Contact:
Jay Baumer
Area Management Biologist
Phone: (907)-267-2265
February 06, 2017
From February 7th through the 10th, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game Division of Sport Fish will be hosting the annual kids’ ice fishing event at Jewel Lake. Approximately 1,600 students from the Anchorage School District (ASD), private schools, and homeschool groups have scheduled 45 minute time periods to meet at Jewel Lake and learn about ice fishing. They will learn about the fish in the local lakes, ice safety, and try their hand at catching fish through the ice.
“For many of these students it will be their first time ice fishing” Jay Baumer, the Area Management Biologist for the Division of Sport Fish said. “Fish are stocked prior to the students arriving and depending on the weather and fish, students typically have a lot of fun. This is a great way to introduce young anglers to ice fishing.”
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.
Department staff and volunteers will be on hand each day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to provide assistance and an introduction to the basic ice fishing techniques and ice safety prior to the young anglers going fishing.
All classes must preregister. The event is not open to the general public, but the lake is open to fishing and we encourage anglers to get their sport fishing license and go fishing.
Students from the Anchor Lutheran Middle School, ASD King Career Center High School, and volunteers from local natural resource agencies will be assisting department staff during the event. Parents and chaperones are welcome to assist young anglers during the event, however any resident of Alaska who is 18 years of age or older is required to have a valid sport fishing license in their possession to fish.
Similar events will occur at Cheney Lake on February 15th and at Mirror Lake on February 17th.
For more information, contact Jay Baumer at (907) 267-2265.