Whether they’re already hooked on fishing, or have yet to cast a line, the annual Salmon Arm Kids’ Fishing Derby is a good opportunity for youth ages 12 and under to give the sport a spin.
This is will be the 25th year for the annual event, which runs from 7 to 11 a.m. on Sunday, June 16, at the end of the Marine Peace Park wharf in Salmon Arm. Registration starts at 6 a.m. and all children must be accompanied by an adult and wearing either a lifejacket or a PFD.
Derby founder and co-organizer James Murray said the prizes to be won by this year’s participants are going to be spectacular, while parents can win a 10-foot Marlon Jon boat in an appreciation raffle.
The event coincides with the annual Family Fishing Weekend, which is also in its 25th year. Organized by the Freshwater Fisheries Society of B.C. (FFSBC) the Family Fishing Weekend features events in 28 communities including Salmon Arm.
For these events, licence requirements for both fresh and salt water fishing are waived to make them accessible to as many people as possible, explained the FFSBC in a media release, noting “the events offer a place for families to come together with other angling enthusiasts.”
“We now are seeing people who attended Family Fishing Weekend events as children bringing their own children to the events,” said FFSBC spokesperson Jessica Greinke. “It’s become an annual tradition for many families and a way to share a passion with the next generation. We have seen how attending events like these fosters a lifelong passion for angling and for the outdoors. We hope to see many more generations coming to Family Fishing Weekend.”
Another Family Fishing Weekend event in the region will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, July 21 at the Kingfisher Interpretive Centre.
The Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC through funding from the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation and the Pacific Salmon Foundation and working with partners such as the BC Wildlife Federation, help promote and support the various Family Fishing Weekend events held across BC. Full list of events and more information at bcfamilyfishing.ca.
For more information on the Salmon Arm event, visit the Annual Salmon Arm Kids Fishing Derby page on Facebook.
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