ODFW release – EUGENE, Ore. – Families interested in spending an enjoyable day outdoors with a fishing rod in their hands should join ODFW and volunteers at a Family Fishing Event at Alton Baker Canoe Canal on Saturday, May 4 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. This free event is designed to introduce kids and their families to fishing. People are welcome to bring their own fishing equipment if they prefer. For those who do not have their own gear or are new to fishing, ODFW will provide rods, reels, tackle and bait free of charge, on a first-come, first-served basis. To ensure that everybody has a good chance of catching a fish, ODFW will stock close to 1,250 rainbow trout the day of the event. Alton Baker Canoe Canal is located within Alton Baker Park, one of the most popular and multi-functional parks in Eugene. The park is located on the north bank of the Willamette River just east of the Ferry Street Bridge and Coburg Road. It is accessible by foot or bike from either side of the river via the River Bank Trails. Access by car is via the Club Road underpass off Coburg Road or from Autzen Stadium off MLK/Centennial. ODFW’s free fishing event will take place about 250 yards upstream of the bridge over the canal at the park entrance. The event is open to the public, and no pre-registration is required. Anglers 11 years old and younger do not need an angling license. Anglers 12-17 years of age will need a youth angling license ($10), and adults fishing at the event must have an adult angling license. Licenses will not be sold at the event but can be purchased online at MyODFW.com or at a license sale agent. Alton Baker Canoe Canal is one of more than 350 water bodies in Oregon that ODFW regularly stocks with trout. See the trout fishing tips and other information at MyODFW.com. To talk to a biologist about the free fishing event or other fishing opportunities, seasons or regulations in the Eugene area, feel free to call ODFW’s Springfield office at (541) 726-3515.
