A message to the blue gills, crappie and bass: Watch out.

On Saturday, Jax Outdoor Gear, 4723 Lincoln Way, will host its annual Kids’ Fishing Day at Ada Hayden Heritage Park, 5205 Grand Ave. Registration begins at 9 a.m. and the fishing goes until 2 p.m. The cost is free, and all children under the age of 16 do not need a license. Bait will be provided, and rods and reels are available on a first-come basis.

Andy Long, hunting and fishing manager at Jax, started the event last year.

“I came up with the idea because I was disappointed in the fact that kids today do not get the opportunity to go outdoors and fish,” he said. “I wanted to be able to give the kids a good excuse to go fishing at least one day.”

The children in Ames have responded. Last year the event drew more than 200 children, which was a good turnout considering the bad weather.

Sales associate Brett Floden has been working at Jax for more than a year, and helped out with the first event.

“We had a really great turnout last year, and the kids really had a good time,” he said. “We are expecting great success again.”

This year Long easily expects 300 to 400 kids to come out and take advantage of everything that the day has to offer. Not only are there going to be Jax employees to help out with putting bait on and removing fish, but many other people and organizations have chipped in to add to the festivities.

Hy-Vee will be there to supply the food. It will hand out one free hot dog, bag of chips and a drink to each child.

As for dessert, that is where Long’s grandmother, Mary Pearson, comes in. She has baked a chocolate chip cookie for each child that comes out to fish.

“I think it is a great event,” she said. “Any kid that is learning to do things like fish is going to stay out of trouble. It is teaching kids to be constructive citizens and is giving parents a great opportunity to help their kids out.”

All ages and experience levels are encouraged to come. It is a chance for children to catch as many fish they can, or simply catch their very first one.

For Long, all the work is well worth the reward.

“My favorite thing about the kids fishing day is seeing the smiles on the faces of the kids as they catch fish . Getting kids into the outdoors is something that is fading fast, and the parents are the ones who can put an end to that,” he said. “If they don’t, there will be many pastimes such as fishing that will continue to decline in popularity.”

At the end of the day, Long and his staff hope to have the kids “hooked” on fishing for life.