Tips and tip-ups
Area fourth-graders learn ice-fishing ropes
"Smile if you're having fun," Babe Winkelman said, flashing a smile of his own. Then, after a slight pause, he added, "Don't let him get away."
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During the morning session of Tuesday's fifth annual Youth Ice Fishing Expo, there was no limit of smiles. And the one that got away?
Tuesday, there was no such thing.
"Keep the rods high ... See, you can do it. You got it!"
Winkelman, an area fishing icon, and two volunteers were working the fish fighting/hook setting station at the Brainerd National Guard Armory, which served as an ice fishing classroom of sorts Tuesday for nearly 500 fourth-graders from Brainerd area schools.
Ray Eng of Winkelman Productions demonstrated to students how tip-ups worked Tuesday during the fifth annual Youth Ice Fishing Expo in the Brainerd National Guard Armory. He had a student crawl under the table and pull down the line to activate the tip-up.
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Brainerd Dispatch/Clint Wood
Winkelman showed them how to hold the rod and set the hook, then volunteers latched onto the end of the line and mimicked the action of a hooked fish. Each of the fourth-graders took it from there, reeling and pulling the best they could.
"That was fun," one girl said, wiping her brow while catching her breath after a short fight with what was no doubt a monster walleye. "Holy cow," another girl said after a similarly grueling battle. "Did it hurt?" a teacher asked another girl as she shook her hands after her encounter.
The station was one of 10 in the armory. Groups of about two dozen rotated from one station to the next in about 10-minute increments. No time to get preoccupied. Not even for fourth-graders. About half of the kids took part in a morning session, the other half in the afternoon.
The event was coordinated by Greg Kaiser of Winkelman Productions and Brian McAllister, a physical education teacher from Baxter Elementary School. Volunteers included Owen Baird, a DNR fisheries management specialist, and Jim Guida, a DNR conservation officer.
Babe Winkelman taught area fourth-graders about fishing, including the workings of a spin-casting reel, Tuesday during the fifth annual Youth Ice Fishing Expo.
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Brainerd Dispatch/Clint Wood
Besides the popular fish fighting station, there were stations on ice-fishing wear, lake maps, fish species, electronics, portable ice-fishing houses and gear, open-water fishing, regulations, rigging up lines and knot-tying.
Kids packed into three flip-action houses at the portables station.
"It's a lot of fun. Just the simplest things amuse them," said Ray Eng, a producer at Winkelman Productions and the volunteer at the portable ice-fishing house station. "So many (of the kids) come from families that do this (ice fish). They have a great appreciation of it."
According to Kaiser, part of the purpose of Tuesday's gathering was to educate the students on how to use the ice-fishing poles they made in school about two weeks ago. And in about another two weeks, they'll be on another field trip, using those poles and what they learned Tuesday on White Sand and Rice lakes. And, with a little luck, fighting fish - for real.
Baxter fourth-graders Angela Lacy (left) and Annika Mau gave it their all during a fish fighting/hook setting session Tuesday at the fifth annual Youth Ice Fishing Expo in the Brainerd National Guard Armory.
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Brainerd Dispatch/Clint Wood
"It's a good time to get them going in that direction," Kaiser said from his station on ice-fishing wear/gear.
"Gear is probably the least exciting thing to discuss," he added with a laugh. "The fish fighting is a great way to go. There's a lot to learn about the mechanics and to learn how to use a rod."
After the morning session, Winkelman autographed copies of his book, "Walleye Patterns," for the kids. The book, along with a copy of the 2008 state fishing regulations, was included in a goodie bag for each of the fourth-graders.
The fact that Winkelman is a well-known outdoorsman was probably lost on most of the kids. But his ability to interact with kids in this setting was readily apparent. As was their impact on him.
"They giggle and go. They absorb like sponges," Winkelman said.
While many of the stations dealt with all of the possibilities afforded ice anglers (electronics, high-tech gear, etc.), Guida had the task of explaining some of what anglers can't do.
"They asked how old you have to be to have a fishing license," said Guida, who talked 2008 state fishing regulations with the kids. "And I explained where the monies go. They guessed a lot on limits. And they asked if I could throw them in jail and what equipment was on my belt."
Tuesday's outing comes just days before the DNR's Take-A-Kid-Ice Fishing Weekend, scheduled Saturday through Monday to correspond with Presidents Day weekend.
During the weekend, anglers older than 16 do not need a license if they are accompanied by a child younger than 16 and actively participating in Take-A-Kid Ice Fishing Weekend.
"The idea is to give anglers an opportunity to show kids just how much fun ice fishing can be," said Jenifer Matthees, program coordinator for the DNR MinnAqua, which also had a hand in Tuesday's Youth Ice Fishing Expo. "The only way to do that is to get these excitable young anglers-to-be on the ice."
BRIAN S. PETERSON may be reached at brian.peterson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5864.