Gone fishing

With temperatures in the high 70s and 80s, Saturday was the perfect day for family fun in the sun.

Between 500 and 550 children from Sequim and neighboring towns — lathered in sunscreen and sporting sun hats, tank tops and shorts — ventured to the city of Sequim water reclamation pond and reuse demonstration site north of Carrie Blake Park for the sixth annual Kids Fishing Day. The event was sponsored by the Puget Sound Anglers North Olympic Peninsula Chapter, Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife and city of Sequim Public Works Department.

The pond was stocked with about 2,000 trout — some weighing as much as 4 pounds. Event sponsors include the Haller Foundation, Wal-Mart Foundation, Knights of Columbus, Les Schwab Tires, QFC and High Tide Seafoods.

The fishing was slow but the crowd enthusiastic, according to Tom Duttrey, Puget Sound Angler and project manager.

“For some reason, the fish didn’t want to cooperate,” Duttrey said. “But I think it will be good fishing later in the week,” he predicted.

The pond is routinely restocked and open to the public yearlong for children 14 years old and younger.