TILLAMOOK – Young people interested in learning how to fish can find an opportunity Saturday at Whiskey Creek Hatchery along Netarts Bay.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is stocking 600 rainbow trout for the event at Whiskey Creek Hatchery as part of the new Youth Angling Enhancement Program. The Tillamook Anglers, the volunteer group that runs the hatchery, is supplying rods and reels for fishing. ODFW is providing the bait, ice and bags to transport the catch home. Cold drinks also will be provided. The event begins at 9 a.m. and activities will run until 2 p.m.

Volunteers from Tillamook Anglers will be on hand to help kids with fishing techniques. Children may bring a clean, plain T-shirt and participate in fish printing. In addition, members of the Tillamook Estuaries Partnership will be on hand to demonstrate water quality testing and discuss the importance of healthy watersheds.

The program was made possible through a $50,000 appropriation from the Oregon Legislature and a partnership with the Oregon Wildlife Heritage Foundation, which has pledged an additional $50,000 and is working with ODFW to develop and promote youth fishing opportunities throughout the state.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to introduce children to the fun of fishing and encourage participation in outdoor recreation activities,” said ODFW Director Lindsay Ball. “A lot of credit goes to the Oregon Wildlife Heritage Foundation for all their hard work and financial contributions to help make this event possible.”

Any children, age 13 and younger, are welcome to participate. Regular angling regulations and bag limits apply.

“This is being done for kids, so while the standard fishing regulations will apply, we would like to ask adults to leave the fishing to the next generation for a few days,” said Dan Van Dyke, ODFW biologist.

Whiskey Creek Hatchery is located along Netarts Bay just south of Tillamook, on Netarts Bay Road.