26th Annual "FREE" Ice Fishing Clinics for Kids

Sponsored by: The Wisconsin Council of Sport Fishing Organizations, Hunger Task Force Fish Hatchery, the Waukesha  and Milwaukee County Parks and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS: Free Kids Fishing Tournament June 13, 2015

If you are a member of one of our officiate clubs and/or think you might be interested in participating,  volunteering, and registering your boat to help a kid and their guardian participate, that would be wonderful (they could use more fishing boats and have sponsors and prizes, etc.)

Go to www.wioutdoorfest.com and go towards the bottom for the kids tournament.

Greater Wisconsin Kids Fishing Tournament

Saturday June 13th

The Greater Wisconsin Kids Fishing Tournament is a kids' fishing tournament designed to allow kids the opportunity to share a competitive fishing experience under the guidance of experienced anglers serving as mentors for the day.

Kids get pro style tournament on Lake Winnebago
Guest speaker Dave Csanda
Hosted by Jeff Boutin of Team Outdoors
Fishing classes by Greg Karch

Free Registration

Child Registration Form

Voulnteer Guides Needed

Mentor Registration Form

Registration Requirements

Mentor Requirements

Kids Requirements

For More Information

jeff.boutin@yahoo.com

KIDS FISHING CLINIC MEETING MINUTES OF MARCH 26, 2015

Brenda Rosin Schaff called the meeting to order at approximately 7:00 PM
Attendance: Ron Gray, Matt Coffaro, Brian Boelter, Jim Gilles, Dave Schmitt, Brenda Rosin Schaff, Rich Hehn, Nancy Wucherer, Kathy Briesemeister, Jill Levy, Emily Johnson, Jeff Scott, Cliff Schulz, Dan Day, Steve

Click here to review entire minutes.

DNR Educator Workshops & Events

April

April 4. MacKenzie Center’s Annual Maple Syrup Festival, Poynette.

April 15 deadline. 2016 State Park Sticker Design Contest. 

April 11, 18, 25 and May 2. Work*Play*Earth Day at Wisconsin State Parks. 

April 25. Project WILD and Aquatic WILD Workshop. Ladysmith.

May

May 9-June 20. Wisconsin Master Naturalist Training.  Kohler-Andre State Park, Sheboygan.

May 15 deadline. May is Clean Air Month. Celebrate with DNR’s Air, Air Everywhere Poetry Contest!

August

August 18. Project WET Training Workshop. Retzer Nature Center, Waukesha.

August 22. New exhibits coming to the Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center, Horicon.

Women can learn how to catch bass, muskie from a pro

Women who want to take their fishing beyond the basics can learn from pro angler Mandy Uhrich in a class called Learn to Sport Fish, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 11, at Cabela’s in Rogers.

“This class for women, taught by women, is a great way to learn how to catch more than panfish this year,” said Linda Bylander, coordinator of the Becoming an Outdoors Woman (BOW) program at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. “We’ll focus on techniques and gear selection for bass, muskellunge and other gamefish.”

The class is free and registration is requested. Women who attend have the opportunity to register for a guided bass fishing trip in the Brainerd lakes area, or a guided muskie fishing trip in the Twin Cities metro area. Those trips are in mid- to late summer, and women must attend the April 11 class to register for the guided trips.

To register for the April 11 class or for more information, contact Linda Bylander at 218-833-8628, linda.bylander@state.mn.us. For more information on BOW, see www.mndnr.gov/bow.

31st Annual Kid’s Fishing Clinics (Free)

Click on image to enlarge.

Kids Fishing Clinic Menomonee Park 2015

The temperature was eight degrees and wind gusts up to 40 MPH but that didn’t keep these kids from attending the 24th Annual Kids Ice Fishing Clinics held on Saturday, Feb.14. The Clinics took place in seven area parks in Milwaukee and Waukesha counties.

There was a total of 163 kids with 75 volunteers from the local fishing clubs that did their best under adverse conditions to teach kids about fishing.

Below are photos from Menomonee Park/Lannon Quarry, Townline Rd. (1/2 mile north of Good Hope Rd., Menomonee Falls), which was hosted by Badger Fishermen’s League. Thanks to Brenda Rosin-Schaff for providing the pictures.

  

     

  

  

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KIDS FISHING CLINIC - MEETING MINUTES OF DECEMBER 11, 2014

Brenda Rosin Schaff called the meeting to order at approximately 6:15 PM

Attendance:

2/14/15 Ice Clinic Representatives Present:

DNR - Matt Coffaro, Tony Young

Hunger Task Force Fish Hatchery – Dave Mueller

Waukesha County Parks -

1.) Brown Deer Park/Okauchee Fishing Club - Jim

2.) Fox Brook Park/Wern Valley Sportsman's Club -

3.) Humboldt Park/Great Lakes Sport Fishermen - Rich Hehn, Ron & Dave Kwas

Humboldt Park/Milwaukee Casting Club – Ron Gray

4.) Menomonee Park/Badger Fisherman's League – Brenda Rosin-Schaff

5.) McCarty Park - Southside Sportsmen Club

6.) Scout Lake/Walleyes Unlimited -

7.) Wilson Park/Wisconsin Fishing Club -Cliff & Ray

4/11/15 Spring Clinic Representatives Present:

DNR -

Hunger Task Force Fish Hatchery –

Waukesha County Parks -

1.) Brown Deer Park/Okauchee Fishing Club -

2.) Fox Brook Park/Wern Valley Sportsman's Club -

3.) Greenfield Park/Great Lakes Sport Fishermen

Greenfield Park/Milwaukee Casting Club-

4.) Humboldt Park/Lunkers-

5.) Menomonee Park/WI House Outdoors -

6.) McCarty Park - Southside Sportsmen Club

McCarty Park - Sunnyside Rod & Gun Club

7.) McGovern Park - Badger Fisherman's League -

8.) Mitchell Park – Bayview Rod & Gun Club -

9.) Muskego Park – Women's Hunting & Sporting Association -

10.) Oak Creek Parkway – Friends of Oak Creek Mill Pond

11.) Quarry Lake Park – Salmon Unlimited

12.) Sandy Knoll Park – Trout Unlimited S.E. Chapter

Sandy Knoll Park – West Bend Kiwanis Early Risers -

13.) Scout Lake/Walleyes Unlimited -

14.) Sheridan Park – South Milwaukee 1400 Fishing & Hunting Club

15.) Washington Park – EB Garner's Fishing Club

16.) Wilson Park/Wisconsin Fishing Club -

DNR Updates:

If you need to use the DNR loaner jig rods for your ice clinic, please let Matt at know asap so he can bring them to the next meeting.

Matt expressed a need for a few volunteers for the Sport Show Casting Demonstration. Brenda & Ron have volunteered.

Mentor Background Form - Anyone that has not filled out the Mentor Background Check should complete Form 4100-217 Rev. 2 of 11

Tony Young, Warden in Ozaukee County has expressed interest in hosting another free fishing clinic in June. Last year's event was a success despite the lack of fish caught. Anyone interested in volunteering or for more information, contact him at 262-993-0078

Locavore Anglers Course – Please help promote this series sponsored by the DNR and the Urban Ecology Center. If you can volunteer, contact Theresa Stabo as soon as possible and if you any of any adult interested in learning how to fish, have them sign up on the Urban Ecology website.

Hatchery Updates: Still no well, but the good news it will be covered by insurance. Water Well Solutions will attempt to get the well that Lake Northwest originally installed, in the hope of having water possibly by February. Dave committed to providing demonstration fish even if he has to fish for them! Thanks for his dedication and service. If yo9ur club needs demonstration fish contact Dave Mueller on his cell at 414-315-2825

Park Updates:

Special thanks to the Wern Valley Sportsman's Club who has expressed interest in hosting an Ice Fishing Clinic at Fox Brook Park. They currently host the Spring Fishing Clinic at the same location and are familiar with the park & hosting a clinic. There was concern for whether or not they would have enough volunteers and if the park would be available. Ron will contact Holly at 262-364-8509 to confirm the park is available. If available, Matt will add them to the flyer.

Other Updates:

Okauchee Fishing Club has very kindly offered to fix all of the rods & reels that are part of the Rod Loaner Program. Contact Cliff if you can offer additional help if needed and for a date.

Brenda is attempting to get student chef volunteers from MATC's Culinary Program to help with the cleaning & cooking demonstrations.

Rubber Fish Prints - Linda Batzler from McGovern Park Senior Center was contacted regarding free t-shirts and the rubber fish prints used previously at the State Fair DNR area that have been discontinued. If anyone is interested in adding fish printing on T-Shirts or other items, the fish & paints may be loaned out through the Theresa Stabo & Brenda Rosin-Schaff.

Backyard Bass – If any clubs need to purchase additional plastic fish for their casting stations, they can be ordered through Ironwood Pacific Backyard Bass at 1-800-261-1330. The cost is $36/dozen for mixed colors & shapes.

Upcoming Meetings & Clinic dates:

Jan 29, 2015 – Meeting at McCarty 7:00 p.m. - Distribute Materials &Equipment

Feb 14, 2015 - Ice Clinics at Parks 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Participating Parks: Humboldt, McCarty, Brown Deer, South Lake, Wilson, Menomonee, Fox Brook

Feb 19, 2015 – Wrap up for Ice Clinic/Return Equipment and Preparation for Spring Clinic

Mar 26, 2015 - Meeting at McCarty 7:00 p.m. - Distribute Materials &Equipment

Apr 11, 2015 - Spring Clinics at Parks 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Participating Parks (to Be Confirmed)

Apr 16, 2015 – Wrap up for Spring Clinic/ Return Equipment 6:00 p.m. at Wildcat Creek Farm (Brenda's) 3825 S. 124th St., New Berlin, WI 53228. Please RSVP if you plan on attending and if you are bringing a guest or other member of your club.

Other Related Events:

Jan 28, 2015 - Locavore Anglers Course/Clinic 6-8p.m. Urban Ecology Center

Feb 7, 2015 - Locavore Anglers Course/Fishing Experience 1:30-5 p.m. Washington Park

Feb 11, 2015 - Locavore Anglers Course/Culinary Experience 6-8 p.m.

April 18, 215 - Locavore Anglers Course/ Fishing Experience & Shore Lunch w/Chef 9 am – 1:30 p.m. Location TBD

March 4-8, 2015 – Sport Show at State Fair Park

June 6, 2015 – Free Fishing Clinic at Puckets contact Tony Young at 262-993-0078

Aug 22, 2015 - Fishing Has No Bounds/Great Lakes Fish Chapter contact Dave Kwas at 262-853-0072

Ron Gray, Secretary

Use your passion for the outdoors to educate and inspire others by enrolling in the Wisconsin Master Naturalist Program

SHEBOYGAN, Wis. – People who are fascinated with nature and eager to share their knowledge and skills with others can enroll in an upcoming course to be certified as a Wisconsin Master Naturalist volunteer. The UW Extension is a major partner in this program with the Department of Natural Resources. The program is a statewide effort to promote awareness, understanding and stewardship of the state’s natural resources.

“The Department of Natural Resources parks program has helped train master naturalist volunteers since September 2013, and DNR representatives have served on the program’s advisory committee since 2009,” said DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp. “The training helps staff our summer programs with naturalists. This is a partnership we’re happy to help promote.”

A volunteer training course will be held at the Sanderling Nature Center, Kohler-Andrae State Park, beginning Saturday, May 9, 2015, and ending Saturday, June 20, 2015. The course fee is $250 and involves 40 hours of training in natural history, interpretation and conservation stewardship. Upon completion of training, the naturalist provides volunteer service in one of three areas: education/interpretation, stewardship or citizen science. Classes will run approximately seven hours each Saturday on May 9, 16 and 30. June classes are scheduled each Saturday on June 6 and 13 and conclude with a five – hour class on June 20. Both indoor and outdoor instruction plus at least two field trips are included in the training.

Visit the Wisconsin Master Naturalist Program website www.wimasternaturalist.org and click on the link for “show all” upcoming events for course registration. For additional information, please contact the WIMN state office at info@wimasternaturalist.org. Registration for the Sheboygan course closes Friday, April 17, 2015.

MILWAUKEE CASTING CLUB TO HOST KIDS ICE FISHING CLINIC

The Milwaukee Casting Club will be hosting a Kids Ice Fishing Clinic in conjunction with the Waukesha Winter JanBoree days on January 18th, 2015 from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM at Minooka Park in Waukesha.

Click HERE for more information

24th Annual Kids Ice Fishing Clinics

Sponsored in cooperation with the Wisconsin Council of Sport Fishing Organizations, Hunger Task Force Fish Hatchery, Milwaukee and Waukesha County Parks, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW!!!

30th Annual Fishing Clinics – It’s Free!

The 30th Annual Fishing Clinics are scheduled for Saturday, April 12, 2014. Make your plans now to attend.

Kids’ Fishing Clinic Saturday April 12th, 2014

Make your plans now to attend.

With classroom and on-the-water instruction, steelhead clinic hooks students

The transition from lake fishing to river fishing is hard enough for many anglers, even if they’re pursuing the same species of fish. But when they shift gears to try something completely different, well, there’s a fairly steep learning curve.

And that’s the point behind the Department of Natural Resources’ steelhead clinic that was held recently at the Carl T. Johnson Hunt and Fish Center in Cadillac – a two-day event designed to turned neophytes into bona fide steelheaders.

The clinic – one of a number of classroom-plus-field experiences put on at the Johnson Center over the course of the year – is the brainchild of Ed Shaw, the center’s interpreter. Now in its third year, the steelhead clinic, which features classroom presentations combined with on-the-water instruction, has converted a number of slack-water anglers into steelhead buffs.

“The goal is to get them to where, when they’re done with the class, they’re competent to go out and do it on their own,” said Shaw.

“The first year we were overwhelmed – we put more than 30 people through the class,” Shaw recalled. “The second year we had 17. The smaller classes are better because, when you get on the water, you’re spending time with each one individually.”

This year there were about the same number of folks who signed up as last year, but fewer attended. One group of five – which had planned to camp out – canceled because of the late-arriving spring and didn’t want to camp in the snow. But those who showed up got more than their money’s worth – especially considering the clinic is free of charge.

“I haven’t done a lot of steelhead fishing,” explained John Wisniewski, a retired banker from Plymouth who made the more than three-hour drive from his home in Plymouth to attend the clinic. “I’ve done a lot of bass fishing, but I needed some information on the rigs and understanding the setup. This is different.”

Wisniewski said he learned a lot in the classroom session, and by late afternoon he was picking up the finer points of steelhead fishing at the elbows of DNR staffers in the Manistee River below Tippy Dam.

Bill Burgess said much the same thing. A former automotive tool and die maker who moved from Toledo to Wexford County when he retired, Burgess said he’s been steelhead fishing a few times but thinks he still has a lot to learn.

“I figure anybody who says they know it all doesn’t know nothing,” said Burgess, who accompanied his son Jason and another buddy in the class. “I love these classes.”

Taught by staffers at the Johnson Hunt and Fish Center, the class covered about everything a beginning steelhead angler would need to know, from rods and reels to baits and rigs. John Zakrajsek, a part-time interpreter at the center and an officer with the local Trout Unlimited chapter, led the classroom discussions. He showed the students a number of techniques – bottom bouncing, bobber fishing, spinner chucking – and carefully answered questions, both big and small.

“How much weight do I use?” one asked.

That’s something you learn by experience, Zakrajsek said.

“Start out with less than you think you need,” he explained. “If you’re not feeling the bottom, go to a bigger size or, if you’re using split-shot, add more. But you don’t want to use too much; go too heavy and you’ll hang up more.”

Shaw said some of the steelhead clinic students had attended the center’s ice-fishing clinic and others were participating in the center’s rod-building class.

“We’re seeing some of the same students over and over,” he said. “They’re building their skills.”

Shaw brings extra gear for the on-the-water sessions, just in case. If an angler hangs up and breaks off, Shaw will just hand him another rod so he can continue fishing while the staff repairs the angler’s rig. And Shaw told everyone that he was available later in the day if they wanted him to accompany them to the tackle store to make sure they bought the right stuff.

Kevin Fent, a 56-year-old engineer who lives in Cadillac and brought his wife Marilyn along with him, said he’d take Shaw up on that offer.

“I’ve never been steelhead fishing,” he said. “I don’t know anything about it and nobody’s ever offered to take me. I needed this.”

Fent said he plans to take the center’s fly-fishing clinic later on this summer, too.

The Johnson Hunt and Fish Center has become a regular learning institution, as Shaw schedules programs almost weekly. He is planning another steelhead clinic and has scheduled his first Fins & Feathers Festival for April 12-13, something he hopes will become an annual affair. It will feature hands-on activities, seminars, demonstrations and a sportsman’s swap meet. For information, you can reach him at shawe@michigan.gov. 

Similar outdoor skills-building programs are offered at many of the DNR’s visitor centers and parks throughout the year. For an idea of what’s available, visit www.michigan.gov/dnrcalendar. To see what’s happening at the Johnson Hunt and Fish Center, visit www.michigan.gov/huntfishcenter.

All-Star Walleye Instructors to Teach Anglers August 12-15 at Sturgeon Bay

Minneapolis, Minn. With a dynamic two-to-one ratio of students to instructors, the All-Star Walleye School puts anglers in the boat - and in the classroom - with America's top-knotch walleye instructors. The instructors are tried and true, tournament after tournament, year after year. Collectively these anglers have won millions of dollars and captured dozens of wins and top honors including angler of the year and championships.

Click here for full story – Source: The Fishing Wire

Angler & aquatic education

Event  8th Annual Shue''s Pond Family Fishing

Location  Hayward WI

Place   Shue's Pond

Date  June 20-21, 2014 (Friday-Saturday)

Time  Noon - 4:00 p.m.

Join us during Musky Fest!

• Free admission
• Assisted fishing
• Impromptu fishing instruction from certified angler mentors
• Bait, tackle and rod/reel provided
• Make a lure
• Paint your own fish
• Kids can photograph their catch for entry into the Lions Club fishing contest
• This is a must-see educational event that is just plain FUN. Just a one-block walk from Musky Fest festivities on Main Street.

Audience
Kids of all ages! The very young must be chaperoned.

Sponsors
Angler Bill's, Wisconsin DNR - Fisheries & Aquatic Resources Education, City of Hayward, and numerous other land/watershed partnerships. Park, picnic facilities, and playground provided by City of Hayward.

Photos from the Kids Fishing Clinics 2014 #4

The Fourth batch of photos here was also supplied to us by: Brad Miller who from Walleyes Unlimited USA. Thanks again Brad and all those involved for sharing these photos with us.

Judging by the smiles on the faces and the size of some of these fish, it appears to have a very successful outing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photos from the Kids Fishing Clinics 2014 #3

The third batch of photos was  supplied to us by: Brad Miller who also represents Walleyes Unlimited USA. Thanks Brad for sharing the photos with us.

 

 

 

 

Look at the size of that Perch!

 

Photos from the Kids Fishing Clinics 2014 #2

This second batch of photos was also supplied to us by: Brian Boelter from Walleyes Unlimited USA. Thanks Brian for all the great photos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click on photos to enlarge