Edu-cast attracts hundreds of student anglers

East Elgin Secondary School Grade 12 student Jayne Pinder, front, and her classmate Kylie Robitaille were among hundreds of high school students from throughout the province who participated in this year’s Edu-cast event on Friday, May 29 at Pleasant Valley Trout Farm located between Springwater and Sparta.  Edu-cast is a two-day fishing tournament that invites secondary school students from across Ontario to fish in a series of stocked ponds. Top winners from each day spend a day fishing with pro anglers for the championship event. An educational component teaches participants about careers in fish and wildlife and conservation. The concept was the brainchild of pro fishing partners Darren Jacko of Tillsonburg and Steve Voros of Aylmer. Mr. Voros is a teacher at EESS. This year, the event set a new attendance record with 680 young anglers on Wednesday, May 27 and 546 on Friday, May 29. Participation has increased each year since its inception.