Event shares joy of fishing with local youngsters

Lake Tye was packed with poles on Sunday morning, as kids crowded along the shores for this year's annual fishing derby, presented by Trout Unlimited.

Trout Unlimited is a national grassroots organization dedicated to the conservation, protection and restoration of cold-water fisheries and watersheds around the country. This year's fishing derby was sponsored by several chapters of Trout Unlimited, including the Sky Valley Chapter, the Washington Council and the Edmonds Chapter and numerous other organizations, including the Monroe Lions Club, Tualco Grange, Bear Creek Metal Technology and Haggen Grocery of Monroe.

This year, Trout Unlimited Treasurer Gary Bee estimated that Lake Tye was stocked with approximately 3,224 fish purchased by Trout Unlimited, and another 2,000 fish supplied by the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife.

The event was free for kids, who were allowed to catch a two-fish limit before they were required to go back through the line and start again. This was to make sure that all the kids in attendance had the opportunity to catch a fish.

Bee explained that the annual fishing derby event is simply a way to encourage kids to get outside and have some fun.

"It's just to promote outdoor activity for kids,GÇ¥ Bee said.

In preparation of the event, a portion of the lake is sectioned off using nets so that the fish are confined to a limited area near the beach. This makes it easier for kids to simply stand on the shore and reel them in. Once the lake is stocked, Trout Unlimited volunteers stay overnight to ward off any poachers who might be tempted to catch a fish or two of their own.

The free kids' event was held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday. They also released two specially marked prize fish.

"There's a fish that's marked out there ' it's about 2 1/2 pounds,GÇ¥ said event volunteer Vicki McGarrigan. "It's worth $500 if they catch it.GÇ¥

The other prize fish was worth a $250 prize.

At 2 p.m., the adults were given the opportunity to pay $10 and go after any fish that were left. As soon as the kids' event concluded, volunteers began removing the netting so that the fish were able to spread out around the lake.

McGarrigan and volunteer Roger Chatterton both agreed that the best part of the event is seeing how excited the kids get when they catch a fish. From beaming smiles to jumping up and down in excitement, seeing the kids have a great time is one of the things they love about volunteering.

Chatterton laughed as he remembered a young angler from last year who was so excited about his catch he enveloped his fish in an enormous bear hug.

"It was priceless,GÇ¥ Chatterton said.