Fishing Kids set at Gilchrist; sign up deadline May 24

Registration is now open for the 13th annual Fishing Kids day at Gilchrist Pond along Union Flat Creek road Saturday, June 8.

Pre-registered children ages 5 to 14 in Whitman County and surrounding areas are invited to the pond from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for the annual event.

Up to 300 children are expected to attend this fun, family friendly activity. This event is one of 12 offered in the state.

A nominal $10 registration fee provides each child with a Zebco rod and reel, bait, a “Fishing Kids” t-shirt and a 30-minute time slot to fish.

Registration deadline is Friday, May 24. Flyers will be distributed to elementary schools in Whitman County in April and are available at the Whitman County 4H Office, Whitman County Parks and Development Services Office, Pullman Parks and Recreation Office and Tri-State in Moscow. They can be found on-line at whitman.wsu.edu.

For questions and registration information, contact WSU Extension in Whitman County.

In addition to fishing, children will have the opportunity to learn about water safety, natural resources, the outdoors and even have their fish cleaned. Volunteers will be on hand around the pond to assist children should lines become tangled and to help bring in the catch.

“We believe this is a wonderful opportunity for parents or grandparents to expose children to the sport of fishing and being outdoors,” said Janet Schmidt, Whitman County Extension Educator. “Our goal is to get more kids fishing, more often, and to develop the future stewards of this resource.”

Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife and Go Play Outside Washington partnered with WSU Whitman County 4H, Whitman County Parks to produce the event in conjunction with local sponsors.