10,000 smolts ready for family fishing day

Dozens of families made their way to Twin Lakes on Saturday, June 2, for Family Fishing Day. Cheyenne Herline, 5, shows off her first fish.
Cheyenne Herline, 5, shows off her first fish from the 2012 family fishing day. (Photo by Heather Bryant/KTOO)

Young anglers will get their fishing poles out for the 25th Family Day at the Lake on Saturday. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Twin Lakes.

Family fishing day lets Juneau residents try fishing regardless of income, says event volunteer Laury Scandling.

“There are a lot of families for whom this experience would not otherwise be possible. Meaning, they don’t own fishing gear, they don’t own a life vest, they don’t have a rowboat, they don’t have a pleasure craft out at the harbor,” she says.

Personal equipment is welcome, but the Department of Fish and Game will provide rods, bait and expert advice. The U.S. Forest Service will provide rowboats.

The Juneau-Gastineau Rotary Club will sell hamburgers and hot dogs. There will also be fishing games, bean bag tosses and sack races to entertain landlubbers. Kids can make fish prints of their recent catch to commemorate the event.

The lake was stocked with 10,000 king salmon smolts from the hatchery at Douglas Island Pink & Chum earlier this week for family day.

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