Special Limited Series Promotes Social Wellness Benefits of Recreational Fishing
New York, NY — Lunkerville, the award-winning TV show that features real people with real fish stories, will air the first of a special four-episode series this Saturday morning, on Discovery Channel. The series launches “Get Folks Fishing”, a new initiative that creator and host Mike D hopes will inspire more people to consider adding recreational fishing to their outdoor activities next Spring. It’s all part of his personal mission to have people experience the emotional and social wellness benefits of the sport — by showing them just how easy and accessible it is to actually do.
“Get Folks Fishing” was inspired by the isolation and stress arising from the 2020 global pandemic, a year that has seen everyone’s mental resilience tested. “The whole concept of Lunkerville was borne out of the trauma I experienced from 9/11,” says Michael de Avila (aka Mike D). “While I didn’t work in the towers, I watched the horror play out in real time from my apartment window in downtown New York. To say it messed with me is putting it lightly. Like everyone, I craved normalcy and a sense of control. That spring, following the terror attack, I bought some fishing poles and rode the subway up to Central Park — it was the closest I could get to nature. I barely knew how to fish but I caught a monster bass! It was a rush, the most fun I’d had in months.“
Lunkerville’s “Get Folks Fishing” Mini-Series Episode Lineup — New guests along with classic Lunkerville real-people stars will make appearances throughout the month of December.
Ep 1 - New York, New York
Mike D explores urban freshwater fishing in New York City with a Manhattan doorman, a New York Post reporter and a teenage fishing phenom.
Ep 2 - Next Generation
Gen Z'ers take Mike D fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass in Arkansas, Alabama, Florida and upstate New York.
Ep 3 - All in the Family
Mike D joins family bass fishing outings in New Jersey and New York, and learns how to fly fish in Colorado with an avid angling couple.
Ep 4 - It’s a Lunkerville Fishmas
Mike D goes old school while ice fishing with old timers on Lake Champlain, New York; and years later, hi-tech with a Bartender/YouTuber in New England.
Lunkerville’s “Get Folks Fishing” Special Series will air Saturday mornings at 6:30am on Discovery Channel, right before Major League Fishing, in December. (Check local listings for air-times.) The series will also air on The Sportsman Channel Canada and Amazon Prime Video. For Canadian fans, the show will be simulcast through Lunkerville’s Facebook page on Facebook Watch.
About Lunkerville
When Indie film director Michael de Avila hooked his passion for story telling onto his love of fishing, he spawned the documentary fishing series Lunkerville: The show that features real people with real fish stories. The three-time Sportsman Channel Viewer-Favorite Fishing Show winner is still going strong. For 16 years, host ‘Mike D’ has been casting his line at everyday, recreational anglers, traveling to their secret spots, sharing their special techniques and making them the expert stars of the day. In his signature laid-back manner, he reels in the camaraderie, the fun and the fish. Lunkerville also hosts one of the most popular Facebook pages for an outdoors TV show. With over half-a-million fan followers, guests are chosen directly from the Facebook group. For more information on the show, please visit www.lunkerville.com.
Discovery Channel is dedicated to creating the highest quality non-fiction content that informs and entertains its consumers about the world in all its wonder, diversity and amazement. The network, which is distributed to 100.8 million U.S. homes, can be seen in 224 countries and territories, offering a signature mix of compelling, high-end production values and vivid cinematography across genres including, science and technology, exploration, adventure, history and in-depth, behind-the-scenes glimpses at the people, places and organizations that shape and share our world. For more information, please visit www.discovery.com.