1000 new residents make a splash

Amy Jackson-Shelling - Castanet May 2, 2012 / 3:50 pm

Photo: Contributed - Amy Jackson-Shelling

 One thousand trout were released Wednesday into Polson Park pond, in anticipation for the 11th Polson Park Kids Fish Out.  The Kalamalka Fly Fishers Club and Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC make the free annual event possible. It takes place May 5 and 6 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Local children are invited to try and catch up to two fish. The fish can be released or taken home. There will be a limited supply of bobbers, hooks and rods, but children are encouraged to bring their own gear if possible. “The main purpose is to get the kids in the City of Vernon, the ones who can’t get out to the lakes, the opportunity to catch some fish,” said Kalamalka Fly Fishers Club President Perry Wainwright. “All we really do is provide the fish. The Kal Fly Club takes care of everything. They’re a huge part of this,” said Craig Schelter with Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC out of Summerland. “We really appreciate everything that they are doing. Really wish it was happening in every community. There’s a lot of volunteer hours in here that these guys are putting forth.” A Revelstoke elementary school that was visiting the science center along with a few park patrons enjoyed watching the fish being released. Any left over fish will be transferred to Kalamalka Lake. Since the fish are sterilized there will be no threat to the natural ecology of the lake.