String the poles; dig the worms; catch the crickets, it’s time for Pike County Kids’ Fishing Day at Clay Hill Farms.

A day of free fishing fun just for kids is set for Saturday and all children ages 5 to 13 are invited. Registration will begin at 7 a.m. at Clay Hill Farms at Pronto and fishing will begin at 8 a.m.

Conservation Officer Jerry Jinright said the pond at Clay Hill Farms is stocked with catfish and they are biting everything from Catfish Charlie to chicken livers and red wigglers.

“Pike County Kids’ Fishing Day is an educational fishing experience, whether a kid has fished before or is fishing for the first time,” Jinright said. “We want every kid who loves to fish or wants to fish to come out Saturday and fish and have a good time.”

To participate in Kids’ Fishing Day, the children must be accompanied by a parent or other responsible adult and provide their own fishing equipment – a rod and reel or fishing pole, bait and an ice chest for their catch.

“It’s also a good idea to bring a hat and sunglasses because the sun will be bright and it will be warm,” Jinright said.

Participants will be divided into three age groups and prizes will be given for the total weight of fish caught in each age division.

“We’ll also give a lot of prizes in drawings,” Jinright said.

“When the kids register, they will be given a ticket for the drawings which will be held around lunch time. Wal-Mart has donated two bicycles, a boy’s bike and a girl’s bike, that will be given in a drawing. So, everyone will want to stay for lunch and for the drawings because you do have to be present to win.”

Wal-Mart will also provide lunch for Kids’ Fishing Day.

Pike County Kids’ Fishing Day is hosted by Wal-Mart and the Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division and is funded in part by the Federal Sport Fish Restoration Program.

John and Carol Dorrill of Clay Hill Farms generously make their pond available for Kids’ Fishing Day each June.