Kids fishing event June 11; Free Fishing Weekend, too

The annual kids fishing event on Moses Lake just about didn't take place this year for a variety of reasons. The efforts of Alan Heroux have saved the fishing event for youth to take place again, this year on June 11.

Now, I'm sure Alan would shy away from recognition, but I'm sure he is the main mover in this endeavor. He will need a bunch of volunteers, so if you have an interest, give him a call. Here are the facts:

Kids Fish In for youth ages 5 through 14 at Cascade Park on June 11. There are five time slots available. The cost is $5 and each youth will receive a rod and reel and be allowed to catch two fish. Photos will be taken of the angler and the fish.

The fish will be cleaned at the event, so they will be ready to cook when they arrive home. There is a maximum of 120 youth per each of the five sessions.

Register by stopping by Moses Lake Parks and Recreation Department office. A form needs to be completed for the registration, but call 764-3805 for questions.

Here is the e-mail recently received from Alan:

"Hi Everybody, We are getting close to our event on June 11. Here is the latest.

"We have either committed or received $500 donations from the Bass Club, Walleye Club and EKA. Tri-State will donate worms and possibly additional. Windermere is doing pictures again.

"I have spoken to both Deputy Hudson of the Grant County Sheriff's Department and Capt. Anderson of Fish and Wildlife, and the event is on their calendars.

"We have rods in boxes ready for assembly in the same City Facility as last year. Registration is slow coming in but, it always is till the last minute.

"So, we need to assemble some rods. At this point it looks like the only days that work are June 8 and 9. We will have work parties those two nights.  Last year we whipped them out pretty quick, so I think with a good group we can do it in one night but, just in case we'll schedule two.

"We still need a work group to set nets and fish on Friday starting at 12ish.

"Please get the word out to your groups as we need volunteers the day of the event."

As readers can see, it takes a lot of work to put on such an event. As stated above, if you have a notion to help, contact Alan at: office 765-3483 or cell 750-0072.

Free Fishing Weekend

All anglers should take advantage of this opportunity. Take the kids to the Kids Fish In, explained above, then take the family fishing in the Columbia Basin on Sunday. If you don't have a fishing license, you don't need one on June 11 and 12. 

This weekend is designated as Free Fishing Weekend. On those two days, fishing licenses are not required.

However, Catch Record Cards are required to fish for salmon, sturgeon, steelhead, Puget Sound Dungeness crab and halibut. Free fishing days are valid for everyone.

All other rules apply, including area and lure or bait restrictions and size and catch limits. A Vehicle Use Permit, Columbia River Salmon/Steelhead Endorsement, and Two-Pole Endorsement is not required during this weekend.

Each year, the Free Fishing Weekend will be the first weekend in June, after the first Monday in June.

From Fish and Wildlife

In the Columbia Basin district of the region, fish biologist Chad Jackson said trout fishing has been very good during this cool, wet spring and warmwater fish species should begin biting more later this month. He said all or most of the catch-and-release or fly-fishing or selective gear waters in the basin are fishing quite well with these conditions. 

Lenice and Dry Falls lakes are the most popular and some anglers are catching and releasing 12 to 20 or more trout per day, and the fish are running up to 20 inches.

It has also been reported that Quail, Dusty, Lenore and Nunnally lakes are also fishing well. And so is what is termed the production waters, such as Warden, Blue and Park lakes. These fisheries appear to be holding up well since the late April opener, but that's based on just a few reports. The weather, especially wind, plays a big factor in successful fishing at those lakes.

Fish and Wildlife also noted that bass and walleye fishing should be heating up this month in the usual big three waters in the Basin, Banks Lake, Potholes Reservoir and Moses Lake. Fish and Wildlife is hearing some good reports, especially for smallmouth and largemouth bass.

Raffle permit hunts

Although there is less of a chance of winning, Dennis still purchases a few raffle permits for Washington State hunts. There is still plenty of time to research the raffles and apply, as the raffle permit hunt deadline is July 22. Stay tuned for more information about these hunts.

Special hunt permit results

Hunters who applied by May 18 for special big-game hunt permits for the upcoming season can find out in late June if they were drawn by checking the Fish and Wildlife's Website. Winners will be notified by mail by the middle of July. Holders of the special permits can hunt at times and locations beyond those authorized by a general hunting license. 

Wildlife viewing

June is also the first full month that many families get outdoors picnicking, hiking, camping and wildlife watching. WDFW wildlife biologists advise following a few basic rules to protect both wildlife and people:

Keep a respectful distance: Using binoculars is a good way to get a close-up view of wildlife species without disturbing them. 

Leave baby animals alone:  Deer fawns and baby birds may appear to be abandoned, when a parent may be close-by. Picking up wildlife of any kind can not only be harmful to the animal, plus it is illegal.

Don't feed wildlife, either intentionally or unintentionally. This requires keeping campsites clean by storing food and garbage securely. Many of the problems with wildlife that require Fish and Wildlife involvement stem from human hand-outs, in one form or another.

Spring chinook fishery extended above Bonneville Dam

The sport fishery for hatchery-reared spring chinook salmon has been extended through June 15 on a section of the Columbia River stretching 163.5 miles above Bonneville Dam. 

Previously set to close June 3, the spring chinook fishery was extended by fishery managers from Washington and Oregon, who today agreed that enough fish are still available under the catch limit to allow anglers to keep fishing until the summer chinook salmon season starts June 16.

The popular spring chinook fishery was already scheduled to run through June 15 below Bonneville Dam.

Today's action allows boat and bank anglers to continue fishing above Bonneville Dam from the Tower Island power lines upriver to the Washington/Oregon state line, 17 miles upriver from McNary Dam. Bank fishing is also allowed from Bonneville Dam upriver to the power lines, located six miles below The Dalles Dam.

Anglers can retain up to two hatchery adult chinook salmon, marked with a clipped adipose fin, as part of their daily catch limit. Sockeye salmon and hatchery-reared steelhead also count toward anglers' adult daily limit. All unmarked chinook and steelhead must be released unharmed.

Summer Chinook season

The summer Chinook season opens on the Columbia River upriver to Priest Rapids Dam.