Take a kid fishing and fish free June 6-8

Looking to spend some quality time with a kid? Consider Take a Kid Fishing Weekend.

Minnesotans age 16 or older do not need a fishing license while taking a child age 15 or younger fishing from Friday, June 6 to Sunday, June 8, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

“This is an annual opportunity for an adult to introduce a child to fishing without the prior purchase of a fishing license,” said Mike Kurre, DNR mentoring program coordinator. “This is a great weekend to get friends and family involved with fishing.”

To start, see the DNR’s Fish Minnesota page at www.mndnr.gov/fishmn, which includes:

• Answers to basic fishing questions.
• Fishing terminology and a beginner’s guide to fishing.
• Metro fishing spots, family-friendly settings, pier locations and places to borrow fishing gear.

Got other plans from June 6-8? Even when it’s not Take a Kid Fishing Weekend, Minnesota residents generally can fish in state parks without a fishing license if the body of water doesn’t require a trout stamp. For more information, see www.mndnr.gov/state_parks/fishing.html.

For those new to fishing, guidance can sometimes help. Kids fishing classes from the DNR’s I Can Fish! program run throughout the summer at state parks. For details, see www.mndnr.gov/takeakidfishing.

“Not only do kids love fishing, but it’s rewarding for adults to watch a kid who’s all smiles while reeling in a fish, big or small. With school wrapping up for the year, there’s no better time than now to get a kid hooked on fishing,” Kurre said.

Essentia Health-Ada Expands Therapy Services for Kids

Families in the Ada area will now be able to receive therapy services closer to home, allowing them to avoid a two- to three-hour round trip to Fargo for this type of care.  Essentia Health-Ada has expanded its physical, occupational and speech therapy services for children, thanks to new staff and a remodeled treatment space.

Two new providers have training in pediatrics and will be caring for kids: Kelsey Baker, a physical therapist, and Brittany Burke, a speech language pathologist.  Also, Mandi Wahlin, an occupational therapist, recently received additional pediatric training.

To make space for the new services, a registration and office area was converted to two treatment rooms.  That’s in addition to the current therapy gym.  The community is invited to see the new space during an open house event from 4:30-6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 24.

During the planning process, leaders at Essentia Health-Ada worked with the local school districts, which reported a great need for these services in the community.

“It’s something we’ve needed for a while,” says Erin Stoltman, director of rehabilitation at Essentia Health-Ada. “To now have staff who can focus on this and do it well – it’s a big win for the facility and the community.”

The pediatric therapy services can help children with a wide range of issues, including language and motor skills delays.  “It’s a different approach with kids,” Stoltman explains. “You need to have an understanding of where they are in their development.”

Stoltman says therapy services, when needed, can have a major impact on kids’ learning and growth. “With speech issues, if kids can’t communicate, it will affect their success at school.  From an OT and PT standpoint, therapy is needed to help kids be kids, to enjoy the things they want to do.”

Take a kid fishing and fish free June 7-9

Celebrate the end of the school year with a potential angler-to-be by fishing for free with a child 15 or younger, June 7-9, during Take-A-Kid Fishing weekend, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) said.

“This is a great opportunity to discover fishing,” said Mike Kurre, the DNR’s mentoring program coordinator. “Minnesotans 16 or older who take a child 15 or younger fishing don’t need a license that weekend. Opportunities for beginning anglers abound throughout Minnesota.”

Getting started is easy. A boat isn’t needed and there’s even loaner poles and tackle in some areas.

Start by going to www.mndnr.gov/takeakidfishing to learn some terms, basic techniques and shore-fishing locations. DNR fisheries offices throughout Minnesota also offer some good, old-fashioned angling advice about fishing spots that will keep young anglers happy and safe.

The DNR’s Fishing in the Neighborhood (FiN) program provides urban shore-fishing opportunities across the metro with family-friendly settings, piers, loaner equipment at some locations and a real chance to catch quality fish. Learn more online at www.mndnr.gov/fin.

Four of Minnesota’s nine state parks that are offering this summer’s weekly I Can Fish! program have sessions scheduled during Take-A-Kid Fishing weekend. Sessions at each park explore the basics of fishing, fish identification and angling tips and tricks. For more information, go to www.mndnr.gov/state_parks/can_fish.html.

Even when it’s not Take-A-Kid Fishing weekend, Minnesota residents may fish in a state park without a fishing license if the body of water doesn’t require a trout stamp. Anglers must fish from shore or wade in water within the state park or from a boat or a float on a designated lake within a Minnesota state park. More information on fishing in state parks is available at www.mndnr.gov/state_parks/fishing.html.

“Fishing is one of the easiest and most-accessible outdoor activities in Minnesota,” Kurre said. “Take a kid fishing and, come the end of the trip, you’re both likely to be hooked.”

Take advantage of Take-A-Kid Ice Fishing Weekend Feb. 18-20

Minnesotans who want to introduce a child to ice fishing may want to take advantage of Take-A-Kid Ice Fishing Weekend Feb. 18-20. During those days resident anglers age 16 and older do not need a fishing license if they are accompanied by a child younger than age 16. This weekend is also an opportunity for kids to introduce an adult to ice fishing.

"Many kids now know how to make a jiggle stick and how to use it by attending our clinics or learning from classroom curriculum," said Roland Sigurdson, MinnAqua specialist for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). "For kids eager to fish, Feb. 18-20 could also be called take an adult ice fishing weekend."

Sigurdson encouraged anglers venturing out on the ice to be extra cautious given varying ice conditions throughout the state. The best way to determine ice conditions is to check with local bait shops or the county sheriff's office. DNR ice safety information is available at www.mndnr.gov/icesafety.

Several Minnesota state parks are offering Take-A-Kid Ice Fishing opportunities during this special weekend. The clinics offer an indoor presentation on ice fishing safety, gear and techniques. Participants should dress for the weather because ice fishing will be among activities at most clinics. Kids will make their own jiggle sticks to take home.
Clinics are offered Saturday, Feb. 18, at Sakatah Lake State Park near Waterville, Scenic State Park near Bigfork, Bear Head Lake State Park near Ely, and Cloquet Middle School in Cloquet. Lake Bemidji State Park offers a Berrrmidji Kids' Ice Fishing event on Sunday, Feb. 19. Kids ages 8-15 can join the Lake Bemidji State Park naturalist for perch fishing on Lake Bemidji.

Participants must register for events by contacting the appropriate state park or MinnAqua staff at dnr.state.mn.us .

Tips for a successful ice fishing trip are available online at www.mndnr.gov/minnaqua.

An educational podcast about ice fishing featuring Mike Kurre, DNR mentoring coordinator, and Mike "Smitty" Smith of "Ice Team" is at files.dnr.state.mn.us/news/podcasts/KidsAndIceFishing.mp3.