June 6, 2002
Free Fishing Weekend has many activities on tap
By MARK FREEMAN
Mail Tribune
Dozens of events are planned for this year’s Free Fishing Weekend Saturday and Sunday to give new anglers a chance to learn the thrill of landing a fish.
Many of the activities specifically target disabled anglers, including an invitation-only event at Cole Rivers Fish Hatchery along the upper Rogue near Trail.
During Free Fishing Weekend, licenses and tags are not required to fish in Oregon on either day, but anglers must follow all regulations for species and bag limits.
Also, anglers who own harvest cards must record their catch, but those without tags don’t have to.
The program was started 12 years ago by Medford native Mike Bickler, who then was an information and education specialist with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. The idea was to give new
anglers, including kids from single-parent families or households where other family members do not fish, an easier and cheaper opportunity to test the fishing bug.
It has since blossomed into a major statewide event. Experienced anglers are encouraged to bring a novice angler along to a favorite spot and teach them to fish.
Other agencies have joined in the mix as well, with free camping provided at such places as Bureau of Land Management campgrounds at Hyatt Lake east of Ashland.
The ODFW is also stocking several of these water bodies this week with extra fish for weekend anglers.
On Friday, Cole Rivers Hatchery employees will release 3,000 legal-sized rainbows and 290 "lunker" rainbow that run about 1½ pounds.
"These aren’t huge, but they’re really nice fish," says Matt Frank, the hatchery’s assistant manager.
Lost Creek, Fish and Selmac lakes are also getting added complements of legal-sized and lunker rainbows for events planned there, Frank says.
Medco Pond, which is not hosting a Free Fishing Day event, will still get about 1,400 legals and 100 lunkers Friday, Frank says.
The ODFW will be sponsoring 42 Free Fishing Weekend events across the state this summer, and disability access will be provided at 12 of them.
Events are planned for Saturday at the following Southern Oregon locations:
Jackson County
Cole Rivers Hatchery — 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event is only for children with disabilities and reservations are required. Please call the hatchery at 878-2235. Hatchery employees and volunteers will help the kids fish for legal-sized and trophy
rainbow trout and clean their catch. Bait and rods are provided; please bring a container for the cleaned fish.
Expo Ponds — 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Parental supervision is required. Bait is provided, rods and reels can be borrowed, and help for beginning anglers is available. The event will be held at the north end of the Jackson County Fairgrounds. Call
826-8774.
Fish Lake — 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event is for all ages and includes casting contests, fishing lessons and ethics. Rods and reels are available for loan, and free sodas and snacks are included. The lake is near Highway 140, about 35 miles from
Medford. 482-3333.
Hyatt Lake — 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Bureau of Land Management and United Hunters and Sportsmen are holding this event for kids. It includes free camping and free breakfast from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. both days. Free bait and loan of rods
and reels are available Saturday only. The event is at the Hyatt Lake BLM campground. To get there, take exit 14 from Interstate 5 at Ashland and follow Highway 66 about 15 miles to Greensprings Inn. Turn left on Hyatt Lake Road about 2.5 miles to
Hyatt Lake and follow the free fishing signs. Disabled access is available. 772-4970.
Medco Pond — 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. 560-3400.
Stewart State Park (Lost Creek Lake Marina) — 9 a.m. to noon. This event is held at the park’s Lost Creek Marina, 34 miles north of Medford off Highway 62. Bait is provided, and fishing lessons, rods and reels are available. Soda and
snacks are free and a prize raffle will be held. There are also prizes for the smallest and largest fish and "first fish" certificates. 560-3334.
Josephine County
Selmac Lake — 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. This is a large event with the Caveman Kiwanis Club All-American Kids Free Fishing Derby. Kids receive a bag of freebies, hot dogs and soda, and prizes are awarded to top winners in each age group. Inside
the salmon tent, kids and adults can learn about fish, wildlife, ecology and Native American lore. Smokey Bear will greet visitors. The lake is off Highway 199 about 19 miles southwest of Grants Pass.
Disabled access is available. 471-6759.
Klamath County
Klamath Hatchery — 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 1-541-381-2278.
Shelter Cove Resort (Odell Lake) — all day. 1-541-433-3200.
Curry County
Elk River Hatchery — 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. 1-541-332-7025.
