POULSBO — With Bond Road traffic buzzing by no more than 40 feet away Saturday, children from the Port Gamble S’Klallam Youth Center were learning valuable lessons as young fishermen — such as how to catch, gut and clean trout.

Amidst shrieks of delight and plenty of flopping fish, the kids clamored about to show off the 12-inch trout each had reeled in.

They did, however, have some help. And professional help at that.

The Indianola chapter of Trout Unlimited hosted the aptly named Kids’ Fish-In, planting fish in the Poulsbo pond with the hope of hooking youth on the timeless sport.

“We normally don’t plant trout in here,” said Trout Unlimited member Dave Schwab, pointing to the man-made Webster’s Pond. “We usually plant salmon fry in here, then release them into the creek not far from here once they’re grown. This year, we couldn’t get a hold of any salmon fry, but we were able to get a hold of some trout.”

Trout Unlimited member Al Miller netted 200 rainbow trout from the Gorst Fish Hatchery, Schwab said, and they were planted about two months ago. Members fed the fish twice daily, tripling their size in two months but leaving the question of what to do with them.

“(The Kids’ Fish-In) is something we saw going on primarily on the East Coast, and we thought it was a good project,” said Trout Unlimited member Dennis Lytle. “This is our first time trying it, but if it works out well, we might do it again in the future.”

Before putting their lines in the water in terms of the program, the group first had to determine whether there was any interest in the community.

The Port Gamble S’Klallam Youth Center took the bait, with excellent results.

“Everyone has caught a fish so far,” said Port Gamble S’Klallam Youth Center Director Joe Price. “They get to keep them and eat them if they want. We only had one kid who didn’t want to take his home to eat, so he’s releasing them back into the water.”

“I’ve caught one fish, and I let it go,” said 10-year-old Robert Jones. “I really only eat salmon. I think I will go fishing again though.”

Aside from catching, gutting and cleaning trout, the event had a greater meaning for organizers.

“We’re trying to teach them too that caring for things is important,” said Trout Unlimited chapter president Bob Winkel. “It’s important that they are having a good experience. We want to make fishing a positive thing for them, along with caring for the environment.”

In an effort to impart that lesson in altruism, the children were limited to catching three fish, Winkel said, which teaches them restraint.

“This was the first fish I ever caught in my life,” said 9-year-old Eric Halsey. “It was pretty awesome. I’ll probably go fishing again if I can.”

“These guys are having a really great time,” Price said. “They’re doing OK with the casting. I think a few have been casting into the trees, but they might have been doing that on purpose.”

Lytle said he’s uncertain if the Fish-In will become an annual event, noting that it will depend on whether or not any local groups express interest next year.

“The enthusiasm is the main thing I’ve noticed,” Schwab said about the kids. “Their eagerness to get out there and catch fish reminds us why we enjoy fishing.”