High water level delays popular Go Fish youth program

There’s some good news about this year’s Go Fish urban youth program.

Approximately 500 young rainbow trout will be stocked this week in the Hall Road Àshing pond in Mission Creek Regional Park ready for youngsters to once again experience some Àshing fun starting this Sunday, April 30. Unfortunately, due to unprecedented high water level in Shannon Lake Regional Park, the program there has been postponed by a week. The Shannon Lake opening is now anticipated for Sunday, May 7.

“We’ve never seen Shannon Lake so high and as a result, the net that’s used to keep Àsh in for the youth Àshery, isn’t long or deep enough to do the job this year,” Regional District communications officer Bruce Smith said in a press release on Tuesday morning.

“Our Peachland Sportsmen’s Association volunteers are busy making modiÀcations and plan to put the net in soon. Then if the lake level cooperates, we anticipate the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC and Summerland Trout Hatchery will be able to stock the Àshing area in time for the May 7th kickoff.”

Continuing each weekend until Father’s Day, June 18, youngsters can experience Go Fish from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hall Road pond. Youth 15 years of age and under may try to catch 25 to 30 centimeter long rainbow trout and are allowed to keep one each day, without a Àshing license. From May 6 to June 18, the program will run each weekend at Shannon Lake.

On Sundays, Regional Parks staff will be at the Mission Creek Regional Park Àshing pond and starting May 7 at Shannon Lake to help youngsters try their luck in this popular youth urban Àshery program.

Freshwater Fisheries Society of B.C. staff will be on hand each Saturday, starting May 6.

The Society also offers special Learn to Fish Àeld trip programs for school groups at each Àshing location on Thursdays and Fridays. And each Wednesday, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m, from May 10 to June 7 at the Hall Road pond it offers a special ‘Learn to Fish’ program for families.

While participants age 15 and under are not required to have a Àshing license for this program, they are asked to bring their own Àshing equipment if possible, as a limited number of rods and reels are available to borrow at each site.