Community Spotlight: McGregor Fourth Graders Go Ice Fishing

It all started in the classroom. DNR’s MinnAqua education specialist Katie Fritz visited fourth graders at McGregor Elementary for her second time, as a part of the MinnAqua program leading up to the Governor’s Fishing Opener.

The topic of discussion that day was what fish do in winter.

As a part of the hands-on fishing skills taught, they practiced how to tie an improved clench knot that they used used to make their very own jiggle stick.

On the lake students visited six different stations to practice ice fishing skills. They learned how to measure the water depth, learned about different kinds of bait and a favorite station learning about the different types of augers.

for the kids, the learning process goes hand and hand with lots of fun.

The goal of the DNR MinnAqua Program is to help kids understand their connection to the ecosystem so they can become the next generation of environmental stewards.