News Release
| Release Number: | 99-053 |
| Dated: | 6/3/1999 |
| Contact: | Heidi Y. Helwig, 503-808-4510 |
Portland, Ore. -- On June 12, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Foster Lake in the Willamette Valley will turn into a fishing Mecca for kids who like to catch fish and win prizes. On this day, kids aged 7 through 19 (and those under 6 accompanied by a parent) will get to test their angling skills-without need for a fishing license-at the Foster Lake "Get Hooked on Fishing, Not on Drugs" derby in Sweet Home, Ore.
Registration begins at 8 a.m. at the southwest side of Foster Lake on Foster Dam Road off of Highway 20. From 9 a.m. to noon, kids can fish, enter casting contests and visit with Smokey Bear. Young anglers in each category may win prizes, including one for the first catch of the day, the most fish caught and the biggest fish caught. In addition, kids and parents alike are invited to tour the fish hatchery and Foster Dam. A concession stand operated by the Boys and Girls Club will sell snacks and hot foods, including hamburgers and hotdogs.
Though this Corps-sponsored fishing derby is at Foster Lake, on June 12, fishers of all ages can throw their lines-without a license-at any Corps lake.
For more information about the Foster Lake Fishing Derby, call the Corps' John Sandberg at (541) 367-5127.
Note: The Corps is co-sponsoring the fishing event with the following organizations: Sweet Home Boys and Girls Club, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Forest Service, South Santiam Fish Hatchery, Northwest Steelheaders Association, The New Era Newspaper, Sweet Home Police Department, Linn County Sheriff, KFIR, KSKD, and the Oregon State Police.