Kids Can Catch 2026 Brings 350+ People to the Ice at Okotoks Chain Lakes

On Saturday, February 14, 2026, the Okotoks & District Fish and Game Association hosted another successful Kids Can Catch event at Okotoks Chain Lakes—and the turnout was incredible.

With over 350 attendees joining us on the ice throughout the day, families enjoyed a fun, welcoming introduction to ice fishing and the outdoors. Our volunteer team handed out approximately 250 fishing rods and all of the prepared bait bags, ensuring new anglers had the gear and support they needed to get started.

To keep everyone warm and fueled, participants made quick work of the refreshments: 20 dozen hot dogs and 15 gallons of hot chocolate disappeared over the four-hour event.

A Great Day for Learning (Even If the Fish Were Slow)

Fishing conditions were a bit tough, but the enthusiasm didn’t slow down. We estimate roughly 20 trout and suckers were caught during the event window (not including catches within the CFGA tents). More importantly, hundreds of youth and first-time anglers gained hands-on experience—from basic rigging and safe ice practices to responsible fish handling and conservation-minded angling.

Thank You to Our Volunteers and Supporters

This event only works because of the people who show up early, stay late, and spend their Saturday helping others learn. A huge thank you to Mark Anderson for leading the planning and execution once again, and to every volunteer who helped with setup, mentoring, food service, and wrap-up.

We’re also grateful to our partners and supporters who help make Kids Can Catch possible through contributions, supplies, and encouragement.

See You Next Year

Kids Can Catch continues to be one of our most rewarding community events: bringing families together, introducing youth to fishing, and strengthening outdoor education in our area. If you attended—thank you for coming. If you volunteered—thank you for making it happen. We look forward to doing it again next year.