About us.
After many years of fishing professional tournaments (both fresh water and deep sea), the RUSHET Fishing Team had great showings and had garnered many sponsors. These sponsors included manufacturers of boats, motors and trailers as well as fishing equipment and gear manufacturers. These sponsors wanted exposure for their sponsorships, so Bill Hetzel and Pat Rust could either attend 4 major boat shows per year or they could establish a fishing clinic.
Wanting to give back to the communities which had supported them, Bill and Pat decided to develop the Teach- a- Kid- to- Fish Clinic for boys and girls, ages 6-13. These clinics were conducted in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida in some 19 different locations. This has prompted other organizations and institutions to duplicate this concept in similar clinics throughout the country.
The primary location for the Teach-a-Kid-to-Fish Clinic is now Carrollton, Georgia where this clinic is being held for the fifth straight year at Georgia Power’s Plant Wansley pavilion and lake. This clinic is open to 200 kids by pre-registration.
All kids are given a rod and reel and a tackle pouch of their own and then can take many opportunities to fish during the year as they explore other ponds, lakes and streams in which to fish. It is our desire to teach this wonderful outdoor sport, which can stay with as many kids as possible for life.
The program is sponsored by local businesses, civic organizations, churches and individuals for the purpose of reaching kids in our neighborhoods with an access to our great outdoors.