Youth-only event gives kids chance to fish

PALMER — With families coming out to enjoy a day of fishing Saturday, young anglers ranging in age from toddler to 15 lined the shore of Eklutna Tailrace for a 12-hour day devoted to youth-only fishing.

Jehn and Butch Ehmann of Ehmann Outdoors were on hand to keep an eye on the event, part of a series of days set aside during the summer to provide a special opportunity for young people to catch fish. It’s all part of what was established by the Alaska State Legislature and implemented by the Alaska Board of Fisheries.

The Ehmanns were available for advice as kids rushed to the water’s edge to cast their lines in the fast-flowing water in search of Alaska’s different types of salmon.

The event was run by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, created to promote good fishing habits and how to follow the guidelines to fishing in Alaska’s water. One of the activities that went on was the ADFG’s Five Salmon Family certificate program for those who caught and documented the five types of salmon in the Knik River.

The five types are chinook, chum, coho, pink and sockeye. These type of events are there to give young anglers a chance to fish at the Eklutna Tailrace. Those 16 year olds and older couldn’t fish where the kids were, because it was their turn to reel in a fish. For memories are made in these moments, one kid could catch a large salmon and remember that for the rest of their life.

Aaron Walling is a UAF senior and Frontiersman intern.