Fishing With Kids program – formerly known as Take a Kid Fishing. The program, designed to help parents teach their children the basics of fishing, will take place at Wal-Mart stores across the country June 5.

“Wal-Mart’s Casting Smiles is designed to help parents introduce their children to a fun outdoor activity that the entire family can enjoy,” said Tom Coughlin, vice chairman of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. “It’s a great way to spend quality time together and might also spark a passion for a sport that they can enjoy for a lifetime.”

Casting Smiles-Fishing With Kids features a variety of fishing activities for children and their families, including an in-store scavenger hunt that puts participants in search of clues needed to solve a Casting Smiles puzzle. Casting games help teach the basics about accuracy and distance, while a reeling race has kids race against the clock to see how fast they can pull in their catch. Each child who completes every activity will receive an official Casting Smiles angler’s license and a kid-friendly fanny pack filled with goodies from event sponsors while supplies last.

This year Wal-Mart and FLW Outdoors have partnered with numerous other sponsors for Casting Smiles-Fishing With Kids, including Abu Garcia, Act II, Banana Boat, Berkley, BFGoodrich Tires, Castrol, Eagle Claw, Energizer, EverStart Batteries, Field & Stream, Fujifilm, Kellogg’s, Laker Fishing, Land O’Lakes, Lay’s, Pedigree, Plano, 7UP, Schick, Shop-Vac, Skippy, Snickers, Tyson and Zebco.

“Fishing is a sport that crosses generational and demographic lines and draws more than 52 million people to the water each year,” said Bill Petrowiak, vice president of marketing and communications for FLW Outdoors. “Casting Smiles is an excellent opportunity for sponsors to reach Wal-Mart customers, many of whom are America’s anglers.”

Named after the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, Forrest L. Wood, FLW Outdoors is the world’s leading marketer of competitive fishing. It administers the Wal-Mart FLW Tour, the world’s most lucrative bass-tournament series; the EverStart Series, the pathway to the Wal-Mart FLW Tour; and the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League for weekend anglers. FLW Outdoors also operates the Wal-Mart Texas Tournament Trail; the Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Tour, the world’s most lucrative walleye-tournament series; and the Wal-Mart RCL Walleye League for weekend anglers.

Wal-Mart and many of America’s most respected companies support FLW Outdoors and its tournament trails. Wal-Mart has been the title sponsor of FLW Outdoors since 1997. For a complete list of FLW Outdoors sponsors and for more information about the premier products and services they offer, please visit FLWOutdoors.com’s sponsor page.

For more information about Casting Smiles-Fishing With Kids, Wal-Mart or FLW Outdoors, please visit CastingSmiles.com, Wal-Mart.com, Walmartstores.com or browse this Web site.