There鈥檚 some good news about this year鈥檚 Go Fish youth fishery program.

Approximately 500 young rainbow trout will be stocked late this week in the Hall Road fishing pond in Mission Creek Regional Park for youngsters to experience fishing fun starting this Sunday, April 30.

Unfortunately due to the unprecedented high water level in Shannon Lake Regional Park, the program there has been postponed by a week. The grand opening is now anticipated for Sunday, May 7.

鈥淲e鈥檝e never seen Shannon Lake so high and as a result, the net that鈥檚 used to keep fish in for the youth fishery, isn鈥檛 long or deep enough to do the job this year. Our Peachland Sportsmens Association volunteers are busy making modifications and plan to put the net in soon,鈥� said communications officer Bruce Smith. 鈥淭hen if the lake level cooperates, we anticipate the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC and Summerland Trout Hatchery will be able to stock the fishing area in time for the May 7 kickoff.鈥�

Starting this Sunday and continuing each weekend until Father鈥檚 Day, June 18, youngsters can experience Go Fish from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hall Road pond. Youth 15 years of age and under may catch 25 to 30 centimeter-long rainbow trout and are allowed to keep one each day, without a fishing license.

From May 6 to June 18, the program will run each weekend at Shannon Lake.

On Sundays, Regional Parks staff will be at the Mission Creek Regional Park fishing pond and on May 7 at Shannon Lake to help youngsters try their luck in this popular youth urban fishery program.

Staff from the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC will be on hand each Saturday starting May 6. Volunteers from the two local outdoor recreation partners will also help, with equipment and expert fishing guidance for youngsters as they try their luck.

The Society also offers special 鈥楲earn to Fish鈥� field trip programs for school groups at each fishing location on Thursdays and Fridays and on each Wednesday evening at 6 to 8 p.m. from May 10 to June 7 at the Hall Road pond.