Kids Fishing Day hooks hundreds at park pond

By Matthew Nash • April 23, 2025 5:30 am

Once again hundreds of children encompassed the Water Reuse Demonstration Pond over the weekend to catch some fish as part of the 24th annual Kids’ Fishing Day.

Families had access to free fishing rods, bait and support from the North Olympic Peninsula Chapter of Puget Sound Anglers on April 19. The group also hosted Life Skills students from Sequim School District the day before.

For 6-year-old Riley Lemon the event was the first time she had ever gone fishing, nonetheless caught a fish, according to her father.

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Fourteen-year-old twins Megan and Madison Damon come to the event every year with their class, and they both caught fish on Friday, April 18. At one point, Madison caught a fish but it pulled her fishing pole out of her hands. Family and volunteers watched her pole’s bobber go around in circles in the pond until they were able to catch the line and net the fish and pole.

The event is an annual partnership between the Anglers, City of Sequim, Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Hurd Creek Hatchery.

For the event, 1,500 fish up to 1 pound in size, and 200 jumbo fish between 3-5 pounds each were placed in the pond on the north side of Carrie Blake Community Park, 202 N. Blake Ave.

Children 14-and younger can fish for free without a license in the pond with a two-catch limit per day after the event.

Sequim Gazette photos by Matthew Nash At right, Marlow Smith catches a fish with his 3-year-old daughter Scarlet with help from members of the North Olympic Peninsula Chapter of Puget Sound Anglers on April 18 as part of a special preview of Kids Fishing Day on April 18. Smith said the fish was Scarlet’s first she’s ever caught.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Megan Damon, third from left, with twin sister Madison, on right, celebrate her catching a fish on April 18. She and North Olympic Peninsula Chapter of Puget Sound Anglers volunteers reeled in a fish that Madison originally caught but it pulled her fishing pole out of her hands and into the water. Volunteers saw the bobber circling the pond and they and Madison reeled it in.

Elijah Martinez, 5, fishes with help from Denny Clawson from the North Olympic Peninsula Chapter of Puget Sound Anglers on April 18. Clawson has helped with Kids Fishing Day for three years, that includes an early fishing day for some Sequim students.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Jade Harper, 8, awaits a fish on her line during an April 18 Kids Fishing Day preview for a few Sequim students.

At right, Dusty Loftus Jr., 8, fishes with his dad Dusty Loftus, Sr. on April 18 in the Water Reuse Demonstration pond during a field trip for Sequim School District students.

At left, Riley Lemon holds her fish while Chris Coventon with the North Olympic Peninsula Chapter of Puget Sound Anglers takes the hook out. She caught the fish during a field trip to the City of Sequim’s Water Reuse Demonstration pond in Carrie Blake Community Park.