Free fishing event held this weekend.
Byline: Mike Stahlberg / The Register-GuardOregon will observe its 18th annual Free Fishing event this weekend. Licenses and tags will not be needed to fish, dig clams or harvest crabs Saturday and Sunday. Bag limits and all other regulations remain in effect.
Many popular lakes and streams statewide will be heavily stocked with trout for the occasion.
One place where the trout are sure to be hungry is Leaburg Fish Hatchery, located alongside the McKenzie River east of Eugene.
The hatchery will be hosting its annual "Get Hooked on Angling" event for youngsters age 13 and under from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Registration tables will be open from 8 a.m. until noon.
Due to the shortage of parking space at the hatchery, event participants must ride a Lane Transit District shuttle from the Leaburg community ball field, where registration tables will be set up. The buses run every 20 minutes.
All tackle, bait and other equipment (plus ice bags for carrying the fish home) are provided. No private tackle is allowed.
Before fishing in a pond filled with trout averaging a pound apiece, youngsters will go through a series of three "education stations," where they will learn about fish and insect identification, and water safety.
"The best part of the whole thing is we'll be teaching then what a fin clip looks like and what a wild fish looks like, and the proper way to release a wild fish," said Tim Wright, manager of the hatchery.
That knowledge is especially relevant on the McKenzie River because angling regulations require all fish without a clipped adipose fin to be released unharmed. The rule protects bull trout and native rainbow and cutthroat trout.
Youngsters and their adult escorts will also be given the opportunity to learn fly-fishing techniques, and to give that a try.
Each youngster will be allowed to catch and keep three rainbow trout, ranging in size from 8 or 9 inches to 14 inches.
"They average about a pound apiece," said Wright. "And we won't feed them for five days, so they'll be ravenous."
Wright said organizers could use a few more volunteers to help with the event. For details, call 896-3294.
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife launched the free fishing program in 1988. The idea was to give people a chance to try the sport without having to purchase a license.
Free fishing events for youth are planned at Diamond Lake, Odell Lake, Tugman State Park, Willamette Hatchery in Oakridge and around the state. For details, see: www.dfw.state.or.us/free_fishing.
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| Title Annotation: | Recreation |
|---|---|
| Publication: | The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR) |
| Date: | Jun 6, 2006 |
| Words: | 432 |
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