Jessie Otten flashes a fishing rod from behind her shoulder and lets a practice lure fly.

The 10-year-old Sarnia girl was one of 150 children taking part in fishing activities at the Bluewater Anglers annual Kids Training Day on Saturday.

Youngsters practiced casting, knot tying and fishing in the anglers' stocked pond at the fish hatchery, under the Blue Water Bridge in Point Edward.

"Trying to catch the fish out there, I really like doing that," said Otten, who was with her father Vince.

"Jessie's done a lot of fishing," he said. "Her dad's not as good a fisher as she is."

Information on kayak fishing, tours of the hatchery and presentations from Crime Stoppers, Canada Customs and Immigration, and Child Find were also part of the day.

A big aspect was teaching youth how to ensure fish survive after they're caught, said event co-ordinator Frank Turnbull.

Volunteers with Bluewater Anglers helped youngsters bait, catch and net fish from the stocked pond, then put the fish in tanks, ready to be released into Lake Huron.

"Hopefully put them out alive and healthy," Turnbull said, noting about 90 fish are released after every Kids Training Day.

Youngsters' eyes light up when they haul in a 14-pound rainbow trout, he said.

"Their eyeballs just come right out of their head," he said. "They love it."

The anglers, who raise and release salmon, rainbow and brown trout into Lake Huron, this year have some of their best stock in a long time, Turnbull said.

"They're really healthy, they're in good shape and they're eating lots of minnows and lots of smelt. They're doing very, very well."