As lakes across the state continue to open up, anglers are busy oiling their reels, repairing rod tips and guides and organizing their tackles boxes. Did you finish your pre-season preparation a little early? Consider adopting a tackle loaner site to help get the next generation into fishing!

Many of the DNR’s 54 loaner sites need help maintaining the rods and reels used at fishing clinics and available to the public for checkout. Loaner sites are located at state parks, DNR offices and partner organizations across Wisconsin.

Schools, scouts, conservation clubs, church groups and campers at state parks are among the borrowers, and many are first-time anglers. In other words, this equipment takes its fair share of wear-and-tear each season.

Site hosts would be grateful to organizations or individuals adopting a loaner site and giving the gear some much-needed periodic tune-ups.

This would make a well-defined service project for students, scouts, fishing clubs or civic groups. It could be a one-time visit, or a group could establish a regular maintenance schedule with the site. Supplies are available to perform standard maintenance, including fixing tangled reels and spooling line.

The quantity of gear at loaner sites ranges from a handful of fishing rods to dozens, depending on the site. Spincasting combos (those with closed-face reels) are most common. However, some sites also have spinning gear (open bail), fly rods and ice fishing poles. To get involved, contact a gear loan site to schedule a volunteer time.

Find a site near you on the DNR’s Fishing Equipment for Loan webpage.