EUGENE, Ore. – Families interested in spending an enjoyable day outdoors with a fishing pole in their hands should put the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife's upcoming family fishing event on their calendar. The event will take place at Alton Baker Canoe Canal in Eugene on Saturday, May 6 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

The event is open to the public and is designed to introduce kids and their families to fishing. Registration is not required. Attendees are welcome to bring their own fishing equipment if they prefer. For those who do not have their own gear or are new to fishing, ODFW will provide rods, reels, tackle and bait free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis. To ensure that everyone has a good chance of catching a fish, ODFW will release approximately 2,000 rainbow trout on the day of the event.

Anglers ages 11 and under can fish for free, while those 12-17 will require a youth license, available for $10 at ODFW's website (myodfw.com) and license agents. Adult anglers will need a regular fishing license. Licenses will not be sold on-site the day of the event, so people planning to participate should get their licenses ahead of time.

Alton Baker Canoe Canal is located within Alton Baker Park, one of the most popular and multi-functional parks in Eugene. The park is located on the north bank of the Willamette River just east of the Ferry Street Bridge and Coburg Road. It is accessible by foot or bike from either side of the river via the River Bank trails. Access by car is via the Club Road underpass off Coburg Road or from Autzen Stadium off MLK/Centennial.

The event will take place about 250 yards upstream of the bridge over the canal at the park entrance.

Alton Baker Canoe Canal is one of more than 350 water bodies in Oregon that ODFW regularly stocks with trout. Stocking schedules, maps, fishing guides and other resources can be found at myodfw.com under the "Fishing" tab.

To talk to a biologist about the fishing event or other fishing opportunities, seasons or regulations in the Eugene area, call ODFW's Springfield office at (541) 726-3515.