Klineline Kids’ Fishing event to be held April 11-12

Over a two-day period April 11-12, 8-10,000 people will gather at Salmon Creek Park/Klineline Pond to help children experience fishing, playing outside and learning about water safety and the area’s natural resources.

On Fri., April 11, the Special Needs Kids’ Fishing Event will be held, with time slots from 8 a.m.-3:45 p.m. Cost is $5 per child and includes a T-shirt and a ZEBCO rod and reel. Fishing sessions are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis and the event is limited to the first 800 special needs children. Scholarships are also available upon request. Registrations must be postmarked by April 4.

On Sat., April 12, the Klineline Kids’ Fishing Event will be held for children ages 5-14 years old. Time slots are available from 8 a.m.-3:45 p.m. Cost for this event is $5 per child and includes a T-shirt and a Zebco rod and reel. Fishing sessions are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis and the event is limited to the first 2,000 registered children. Scholarships are available upon request and registrations must be postmarked by April 4.

For both Friday and Saturday events, all fishing gear and bait will be provided and no personal fishing gear will be allowed. Children will need to arrive 30 minutes before their designated fishing time to check in and pick up their T-shirts and rods. Children will be fishing in a netted area, however, catch is not guaranteed. Even though the fish are in a contained area, there may be times when fishing can be slow due to a variety of reasons such as weather conditions and water temperature.

Parents are encouraged to help their children, but the child is the one who should be fishing. Once the limit of two fish is caught, each participant must leave the fishing area and proceed to the measuring and cleaning stations. Catch and release will not be allowed.

Parking is limited and there is no fee for parking, carpooling is encouraged.

This fishing event began with 1,210 kids in 2000 as a program of the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW) and Go Play Outside Alliance of Washington (GoPAW). Funds were cut in 2010 and the 2011 event was threatened with closure, but a group of volunteers gathered together to make it happen. Klineline Kids Fishing nonprofit became a 501 c 3 in late 2011. In 2012, the organization served 2,400 children, no child was turned away. The event is growing every year and 3,200 children are expected to participate in the near future.

Klineline Kids Fishing aims to accomplishes two goals: It gives children the opportunity to experience the thrill of catching a fish and educational sessions, held by WDFW, Clark Public Utilities, Columbia Springs and others, help children learn more about our natural resources and the outdoors. This event also puts children in close connection to the county’s first responders. Firemen, police, game warden, and medics are present and available to visit with the kids. Children also make a one-on-one connection to fishermen volunteers who mentor them in fishing.

The WDFW made the decision to close Klineline Pond to fishing by the public one day prior to the fishing event, as well as the two days of the event. The pond will re-open April 13. Closure dates are listed below:

• April 10, 12:01 a.m., entire pond closed to public fishing

• April 11, pond closed except to registered participants

• April 12, pond closed except to registered participants

• April 13, pond re-opens to the public

This rule change is necessary to assure a safe and successful Kids’ Fishing event. The fish will be planted one day prior to the event to better acclimate them before the event. Several thousand fish will be placed into netted areas along the shoreline of the pond.

For more information on Klineline Kids Fishing and registration, visit www.klineline-kf.org or visit their Facebook page, www.facebook.com/KlinelineKidsFishingEvent?fref=ts. Also call (360) 608-7973 for additional information.