By Brian Burns

Walla Walla, WA - The Tri-State Steelheaders will hold their Annual Crab-Feed Fundraiser May 16 at the Walla Walla County Fairgrounds.

The event features a dinner of picked crab, salad shrimp, and various side salads by A Chef's Creation. Beer and wine are available for purchase. Soft drinks and coffee are complimentary.

Silent and live auction items include fishing gear, local art, local wine, and a guided salmon fishing trip. The "Bucket Raffle" will feature over raffle 40 lots with merchandise and gift certificates from local merchants and donors.

Proceeds from the event support Kid's Fishing Days, Salmon in School, the Jumbo Trout program, learn-to-fish classes, and habitat restoration projects.

Kids' Fishing Days are events that allow youth to experience the fun of going fishing. Participants receive a bag with hooks, bobbers, bait, and other goodies. There's a casting contest and a biggest fish contest for prizes. And all kids get a free hot dog and Pepsi product. Last year, the events at Bennington Lake and Jubilee Lake combined for over 235 kids participating.

The Salmon in School program is now in 12 schools from Touchet to Pomeroy. Participating classes are provided with a fishing tank and all associated equipment, and salmon eggs, which are raised by the students. The fish are released in the spring in local streams. Steelheaders staff visit the classes monthly to provide lessons related to salmon, their biology, and their habitat needs.

The Jumbo Trout program provides Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife with the food needed to raise the bigger fish. Jumbo Trout are 1.5 – 2 pounds each. These fish are stocked in about 20 fishing lakes in southeast Washington, including Bennington Lake and Jefferson Park Pond.

Tickets to the fundraiser are $50, and must be purchased in advance at the Tri-State Steelheaders office, or at the Visit Walla Walla kiosk at 26 E. Main St. For information, call the Steelheaders at 529-3543.