Fishing For Kids

Thu., April 20, 2000

From Staff Reports

Youngsters around Washington will have a new opportunity to experience the fun fishing when the Kids Klassic Fishing Series debuts in six cities around the state this summer.

Open to kids ages 5 to 14, the series of day-long fishing events is sponsored by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Department, the CAST for Kids Foundation, and local businesses and organizations that hope to give up to 1,000 young people in each community a taste of the great outdoors.

Events are planned from April through October. In Eastern Washington, events are scheduled for Aug. 19 at a site on the Spokane River (call 477-2166) and Oct. 7 at Columbia Park Pond in Kennewick (call 509-585-4300).

Veteran anglers from local fishing organizations will be on hand to give kids and their parents tips on subjects such as fly tying, tackle rigging, water safety and fishing ethics. Kids can also test their skill with a rod and reel in the Bassmasters casting contest that is part of each event.

But the main goal of the Kids Klassic is to “get a rod and reel in these kids’ hands and let them do some fishing,” said Fred Shiosaki, a fly fisher and member of the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission.

For a $5 registration fee, participants will receive a Kids Klassic T-shirt and a Zebco rod and reel, which are theirs to keep. Or they can bring their own fishing gear and participate in all the activities at no cost.

The area of the Spokane River set for the festivities will be stocked with trout just prior to the event to improve the kids’ chances of success.

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