Kids will have a chance to practice their fishing skills at a free youth fishing event at the McNary Channel Ponds near Hermiston on Saturday, May 10.
To give kids the best opportunity to catch fish, the event is open to only youth 12 years old and younger from 10 a.m. to noon. The ponds will be open for families to fish starting at noon. The event is co-sponsored by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers.
“Kids will have a chance to learn and do everything from baiting a hook to landing a fish,” said Bill Duke, ODFW district fish biologist. “The McNary ponds offer lots of bank access for young anglers, lots of fish to catch and there will be lots of volunteers to help the kids get started.”
ODFW will provide loaner fishing rods and reels, tackle and bait for youth that don’t have their own gear.
Under Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations anglers ages 13 and under can fish for free while those 14-17 will need to have a $9 juvenile angling license, available at license outlets. Licenses will not be sold on site the day of the event.
The McNary Channel Ponds are a few of more than 350 water bodies in Oregon that ODFW regularly stocks with trout. Anglers can learn more about how and where to fish throughout Oregon at ODFW’s website.
To get to McNary Channel Ponds from Hwy 370 in Umatilla, turn north onto Brownell Blvd. just west of I-82). Proceed to W. Third St. Turn right on Third St. and proceed through the I-82 underpass. The ponds are north of Third St. between I-82 and McNary Dam. There are several well-signed vehicle access points.
For more information about this event, call (541) 276-2344.
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