Area children can enjoy free fishing and outdoor fun Saturday, June 10, during the 10th annual Kids Fishing Day, sponsored by the Straits Area sportsmen's Club. The event will be at Castle Rock Ponds, on the Hiawatha National Forest, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is being held in conjunction with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Summer Free Fishing Weekend, when all fishing license fees are waived.

Castle Rock Ponds is on Castle Rock Road, just past the North State Street overpass across I-75 at Exit 348. There will be signs posted near all entrances to the area to guide participants.

More than 200 kids and nearly 150 adults made their way to Castle Rock Ponds last year.

Children can enjoy the fishing experience in two ways at the event. One is at a 1,500-gallon holding tank that will be brought in by the St. Ignace Fire Department. The tank will hold 200 rainbow trout purchased from the Cedarbrook Trout Farm in Harrisville. Young anglers will be able to fish the tank for about five minutes, in groups of four, in hopes of catching a 10-inch to 14inch rainbow or brown trout. Catch-and-release will be practiced during the event, so that the fish can later be used to stock the pond.

Young anglers can also fish at the nearby ponds, which are bigger and provide more of a challenge.

Rangers from the Hiawatha National Forest will be handing out packets with fishing lures and hooks. About 100 prizes will be raffled every five minutes for children ages 16 and younger who pick up a ticket when they come in.

The event will feature free refreshments and the St. Ignace Lions Club will provide a large tent that will encompass the food service and prize holding areas. Other agencies participating include the Michigan State University 4-H Youth Program, Tri-County Wildlife Unlimited, and the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians.