From The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission:

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is hosting three free fishing events in early June at its Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education in celebration of National Fishing and Boating Week 2012.

“Fly Fishing Skills: Casting for Beginners” will be held at Lake Imaging in DuPont State Forest on June 2 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The class, which is open to participants 12 and older, is ideal for novice anglers who will learn a variety of casting techniques taught by experienced instructors. All equipment and materials are provided.

“Introduction to Fly Fishing: Lake Fishing” will be held at Lake Julia in DuPont State Forest on June 6 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Knowledgeable instructors will teach the basics of fly-fishing on the lake and will cover topics such as equipment, knots, casting techniques and aquatic insects. The class, which is limited to six people, is open to participants 12 and older who have completed the “Introduction to Fly-Fishing” class or have some casting experience with fly rods and reels.

A “Catch and Cook” class will be conducted at the Pisgah Center on June 7 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Participants will spend the first part of the class fishing in the Davidson River, which flows next to the center. They will finish the class by preparing their catch using some favorite local recipes. The class is open to participants 12 and older.

Pre-registration is required for all three classes, and a $25 pre-registration fee for the two fly-fishing classes is fully refundable upon class attendance.

“We designed the classes to be free to encourage more people to learn how to fly fish,” said Lee Sherrill, Pisgah Center program coordinator. “The refundable pre-registration fee allows us to estimate the attendance in advance and prepare for the classes. But the event was always meant to be free, which is why we’ll refund the pre-registration fee to everyone who attends.”

To register, contact Sherrill at lee.sherrill@ncwildlife.org or 828-877-4423.