COLD! The Word of the Day in Alexanria  A couple dozen kids and parents/guardians braved sub-zero temperatures and brisk northwest winds on Saturday, Feb. 11 to take part in the LGF KID! seminar and ice fishing tournament as part of the Alexandria Ice Fishing Challenge on Lake Le Hommed Deiu.  Kids learned about sonar use and good ways to catch fish and then put those skills to use in a 45-minute ice fishing tourney. Several fish bit but none made it through the ice.  Nevertheless, a good time was had by all, even in frigid conditions.  Special thanks to Northland Tackle for supplying prizes for all kids who participated.

LGF KIDS! Coming to Alexandria
Let's Go Fishing-MN is pleased to announce that the organization will work with the Alexandria Let's Go Fishing chapter and the Alexandria elementary schools to bring the full Let's Go Fishing - KIDS! program to Alexandria and surrounding communities.    4th and 5th graders will view the Get On Board! video designed to inform and excite them about the program and then be given the chance to sign up for the program's curriculum component.  This 3-hour training will be offered in April at the various Alexandria elementary schools.  Following the curriculum, kids will then have a chance to take part in intergenerational and youth fishing trips during the coming 2012 fishing season.  Check back soon for the April curriculum training dates !
 
Alexandria Youth Ice Event
Let's Go Fishing Youth Program Coordinator Mike Frisch and his daughter Hannah will once again work together to present a kids fishing seminar and ice fishing tournament on February 11. 2012 on Lake Le Homme Dieu in Alexandria as part of the 2012 Ice Fishing Challenge.  Kids will be given instruction on how to view and read an ice fishing sonar unit and receive tips on catching winter panfish.  The event runs from 9-11 am and is FREE and open to kids 15-years old and younger.  The 45-minute instructional clinic will be followed by a one hour ice fishing contest complete with prizes for the kids supplied by Northland Fishing Tackle!  Please plan on joining us February 11.  Visit www.icefishingchallenge.org for more information.

Detroit Lakes Has Successful 2012

2011 saw the Detroit Lakes LGF hapter host Tuesday fishing trips for kids from the local Boys and Girls Club.  Nearly every Tuesday in June, July, and Auguest the DL chapter hosted these trips.  Sixteen total trips were taken, with 123 kids on-the-water.  Also, the Boys and Girls Club had a team in the Detroit Lakes Walk For Let's Go Fishing event that raised over $600.00 for Let's Go Fishing.  Congratulations to the kids, the Club, and the Detroit Lakes Chapter for a great year!

Chaska Has Another Great Year!

It was a great summer of fishing for Chaska area youth!  Over 160 smiling kids were on the water of Lake Minnetonka through the efforts of the Chaska's Let's Go Fishing chapter, their Active Older Adult volunteers, and the aid of the Chaska Parks and Rec Dept.  These kids took part in three programs:  Take-A-Kid Fishing, Teens Fishing Adventures, and Extreme Kids.  Great job Chaska!

Alexandia LGF helps take 150 kids on the water!

The Alexandria Let's Go Fishing chapter worked with the Viking Sportsmens Club and Minnesota DNR on September 27 to get 150 kids on-the-water.  The three groups combined for a fishing and on-the-water education day that involved 150 District #206 (Alexandria) sixth-graders taking part in five stations involving: knot tying, fishing, fish identification using live fish, GPS instruction, and water clarity/weed identification.  Hats off to these three groups for working together to get kids on the water!

Bemidji Take-A-Kid Fishing Event celebrates 25th year!

Bemidji's annual Take-A-Kid Fishing event was held June 15.  70 guides took 150 local kids fishing on a variety of Bemidji area lakes.  After the fishing, kids and their families were treated to a fish fry at the Bemidji State Park.  Mike Frisch, LGF youth program coordinator, served as a guide and had this to say, "the Bemidji folks do an outstanding job.  This is a real fishing event in which kids actually get to spend a day out on the water.  Some events feature on shore seminars and contests, but this event features kids paired with top-notch guides for a day on the water."  This was the 25th annual, with planning for next year's event already starting.  Hats of to Bemidji for a great event!  Let's Go Fishing is also very excited because several Bemidji Take-A-Kid Fishing volunteers are also working with Let's Go Fishing as volunteers and leaders. Working together we can accomplish more!

LGF KIDS! CLASSIC coming to Alexandria!

The first annual LGF KIDS! CLASSIC adult/youth team bass tournament and LGF fund raiser will be held on the Alex Chain of Lakes July 29-31, 2011.  This unique event is designed to give teams a taste of competitive fishing and to raise funds for the LGF KIDS! program.  More importantly, it is a fun opportunity for kids and adults to spend time together on the water.  The unique tourney format includes a how-to/where to fishing seminar on July 29, a rules meeting/banquet on July 30, with the actual tourney on July 31.  The goal is to help all teams catch fish and have fun, so you don't have to be a seasoned "bass head" to catch fish.  The Alex Chain is loaded with fish and they should be in a biting mood during this time.  Not only that, cash prizes are available in the tournament and, fund raisers can win great prizes including a new 4-wheeler and free fishing trips!  This promises to be a great event!   For entry information, contact Mike Frisch, LGF's youth/intergenerational program coordinator and tournament director for a brochure (218) 731-8141 or mikef@lgfws.com

Ortonville KIDS! get on the water!

May 19 saw 28 Ortonville kids on the water as a follow up to their April 18 curriculum training.  The kids ate hot dogs, went fishing, and were presented their LGF KIDS! training certificates.  Additionally, a lifetime fishing license was awarded to one lucky young lady who had her name drawn from names of all the kids involved in the training and fishing!  A hi-lite of the night was one pontoon with 6 young ladies who teamed up to catch 9 walleyes!  Great job girls!! 
Simon Says, Great Job Ortonville!

ITASCA LGF Chapter Kicks Off Youth Events in a Big Way!

The Itasca Let's Go Fishing Chapter took over 150 kids on the water May 16-18 on Lake Pokegama.  The chapter worked with Forest Lake Elementary School to take 4th grade students fishing.  The weather was great, the fish cooperated, and the kids enjoyed a chance to be on the water.  Congratulations to Itasca for a great start to the 2011 Let's Go Fishing KIDS! program!  Check out some of the photos from that event on the youth photos portion of thise website.

Ortonville LET'S GO FISHING KIDS! Event a big success

27 enthusiastic 4th and 5th graders attended Ortonvillle's Let's Go Fishing Kids Training event Monday, April 18. These kids learned about lakes, where fish live in those lakes, and good ways to catch them. On May 12 these kids will be on the waters of Big Stone Lake putting to use what they learned Monday night. Special thanks to The Big Stone Walleye Club for sponsoring the rods and reels for this event and to Northland Tackle for supplying Bionic fishing line and the terminal tackle for these events! Get on board, LET'S GO FISHING!

Saturday, April 16 saw 75 kids, parents, and grandparents attend the Kids Seminar as part of the Brainerd chapter's Let's Go Fishing Day. This one-hour seminar included tips on finding and catching fish using "kid-friendly" techniques.

Let's Go Fishing's new youth video, "Get On Board!", is now available for viewing by clicking here. This action-packed video produced by Lindner Media last summer and early fall. It is designed to excite kids about fishing and attract them to LGF's expanding Youth and Intergenerational Program. The video, featuring testimonials from Al and James Lindner, is also designed to attract youth program volunteers and help secure additional funding.

Several Chapters Plan to Expand Youth/Intergenerational Program Offerings for 2011!

Several existing Let's Go Fishing chapters across Minnesota are including expanded youth/intergenerational program offerings for 2011. This exciting youth expansion promises to excite kids across Minnesota about the great sport of fishing and to enrich their lives, much like Let's Go Fishing with Seniors has enriched the lives of seniors across the state for the past decade. Many chapters are in the process of identifying youth leaders and various youth groups within their communities to work with. For example, some chapters will partner with local scouting organizations (Boys, Girls ,Cubs), others are working with summer camps in their area, and still others are partnering with their local Community Education Department. If you have a heart for kids and would like your chapter to get involved, please give Mike Frisch, LGF's Youth/IG Program Coordinator, a call at (218) 731-8141 or (888) 235-8448 to discuss your situation. If you would like to get involved in the Let's Go Fishing youth movement but do not have a local chapter, please consider contacting Mike. He is also working with groups in communities that do not currently have Let's Go Fishing chapters to find ways to serve kids in those areas as well.

Kids Event A Big Hit At Alexandria Ice Fishing Challenge

Saturday, February 12 brought warm weather and lots of kids to the Let's Go Fishing Kid's Seminar and Ice Fishing Tournament as part of the Alexandria Ice Fishing Challenge on Lake Agnes. Kids attended an ice fishing seminar detailing ways to find fish under the ice and good ways to catch them. Following the seminar, a one-hour "kids only" fishing tournament was held. Though no fish were caught, the kids still had fun and lots of prizes were awarded. A special thanks to Northland Tackle for supplying prizes for this event. Event organizers plan to expand this event for next year! Get on board, Let's Go Fishing!