Community Clicks
Children, parents, grandparents, friends and neighbors participate in Kids Fishing Day at the Sequim Reclamation Pond in Carrie Blake Park. The eighth annual event, which provides free fishing opportunities for children 14 years of age and younger, will take place Saturday, May 15.
There are a few childhood experiences you never forget. Most people remember the first time they rode a bicycle without training wheels or their parents running alongside the bike. Or the first time they were allowed to walk to school or to the store without an adult. The first time you catch a fish is often is listed as one of those great childhood experiences.
Children will have a chance to try their luck at reeling in that elusive first fish during Kids Fishing Day at the Sequim Reclamation Pond between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday, May 15. The free event allows children ages 14 and younger to fish for rainbow trout in the city’s water reclamation pond, located just north of Carrie Blake Park on Blake Avenue.
“The event is really family oriented, we always see parents and grandparents teaching their children how to fish for the first time,” said Kids Fishing Day organizer Tom Duttrey. “It is a great experience for the children. We don’t do a fishing derby because we don’t want children to feel that there are winners or losers when it comes to fishing. The fishing experience itself is the reward.”
A fishing license is not required for children to participate. Last year, 500 to 600 children participated in Kids Fishing Day and the event grows each year. The event is presented by the Puget Sound Anglers North Olympic Peninsula Chapter in coordination with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife and the City of Sequim Public Works Department. The reclamation pond was recently stocked with 1,500 trout — some weighing in at 6 pounds — in preparation for the event. There will also be a special pool for toddlers with a separate stock of trout.
“We encourage very small children to use the pool so they don’t have to compete with older children to catch a fish,” Duttrey said.
Children are encouraged to bring a fishing pole and bait. Children without poles can borrow a rod from the club stock. Bait is also available for those who do not have it.
“We want any child who is interested in fishing to have the chance to,” Duttrey said. “Watching a child catch a fish is a great experience, the smile on their face when they catch a fish is priceless.”
Duttrey said 15 to 20 club members will be on hand to help children during the event. Children can also learn how to clean fish by watching Puget Sound Anglers North Olympic Peninsula Chapter club members clean and ice their catch. A variety of recipes for cooking rainbow trout will be provided free of charge.
Kids Fishing Day was started eight years ago by Duttrey and fellow club member Dave Croonquist and former member John McLaughlin. The trio wanted to provide fishing opportunities for local children and began working with state and city officials to find a location. After a long process, the reclamation pond was selected and the state Department of Fish and Wildlife began supplying fish to the group.
“Fisheries gives us the fish in July and we care for them throughout the year until it is time to
restock the pond,” Duttrey said.
Members of the group donate money and raise funds to care for the fish, which are raised at the Hurd Creek Hatchery. Duttrey estimated the group paid $3,500 for fish food this year.
“We receive generous donations from the community to help raise the fish and make Kids Fishing Day possible,” he said.
The event is sponsored by The Haller Foundation, WalMart Foundation, Les Schwab Tires, First Federal Bank, QFC, High Tide Sea Foods, Swain’s Outdoor, Franz Bakery and Peninsula Bottling Company.
Following Kids Fishing Day, the pond will be stocked with another 1,000 fish so children may continue to fish through the summer. Children can catch two fish per day. The pond is closed to fishing for anyone over 14 years old. The pond is closed until 1 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays to allow the Sequim RC Aquanauts to race their remote control sailboats across the water. The pond will be restocked with additional trout after the Clallam County Fair.
