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Learn how to ice fish at Yellow Lake

Annual Learn to Ice Fish event happens Saturday.
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Anglers wait patiently for their turn at a trophy catch during last year’s Learn to Ice Fish at Yellow Lake. The event takes place again Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Western News file photo

Hook, line and sinker.

Those will just be some of the items young anglers will get to try out on Yellow Lake Saturday as part of the annual Learn to Ice Fish event.

“In a nutshell it’s just to get our local community involved in the sport of fishing, to create more awareness of our fishery and to create new anglers,” said organizer Danny Coyne of BC Fishn, one of the co-sponsoring groups. “And the number one thing that we see are a lot of parents have never ice fished so when they come out, not only are the kids learning, so are the parents and once they learn they go out and purchase fishing licences themselves and pick up the sport and and enjoy it as a family outing.”

The fun starts at 10 a.m. and runs until 2 p.m. and it is free. Those attending are urged to bring warm clothes and winter boots.

Related:Photo gallery: Getting hooked on ice fishing

Ice fishing gear and bait will be provided for those who need it. Ages 16 and over require a BC freshwater fishing licence.

A barbecue hot dog lunch will also be provided at no charge.

Representatives helping out along with BC Fishn, which is a group of dedicated anglers which promotes a responsible fishing, are local BC Wildlife Federation groups, Freshwater Fisheries, Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources Operations, Penticton Fly Fishers, Keremeos Cawston Wildlife Association and several fish and game clubs.

Coyne estimated there will be as many as 250 people attending. In a similar event in January at Beaver Lake near Winfield the turnout was about 400, the largest ever.

“The kids really love it and when you put this many kids on the ice, honestly there is so much noise it’s hard to catch fish,” said Coyne. “So what happens is they’ll fish for five or 10 minutes and then they’ll start talking to the kid next to them and then they’ll run around chasing each other in the snow.

“It’s awesome to see the kids doing that compared to standing behind an Xbox or some sort of video game. They’re outside and they learn to socialize and it’s some of the most valuable family you can have.”

He added conditions are very safe with about six inches of solid, black ice underfoot.

“The weather is supposed to be sunny, so that would be great,” said Coyne. “We have a very leisurely approach to ice fishing here in BC, the Okanagan especially because we’re in a valley and it’s very sheltered.”

Yellow Lake is located 30 kilometres southwest of Penticton on Highway 3A.