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Saturday is Kids Fishing Day at DNR Pocket Park, Escanaba

The Kids Fishing Day team is thrilled to announce it will celebrate the 31st anniversary of the annual Kids Fishing Day this year.

The day for fun, fishing and families is Saturday, June 8, at the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Pocket Park, located on the Upper Peninsula State Fairgrounds in Escanaba.

Registration for Kids Fishing Day will be from noon to 1:30 p.m. EDT and the event will run until 3 p.m. All activities are free of charge and open to youth 16 and younger.

“We are excited to again hold our fishing event at the Pocket Park,” said Gary Olson, longtime Kids Fishing Day team member and organizer. “It offers plenty of space for most all the traditional fun favorites at Kids Fishing Day events, plus some new activities. The Pocket Park offers a beautiful nature-like setting right in the middle of Escanaba.”

Popular returning activities include bluegill fishing, minnow races and face painting, along with free food and raffle prizes.

Greg Karch, certified angler instructor and founder of the nonprofit organization Learn 2 Fish with Us, returns to the event this year to teach kids how to cast a fishing line and tie fishing knots.

Karch’s organization has educated more than 50,000 anglers in Wisconsin since 2006 and has hosted nearly 300 fishing workshops, including Kids Fishing Day at Camp 7 Lake Campground in the Hiawatha National Forest where he offered Backyard Bass for youngsters.  

In addition, Hiawatha National Forest staff will escort Smokey Bear around the grounds, teaching visitors about wildfire prevention, and the DNR will have an animal furs display (where youth can touch and learn about various animal coats), a scavenger hunt and opportunities for kids to learn how to safely shoot at the Pocket Park’s archery and pellet gun ranges.

This year’s Kids Fishing Day event will be held in conjunction with the DNR’s Free Fishing Weekend. Camping is available on the fairgrounds; contact the Delta County Chamber of Commerce for details.

The DNR Pocket Park is located nearest Gate No. 1 at the fairgrounds, which can be accessed from 12th Avenue North.

Partners this year include the Bay de Noc Great Lakes Sports Fishermen, Inc., the DNR and the Hiawatha National Forest. 

The Kids Fishing Day team extends a special thank you to all the volunteers, as this event would not be possible without them.

For more information or to volunteer to help at the event, please contact Brenda at 906-286-1348.


Note to editors: An accompanying photo is available below for download. Caption information follows. Credit: Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

Angler: A young angler takes a bluegill he caught off his hook at the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Pocket Park in Delta County.