Johnny Morris, legendary angler, noted conservationist and founder of Bass Pro Shops, from his heart says “Take a kid fishin’, you’ll be happy you did!” and is challenging families everywhere to get outside and enjoy the wonders of fishing and the great outdoors this summer with the Gone Fishing event. To kick off the event, Morris, Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s are donating more than 50,000 rods and reels to not-for-profit partners that help kids of all backgrounds connect to the great outdoors.

The ninth annual Gone Fishing event activities include gear donations, dozens of nonprofit partnerships and a variety of free in-store fishing and casting activities at Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s locations on the weekends of June 8-9 and June 15-16. Since the program’s inception in 2015, Morris, Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s have donated nearly 450,000 rods and reels to youth-focused nonprofit organizations across North America.

For more information about Gone Fishing, visit basspro.com/gonefishing.

Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s locations across the U.S. will be hosting free activities and special giveaways during Gone Fishing, designed for anglers of all ages and experience levels. The family-friendly events being hosted on the weekends of June 8-9 and June 15-16 include:

Free Catch-And-Release Ponds: Kids can experience the excitement of fishing at in-store catch-and-release ponds and earn a free “O-Fish-Ally an Angler” photo certificate to celebrate their achievement (11 a.m. to 3 p.m. local time on both weekends).

Free Fishing Logs and Fish Pens: To help kids keep a record of their fishing adventures.

“Some of my happiest memories are times spent with family and friends fishing and enjoying the great outdoors,” said Morris, who spent his summers as a young boy fishing with his family on the beautiful waters of the Missouri Ozarks. “Gone Fishing Event is an opportunity to help lots of kids discover the joy of fishing and inspire more families to get out and enjoy nature.”