The big one isn’t until today, when thousands of kids and their parents will descend on Klineline Pond to catch the biggest trout. You wouldn’t have known it Friday, though, with an army of volunteers setting up tents, bringing in poles, skimming the pond and, most importantly, fishing.
Hundreds came to Salmon Creek Regional Park on Friday as part of a smaller fishing derby for foster children, children with disabilities and those from lower-income families organized by Klineline Kids Fishing for a day, in advance of today’s 12th annual Klineline Kids Fishing event.
“It gave them a chance to come out and fish without a whole bunch of people prejudging,” said Wil Morrison, secretary of the Klineline group. Fishing was supposed to last only 45 minutes, but Morrison said they didn’t close the pond until every child had caught at least one fish.
Volunteers from local unions, UPS, Salmon Creek Lions Club, Vancouver Wildlife League, Clark County Fire District 6 and other local organizations also helped set up for today, while baiting hooks, helping hold rods steady, and cleaning Friday’s catch.
‘Every hardworking guy’
“It’s something that hits the heart of every hardworking guy out there,” said Dustin Hysmith, a member of the Sheet Metal Workers Local 16, who came out to set up and assist. His union has been coming out for three years now. Members from several other locals showed up, their families in tow, to make sure the event goes off without a hitch and every child gets a chance to fish. Morrison counted 49 volunteers who helped make it happen.
He started planning the event last October. The task became even harder when he learned that school would be out this week, meaning parents would hold all the responsibility for bringing their children. He got a little help from Vancouver’s Department of Child and Family Services, which sent email to local foster parents advertising the event.
Amber Messick, one of the department’s foster care coordinators, said that approximately 55 foster children showed up Friday. She added that foster parents responded positively and immediately started sending back pictures of the fish their children caught.
“It gives them confidence — helps to show them patience,” said Tom Shernisky, who brought his foster son, James, for the second year. “I did this a lot with my grandfather. It’s one of my fondest memories.”
Klineline Kids Fishing is the second of 19 events the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife helps organize throughout the state. For more information on upcoming events, visit http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/kids/events.html.
