It's no surprise that kids and fish go together like ice and water. In days gone by the two were always as close as the nearest stream. Homes and buildings and thousands more people now separate them.
Which is exactly why, says Byron Gunderson, owner of Fish Tech Outfitters, "We got a bunch of people and businesses together to put on a free kids fishing day. Realizing that for some kids these days don't come around very often anymore, we tried to make this an event."Saturday, the pond at Fairmont Park will be busy with kids fishing during the fourth annual Gone Fishin' with Key Bank day. It's free, it's close to the heart of the city and there will be fish for kids to catch.
Invitations are required and are available at four locations: Key Banks at 130 W. 2100 South, 5101 S. State and 1939 W. 4700 South, and at Fish Tech Outfitters, 6153 S. Highland Drive. Invitations are limited to the first 1,500 kids.
The day will begin with a Division of Wildlife Resources-sponsored "Pathways to Fishing" program. For a brief time, DWR staff will talk about the fish of Utah, where to find them and how to catch them.
The kids, between the ages of five and 14, will then be able to fish for and catch up to two fish. Fishing rods and reels will be furnished, along with bait and help from volunteers. The Salt Lake County Fish and Game Association, Utah bass clubs and Stone Fly Society are among those volunteering services.
The kids will then receive lunch of a free hot dog and soft drink, compliments of Coca-Cola and Smith's, and cooked by the chefs of Gastronomy.
The final stage in the event will be instructional and rewarding. Kids will be able to complete in a casting contest where they will be able to improve their skills and win valuable prizes, compliments of Key Bank and Fish Tech Outfitters.
"It's a full day, but that's what we wanted to do. We wanted to make this instructional, fun and rewarding. Every kid will get to fish, and every kid will win a prize, every kid will learn more about fishing," notes Gunderson.
Prior to the event, rainbow trout will be released in the pond at Fairmont Park, located at 1050 E. 2300 South.
This event will be followed by the state-wide Free Fishing Day on June 7. On that day the Salt Lake County Fish and Game Association will sponsor a fishing event at the park.
All of the events, says Gunderson, are intended to give kids the opportunity to fish.