Young area anglers are invited to bring their rods and nets to Castle Rock Ponds in the Hiawatha National Forest near St. Ignace Saturday, June 6, for a few hours of fishing fun during the 13th annual Kids Fishing Day. At the event kids will have a chance to catch one of 150, 12- to 16-inchlong trout swimming in a 1,500- gallon portable holding tank, provided by the St. Ignace Fire Department. Kids will also be able to catch one of the many fish in the ponds.

Louie Colegrove of the Straits Area Sportsmen's Club said the idea of the catch and release event is to give kids who otherwise may not have the opportunity to fish a chance to try the sport, as well as increase the trout population in the ponds. The fish caught in the tank will be put into a bucket of water and released into the ponds, where they will be available for anglers throughout the year.

"It's a really good deal for the kids and for us adults. There's not a whole lot of places kids can go locally to fish without boat," he said. "Everybody comes; it's a real family thing."

The free event organized by the sportsmen's club starts at 10 a.m. and continues until 2 p.m., with a hot dog and soda-pop lunch break in between.

Fishing in the tank gives young anglers a great opportunity to see the fish close up, Mr. Colegrove said, and to watch as they chase after a baited hook. The trout in the tank were purchased from the Cedarbrook Trout Farm in Harrisville by the sportsmen's club specifically for the event.

Participating youngsters will also receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win some of the many prizes to be given away throughout the day, including fishing rods, tackle boxes, life vests, T-shirts, flashlights, and ferry tickets to Mackinac Island donated by the ferry lines. Although Kids Fishing Day is designed for kids 16 and younger, Mr. Colegrove said it is open to anglers of all ages, and families are encouraged to participate.

He is expecting more than 300 youngsters, accompanied by almost 200 adults, to attend the program. Young children at the event must be accompanied by an adult.

Anglers are encouraged to bring their own fishing rods, bait, and tackle, however, a limited amount of equipment will be available for use. Castle Rock Ponds is on Castle Rock Road, just past the North State Street overpass in St. Ignace, across I-75 at Exit 348.

The event is sponsored by the Straits Area Sportsmen's Club, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, Hiawatha National Forest, Mackinaw Outfitters, Michigan Straits Chapter of the Safari Club International, and the 4-H Youth Program at the Michigan State University Extension.

For more information, contact Louie Colegrove at 643-8875.