Free Family Fishing Day at The Dalles
Family Fishing Day was at at Spearfish Park on Saturday, June 9, 2012, in conjunction with Washington`s free fishing weekend, so no fishing licenses were required. The Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife stocked the lake with over 2,000 trout the day before the event, and provided staff support and more than 100 fishing poles for the event. The kids even got to keep their poles! Trout Unlimited, of Goldendale, Wash., had a demonstration booth and taught participants how to bait their tackle. Local volunteers Tom and Velda Pierce staffed the activity booths. Tom taught casting skills so that kids could practice aiming while casting. Velda helped kids color and assemble fish and water safety craft. Volunteers also helped Ranger David Ladouceur at the water safety booth. A Dalles Dam Fisheries employee, Erin Kolvachuk, brought a display and taught visitors how to identify different species of fish and answered questions about pit tagging. Prizes were raffled off, and attendance was great despite windy conditions, with about 100 participants enjoying a Saturday morning outdoors, learning how to fish, and actually catching some, too!