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April 13, 2015
HERMISTON, Ore. – The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and its local partners will host a free youth/family fishing event at the McNary Channel Ponds near Hermiston on Saturday, April 18.
The day will begin at 10 a.m. when youth 12-years-old and younger will get first chance to try to catch one of the hundreds of trout to be stocked for the event. The ponds will open for families to fish starting at noon.
ODFW will have loaner fishing rods and reels, and tackle and bait, for those that don’t have their own gear. Staff and volunteers also will be on hand to show youngsters, and their families, how to bait a hook, cast a rod and land a fish.
“It’s so easy to participate – we provide all the gear and instruction– that it’s a great way to introduce kids and their families to fishing,” said ODFW fish biologist Bill Duke.
The event is open to the public and no pre-registration is required. In addition to ODFW, other event sponsors include the City of Hermiston Parks and Recreation and Tom Denchel Ford.
Kids 13 years old and younger can fish for free, but youth 14-17 years of age will need to have a $9 juvenile angling license. Licenses will not be sold on site the day of the event so please plan to buy your license in advance.
The McNary Channel Ponds are easy places to take the family fishing and they will be well-stocked several more times throughout the spring. To get to the 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 Bill Duke, ODFW district fish biologist, at (541) 276-2344.
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