Children ages 12 and younger who would like to learn some of the basics of fishing and the outdoors can do so on Saturday at the first-ever Fountain Lake Sportsmen’s Club Kids Fishing Expo at Northbridge Mall.

The expo, which starts at 10 a.m. and goes until 1 p.m., includes 19 different booths, displays and demonstrations for children to go through on topics such as casting, lure making, knot tying, live and artificial bait, and rods and reels.

There will be presentations on the parts of a boat and a life vest, reading maps, camping, ice fishing and fish cleaning, plus information and displays on dam building, fire rescue, and conservation and stewardship by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Representatives from the Shell Rock River Watershed District will give a presentation about its priorities for the area’s lakes.

After the children complete their visits to all 19 of the stations, they will receive a diploma for their participation.

What:

Kids Fishing Expo

Where:

Northbridge Mall

When: 10 a.m. to

1 p.m. Saturday

Cost: Free to all children 12 and younger

Dave Villarreal, president of the sportsmen’s club, said the club members hope the expo will not only teach the children about responsible fishing, cleaning up after themselves and using proper fishing techniques, but also about the importance of respect for the area’s lakes.

“In Albert Lea the biggest resource we have is these two lakes,” Villarreal said.

In addition to the different booths and presentations, there will be professional fishermen who will give seminars and demonstrate fishing techniques.

Professionals include Bob and Ginny Riege, Travis Lari and Phil Erickson.

Villarreal said he hopes the fishing expo will develop into an annual event.

It is free to all children 12 and younger.

Villarreal said the Fountain Lake Sportsmen’s Club was formed by a group of sports enthusiasts to work on issues such as lake restoration. Now, however, because most of that work is handled by the Watershed District, the club has evolved into a group that aims to teach the area’s children and youth.

It hosts the Take a Kid Fishing Day, an ice fishing contest and now the expo, he said.