Clear Lake Kids’ Fishing Event Returns to Spokane Area May 9, 2026
Cover photo courtesy of Bri Loveall
A lot has changed since this Spokane-area event first tested the waters 25 years ago. A couple of things that haven’t changed, however, are its mission and end result: introducing local youth and their families to the joy of fishing and the bigger idea of environmental conservation and stewardship.
Kids today are the future stewards of Washington’s fish, wildlife and natural resources. In an ever-connected world, it’s easy for screens to win out over time outside. The Clear Lake Kids’ Fishing Event is meant to be a friendly, low-pressure introduction to the outdoors that helps families understand the value and fun of our natural world.
The results speak for themselves. This one-day event draws upwards of 1,000 kids and their families each year. A few years back, attendance peaked at a record 1,137 kids. That’s a lot of happy kids and parents.
Behind the excitement and laughter, there’s a lot that goes into keeping an event like this afloat. It runs on donations, volunteers and registrations, and organizers say that without faithful sponsors, the event would be dead in the water. Sponsors that deserve community thanks include Inland Northwest Wildlife Council, Fairchild Air Force Base, Inland Empire Fly Fishing Club, Spokane Walleye Club, Spokane Flyfishers, Les Schwab Tire, Spokane Indians (baseball), Redband Rally Campaign and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. All of these organizations donate time, funding or both to make it happen.
This year’s event is set for Saturday, May 9, at the Fairchild AFB Clear Lake Recreation Area. Participants receive a fishing pole, an event T-shirt and a chance to catch feisty rainbow trout. Registrations need to be postmarked by April 24, 2026, and registration forms and driving directions are available on the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife youth fishing events page: Wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/contests/youth. (OTO)
