Fish, Fish, Hooray! Kids' Fishing Day
Sophia Hamann, Tahoe National Forest
August 7th, 2024
The shores of Packer Lake were filled with excited families who gathered during the annual Kids’ Fishing Day Event on the Tahoe National Forest in July, 2024. This free fishing event provided a fun opportunity for kids to learn how to fish—from tying knots and choosing bait to casting techniques and cleaning their catch.
With donated or personal poles at the ready, kids of all ages and skill levels tried their hand at reeling in one of the rainbow trout that had been stocked days prior by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, some fish weighing in at approximately 10 pounds!
That’s right, you read that correctly, some BIG fish were put into Packer Lake for the chance to catch a trophy trout and make a lifelong memory. Many of those big fish were not caught at the event, so you can still get up there to pursue a fish of a lifetime.
Hooking a fish wasn’t the only prize on the line. All who registered were entered into a raffle, prizes courtesy of the Sierra County Fish and Wildlife Commission. In addition to the raffle, prizes were won if someone caught a tagged fish, adding another lure for kids to learn and practice their fishing skills.
From the excited chatter and smiles, spending the day fishing in a beautiful setting was a prize all its own.
Though some didn’t reel in a fish or win a prize, no child left empty handed. Art and education stations provided the opportunity to create fish themed paper crafts, decorate t-shirts using hand-painted fish stamps and learn about invasive and native species, watersheds, fishing ethics and safety. Smokey Bear and his salmon friends even made an appearance, much to the delight of young bystanders.
Special thanks to the Sierra County Fish and Wildlife Commission, South Yuba Citizen’s League, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Bassetts Station and Sierra Hardware for their invaluable contributions.
“The Tahoe National Forest is excited to host this annual fishing day, though none of it would have been possible if not for the many partners and volunteers who donated their time, knowledge and supplies to the event,” said Tahoe National Forest Wildlife Biologist Lauren Hoyle.
After 25 years, Kids’ Fishing Day is well-established and loved by locals and visitors alike, some even coming as far as Texas. In total, 232 kids and adults participated in the event, some who experienced the joy of fishing for the first time.
We’ll see you next year!
View more photos from the event on Tahoe National Forest's Flickr.
