Contact:
Patti Berkhahn
Soldotna Aquatic Education Biologist
Phone: (907) 262-9368

The Division of Sport Fish Aquatic Education Program schedules this annual ice fishing event for all Kenai Peninsula School District classrooms that are participating in ADF&G’s "Salmon in the Classroom" program. The event is not open to the general public.

Weather permitting, the event will be held at Sport Lake on January 20, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Up to 90 elementary students per hour may be fishing. Approximately 400 students will be attending the event.

During this hands-on event, students are taught ethical angling practices, such as proper techniques for both harvest and catch-and-release, and learn a fun winter outdoor activity at the same time.  Holes are drilled, and poles and fish are supplied. Sport Lake is stocked annually with 13,000 rainbow trout fingerlings and 4,000 landlocked Chinook salmon catchables from the Elmendorf and Fort Richardson State Fish Hatcheries.

Other hands-on components of the “Salmon in the Classroom” program include collecting salmon eggs in September, raising those eggs in classroom aquariums, salmon dissections, watershed studies and releasing the salmon fry in May.

Volunteers from each classroom, Skyview High School students, and ADF&G staff will be assisting during the event.