“You get a line, I’ll get a pole,” will be the tune on parents’ mind Saturday as the Andalusia Kiwanis Club and the U.S. Forest Service sponsor the annual kids’ fishing derby.

The event is being held in conjunction with National Fishing and Boating week, and all Alabamians – not just youngsters – will have the day to fish. All one needs is a pole and bait, not a license, since the day allows for an annual day to fish in state waters without a license. The exemption applies to both freshwater and saltwater fishing.

Barnett Lawley, commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, said the event provides a great opportunity for Alabama families to spend time together outdoors.

On the local front, Debbie Russell with the U.S. Forest Service said children ages 3 to 15 are invited to the pond in front of the USDA building on Ala. Hwy. 55 from 7 a.m. until noon.

“Children must be accompanied by an adult and bring their own bait and tackle,” Russell said. “We’ll have free food and activities. This is a great event, and if memory serves me, brought out our biggest crowd in a very long time last year.

“We hope to see more of the same,” she said.

Russell said the local event is being sponsored by the Kiwanis Club, the USFS, Covington County 4-H and Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries.

“This day was designed to get people out to celebrate the outdoors,” Russell said. “We hope to see you there.”

For more information about the event, call 334-222-2555.