Press Release ADF&G Logo
ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME
Sam Cotten, Commissioner

DIVISION OF SPORT FISH
Tom Brookover, Director

Contact:
Jenny Cope
Fisheries Biologist
Phone: 907-262-9368

February 12, 2016

KENAI PENINSULA BOROUGH SCHOOL DISTRICT ICE FISHING ACTIVITY SCHEDULED FOR FEB. 17 AND 18 AT SPORT LAKE, FEB. 26 AT JOHNSON LAKE
The Division of Sport Fish Aquatic Education Program’s annual ice fishing event is scheduled for Wednesday, February 17th and Thursday, February 18th at Sport Lake, and Friday, February 26th at Johnson Lake.

The event is for Kenai Peninsula Borough School District elementary school classes that are participating in Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s "Salmon in the Classroom" program. All classes must preregister. The event is not open to the general public. The event will be held at the Sport Lake Public Access from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, February 17th and Thursday, February 18th. A separate event will be held for Lower Kenai Peninsula Schools on Friday, February 26th at Johnson Lake from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Up to 110 elementary students per hour may be fishing. Approximately 560 students will be attending and fishing at Sport Lake during the two day event and approximately 180 students will be attending and fishing at Johnson Lake during the one day event. During this hands-on event, students are taught ethical angling practices, such as proper harvest and catch-and-release techniques, bag limits, how to use ice fishing gear and learn a fun winter outdoor activity at the same time. Holes are predrilled and ice fishing rods and tackle are supplied as well as portable ice fishing shelters/houses.

Sport Lake is stocked annually with landlocked Chinook salmon catchables and rainbow trout fingerling from the William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery. Johnson Lake is stocked annually with catchable sized rainbow trout.

Volunteers from each classroom and ADF&G staff will be assisting during the event. Parents of participating students are encouraged to attend and share in the ice fishing experience. Anyone who is 16 years of age and older will need a valid 2016 sport fishing license to fish.

For more information, contact Jenny Cope at (907) 262-9368.