The Len Thompson Pond will once again be host to the Lacombe’s Kids Can Catch event on June 4th.
This event is to celebrate the re-opening of the Len Thompson Fish Pond, located on the north end of Len Thompson Drive in Lacombe, which will begin with kids from around the community to help stock the pond with fish alongside fishing mentors, according to Lacombe Fish and Game Association member Bernie Street.
“We have a trout farm that we get fish from, they’ll be showing up there around 11 a.m. and we put the fish in pails then let the kids take it down and dump the fish into the pond. They really enjoy that. Anybody that needs help, we’ll teach them howto put their hooks on or how to cast and help them out if they have any questions,” he said.
Street said because the event started before he was a member, he’s not certain why the event was started in the first place,but has a theory that’s based on the needs of the kids.
“It was always been a concern the kids weren’t doing too much and being in Fish and Game we like to keep them in the fishing and hunting industry. We felt that with this development of the pond here in Lacombe, it was a good location to stockwith fish and get kids out fishing.”
Last year, around 250 community members came out to the event. Street said he hopes to see as many people attend this year. There will be many activities for the kids at the start of the event as well, including participation with stocking the pond.
“It’s all rainbow trout that are in there, and it’s been stocked already. The Alberta Conservation Association put a bunch offish in there a few weeks ago as well so there’s quite a few fish in there - they do live in there through the winter as well.”
Street said Fish and Game have put a lot of work into the pond thanks to the Co-op Community Spaces Grant and encourages everyone to come and see the work that was put in. They have already noticed an increased amount of use from kids and families since the improvements were made.
Participants are required to bring their own fishing rods, although there will be rods available to borrow. Anglers are reminded that Alberta Sportfishing Regulations will apply, which means only residents of Alberta under the age of 16 and overthe age of 65 are not required to hold a licence to fish.
There will be a facepainter on site, door prizes, fun giveaways, a barbecue and more. This event will be hosted from 10 a.m.until 2 p.m. and the first 250 people to arrive will get a free Len Thompson fishing lure.
shelby.craig@lacombeexpress.com