More than 150 children with disabilities cast lines into the ponds at the Merwin Fish Hatchery on Saturday, July 11, as Pacific Power and the Washington state Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) hosted the 26th annual Merwin Day of Fishing for kids with disabilities.
The annual event welcomed about 350 people, including participants, family members and friends, for a day centered on making fishing accessible to all. Participants received free fishing poles and tackle for the event, one-on-one assistance from volunteers and the opportunity to catch five rainbow trout to take home. After fishing, families were able to gather for a barbecue and an awards ceremony recognizing the day’s biggest catches.
For Pacific Power, the event has become much greater than being just a fishing derby.
“This is our 26th year doing the Merwin Day of Fishing for kids with disabilities and really we just want to show that we are committed to supporting our communities and making sure that everybody has a chance to enjoy the outdoors," Pacific Power spokesperson Drew Marine said.
"We know that sometimes fishing holes may not be as accessible as what we have here at the Merwin Fish Hatchery. Everything is a paved surface, so if you're in a wheelchair it's really easy to get around."
Marine said the event is designed to create lasting memories while removing barriers that can prevent children with disabilities from enjoying the outdoors.
"We just want this to be a day of creating some memories and having accessible fishing," she said.
This year's event drew roughly 150 registered children, along with approximately 200 family members, siblings and friends. Marine said many families return every summer, joined by dozens of volunteers from Pacific Power, WDFW and local fishing organizations.
"It's really awesome to see familiar faces," Marine said. "I really enjoy being able to recognize some returning people and to see new faces excited to catch some fish, and just to see the turnout of volunteers."
WDFW raises thousands of rainbow trout locally each year, many specifically for the event. Unlike the smaller hatchery fish commonly stocked in lakes around Washington, hatchery staff raise these trout for longer periods of time so children have the opportunity to reel in larger catches.
"So typically the rainbow trout that our state agency plants around local rivers or local lakes, they usually average around two and a half pounds," hatchery manager Jesse Cody said.
Many of the fish catchable for the derby average around four pounds, while some of the older trout can weigh seven or even eight pounds, Cody said. Participants also have the opportunity to enter the event's largest fish competition, with prizes donated by community supporters, including guided fishing trips, custom fishing rods and camping gear.
The largest fish of the day was caught by Stuart Ruckman, whose rainbow trout tipped the scales at 6 pounds, 7 ounces.
The event's impact extends well beyond the fishing pond for families like La Center resident Wendy Petta, who has attended the event for more than a decade.
"We've actually been coming for 13 years," Petta said. "My oldest son is deaf and hard of hearing, so we brought him, and then he aged out. And then we adopted these three from foster care. They all have special needs."
As more children joined her family, the annual outing continued.
"It's become a very fun family tradition and something that I know they're going to look back on when they're adults," Petta said.
Watching the children experience success is what keeps her returning each year.
"Just seeing how excited they get when they get a fish and how proud of themselves they are, like, reeling them in and stuff," she said.
The event has also sparked a growing interest in fishing outside of the annual derby for the Petta family.
"The boys just actually started to really love fishing this year," Petta said. "We went camping at Beaver Bay, and they were just fishing 24-7. And I was just so happy because I remember as a kid being super excited about fishing."
She added with a laugh that while the boys enjoy fishing, her daughter prefers getting straight to the action.
"She likes catching," Petta said, adding that the full experience of patiently waiting for a bite while fishing is still being worked on.
Pacific Power President Ryan Flynn said in a post-event press release that seeing families return year after year has made the event one of the company's most meaningful traditions.
"We're incredibly proud of our team for helping children experience the joy of fishing," Flynn said in a news release.
"This tradition means so much to our employees and even more to the families who return year after year to see their child create lasting memories outdoors."
WDFW Southwest Regional Director Rian Sallee said the event aligns with the agency's mission of connecting people with outdoor recreation.
"Creating opportunities for people to connect with the outdoors is an important part of WDFW's mission," Sallee said, in the release. "The continued commitment from Pacific Power, volunteers, and WDFW staff has helped make it a tradition that many look forward to each year."
