January 18, 2016 at 3:23 p.m.
Cold lesson: Children brave bitter cold to learn the ins and outs of ice fishing
Cold lesson: Children brave bitter cold to learn the ins and outs of ice fishing
By Kayla Thomason-
"I'm very excited that people decided to venture out this afternoon because it is getting progressively colder and windier out here and there isn't a lot that we can do as far as the date because this is in coordination with the DNR Free Fishing Weekend," said Lynn Feldman, 4-H youth development agent.
The goal of the event is to get families together and teach youth about an important part of Northwoods culture.
This area boasts 11,000 lakes and many local children grow up around water.
The children who attended Saturday's event had never ice fished before.
John Kubisiak, fisheries biologist with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and a 4-H leader, taught the new ice anglers some basic skills.
"They are learning how to bait a hook for ice fishing," Feldman said. "They're learning what a tip-up is, the difference between a tip-up and a jig pole. They're learning how to listen and follow a series of instructions that are going to meet their needs. They are also learning patience, because ice fishing sometimes isn't the most exciting thing in the world. It is waiting and so to sit out here in this kind of weather and wait, and you're not seeing a lot, you're seeing a hole in the ice but yet to get an idea that it's what you can't see that's going on and it's connecting you to what is happening underneath the ice right now this time of year and I think that's truly exciting because life goes on underneath there and the only way we can connect to it is to do something like this."
Hayden Herritz, 8, enjoyed his first time fishing on frozen water.
"It's good, I like it," he said.
Herritz thought he'd like to ice fish again sometime and was excited to come out.
"(I learned) how to bait the fish and how they see, how deep the water is, and things like that," Hayden said.
His father, Scott Herritz, thought it was very important for children to experience ice fishing.
"I think it's a big deal," he said. "It's definitely something that I don't think we as a society (focus on). We don't really spend much time doing outdoor activities with all the electronics and Internet and video games, etc. This is a really great opportunity to have the kids come out and check out the different pieces of equipment that are necessary to ice fish.
For more information on 4-H, call Feldman at (715) 365-2750.
Kayla Breese may be reached at kayla@ rivernewsonline.com.
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