The Northwest Washington Steelheaders of Whatcom County with co-sponsors the Bellingham Parks and Recreation Department and Yeager’s Sporting Goods of Bellingham will hold the 69th free Bellingham Kid’s Fishing Derby Saturday, May 13.
The contest is held at the juvenile fishing pond near Bellingham Trout Hatchery in Whatcom Falls Park off Lakeway Drive and Electric Avenue in Bellingham.
It’s open with no fee to all kids up to 14 years of age. Younger participants should be accompanied by a parent or responsible guardian. State fishing regulations allow youth up to age 14 to fish for trout without a license. Parents may assist their kids but all participants must hold their own fishing poles as well as reel in their catches.
Young trout fishing enthusiasts will vie for prizes in two age groups, up to 9 and youth ages 10-14.
• the younger anglers compete from 9-10 a.m.
• and the older set fishing between 11 a.m. and noon.
There are boys and girls divisions in both age groups. Contestants will be awarded the opportunity to choose their prizes from among a selection in the order they catch and report their two-trout limits.
In addition to a host of prizes from rod and reel sets to sleeping bags and tackle boxes to flashlights, two $50 gift certificates provided by Yeager’s Sporting Goods will be given away.
The fishing department staff from Yeager’s Sporting Goods will be on hand starting at 8 a.m. to provide expert guidance on how to fish for trout. Bellingham Technical College’s Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences Program will be on hand to talk about aspects of fisheries management.
Free hotdogs and beverages will be provided and members of the steelhead club will be on hand with advice and helpful hands to aid anglers in rigging up to catch fish.
The Steelheaders are very appreciative of the contributions from Yeager’s Sporting Goods of Bellingham, Dave Sports Shop of Lynden, LFS Marine and Outdoors at Squalicum Harbor, the Grocery Outlet Store in Bellingham and Franz Bakery Company for their help in bringing this traditional spring event back.
The City of Bellingham Parks and Recreation Department is co-sponsoring the derby and staff at the Bellingham Public Works Department has prepared the derby pond and will manage flow from Lake Whatcom especially for the Saturday contest.
As always, the Hatchery Division of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and students of Bellingham Technical College’s Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences Program have raised some fierce and hefty rainbow trout to challenge young fishers.
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Police will be on hand to answer questions about fishing and hunting regulations.
This annual youth fishing event was started in the 1950s by the Bellingham Sportsmen’s Club and later was carried on by the Whatcom Chapter of Trout Unlimited. The independent Steelheaders club continues the tradition today.
For more event information contact Doug Huddle at 360 220-5393
