Bozeman Kids Cast Lines, Catch Fish At 15th Annual Free Kids Fishing Day

BOZEMAN, Mont. — Families gathered at Glen Lake Rotary Park in Bozeman on Saturday, May 16th for the 15th annual Free Kids Fishing Day, a local tradition that brought children to the water for a morning of fishing.  

Nonstop Local stopped by the lake to hear from kids and organizers about what keeps the event going each year.  

The Bozeman Sunrise Rotary Club hosts the event each year, on the third Sunday of May. Organizers say the format has changed since it began. 

"It started as a fishing derby, so, it was a competition. I was told it started at the fish hatchery and their pond," Brandon Schreiner, the committee chair of free kids fishing day said. "So now, the derby part is done. Now it’s just to come out and have fun and catch fish and get fed afterwards”. 

The event ran from 10:00 a.m. to noon and drew 138 kids, who spent the morning casting lines before a free lunch was provided after the fishing ended.  

One young participant shared what he hoped to find at the end of his line.  

"I’m kind of hoping to catch like a pike, or something like that" Hal said. "I just like fishing, it’s fun".  

Other kids said they enjoyed different parts of the experience. "Catching fish" James said.  

"I really like how patient and quiet it is" Alton said.  

The fishing day also tied into Epic Day of Service, a larger Rotary effort taking place in Montana and around the world.  

"Epic day of service is a global initiative that’s put on by rotary clubs all across the world. The ultimate goal is to have every rotary club in the whole world do a project on the same day" Laura Kuntz, the rotary district epic day committee chair said. "Here, we’re having our kid's fishing day which you’ll hear about. So, there’s all kinds of projects, but rotary is really making an impact across Montana today, so it’s really fun for us to see".  

The event wrapped up with lunch as families spent part of the day connecting with Bozeman’s local fishing community.