Kids Get Fishing Experience at Canby Pond

Changes at a local pond expand opportunities for kids to learn fishing techniques.

Photo by Mitch Webb Salem-News.com

(CANBY, Ore.) - Oregon Fish & Wildlife brought a truckload of trout to the Canby pond Monday, March 16th, 2009. This delivery starts off the Spring hatchery trout fishery here, while launching some new, noticeable regulations.

Signs states new rules for the Canby Pond. Photo by Mitch Webb

Yellow ODFW signs inform anglers that the pond is now for the use of youth who are 17 and younger, and holders of any one of Oregons handicapped fishing permits.

This new regulation has quickly proven successful in providing a suitable fishing and outdoor experience for Oregons young anglers, especially our very young anglers.

Parents and caretakers stay very busy attending to the needs of the excited new fishers. They are nearly constantly casting and untangling lines, adding fresh bait, and then sometimes enjoying the fun antics of trying to land feisty fish.

Adults get hands on time by assisting young anglers. Generally the younger the fisher, the more the adult should assist.

The only thing strickly adhered to in this youth fishing area, is that the landing of the fish must be done by the youth holding the rod. This is easily and often done successfully by children as young as 2 or 3 years old.

An Oregon city couple brought their four-year old twin girls to fish, but not without the additional help of a couple of their experienced fishing grandpas.

The three generations had a successful and fun day. Using bobber and eggs, bites were constant, but these trout are wary of fish hooks.

Experienced fishers of larger varieties sometimes get frustrated with the seemingly unhookable rascals.

They can pull a bobber under 3 feet of water and somehow not get hooked. These are small fish, so small gear works well. Panfish style floats, very small hooks, long light leaders, tiny weights, and small baits work best. The friendly atmosphere here means that asking your fellow fisherman for help is common and acceptable. These fish often change their favorite bait of the day, so asking another fisher what is working to catch them recently, will improve your chance of retaining a stringer of 5 fresh trout to enjoy at home.

This is mostly a put and take fishery. If catch and release is to be performed, the use of bait should be avoided. Fish should not be taken far from the water, or completely out of the water for very long.

Spinners and flies with barbless hooks show that a concerned fisher cares for the fish they wish to let swim again.

Visitors are asked to adhere to the rules, in keeping this place nice for kids to fish. Please report game violations, especially poachers using more that one pole, or adults that won't comply with the age restriction. OSP has been quick to respond to reports of violations at this unique fishery.

For more information, visit: takemefishing.org.