Youth fishing event Saturday in Bend
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Central Oregon Flyfishers will host a youth fishing event at the Pine Nursery Pond in Bend on Saturday.
The free event is will last from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will offer young anglers a chance to try two different fishing techniques.
From 9 a.m. to noon the focus will be on spin cast fishing — great way for beginners, especially young beginners, to catch a first fish.
ODFW staff and volunteers will be on hand to help young anglers learn how to bait a hook, cast a rod and land their catch. ODFW also will provide loaner fishing rods, reels, and will have bait, bobber kits and information about additional fishing opportunities.
Beginning at noon, the focus turns to fly fishing, and the Central Oregon Flyfishers will provide hands-on instruction in casting, fly tying, insect identification and fly fishing in the pond.
The event is free and open to all kids 17 and under. Under Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations, anglers ages 13 and under can fish for free while those 14-17 will need to have a $9 juvenile angling license available at ODFW field stations and license outlets. Licenses will not be sold on site the day of the event.
Pine Nursery Pond is stocked regularly by ODFW and offers great family fishing throughout the summer.
The Bend Pine Nursery Community Park is located in NE Bend. From Hwy 97, take the Empire Blvd Exit and head east on Empire Blvd 1.5 miles. Turn left on Purcell for 1500 feet and turn right just before Ponderosa Elementary School.
