The Icicle Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited is kicking off summer trout fishing with their annual Kids Trout Derby at the Juvenile Pond on Blackbird Island in Leavenworth. The event will take place on Saturday, July 23rd, starting at 8 a.m.

There is a new twist to the derby this year, according to Jeff Phippen, organizer of the event. All kids ten years of age and under are invited to register in a drawing to win a ten-speed bike, valued at over $350.00. There will be lots of other prizes awarded at the event, too.

This is a "bring your own tackle" affair, but there will be volunteers on hand to make sure everyone has a great opportunity to catch trout. The pond is loaded with fish, so be sure to bring along a cooler to keep your fish in good shape for a fish fry later.

The Trout Unlimited Kids Trout Derby helps celebrate a great project by their chapter, the Chelan PUD and the Department of Fish and Wildlife. The Blackbird Island Pond is used as an acclimation pond for juvenile steelhead in the spring. When the steelhead smolt, and leave to migrate downstream, the pond is then used as a juvenile fishing pond through the summer months.