December Special Edition
Family Newsletter - December 29, 2021
Town of May 4-H Club hosts Ice Fishing Tournament
We are excited to be hosting the 2nd Annual Washington County 4-H Ice Fishing Workshop and Tournament!
When: Saturday, Jan. 15th from 2:00 - 4:30 p.m.
Where: Forest Lake, MN parking available at the boat landing parking lot between the 2nd and 3rd pool of Forest Lake, near 3rd Gear Restaurant.
Address: 8241 North Shore Trail, Forest Lake, MN 55025 (boat landing parking is across the street from the restaurant and the lake (22351 Inman Ave. N., Forest Lake)
We will meet on the ice on the boat landing side of 3rd Gear Restaurant near “Willow Point”. The day will start with a brief workshop for beginners at 1:30 p.m. At 2:00 p.m. we will set up and start fishing. Measuring and counting of fish will take place throughout the day, with checkout and awarding of prizes taking place at 4:30 p.m.
For all participants: As of Wednesday, Dec. 29th there are between 5 and 7 inches of ice out on Forest Lake in most spots. With a cold snap coming there will be a lot more ice made soon. An ice condition update will be sent the week of the event. Please remember that 5 - 7 inches is safe for ATVs, 8 - 12 inches is a safe level of ice for small vehicles, and over 12 inches is a safe level for trucks. It is at the lower side of recommended depth for a truck. There is always a risk in driving any kind of vehicle out on the ice; that risk is up to the individual driver and will not be insured through 4-H.
If you are a new or novice ice fisher, we are excited to help you learn in a safe environment.
There are a few reminders to consider:
All persons 16 and older must have a valid fishing license. Fishing licenses can be purchased at outdoor stores and bait shops around MN, including Fleet Farm.
Winter in MN can be fun, but it can also be cold.
Consider purchasing inexpensive hand warmers / boot warmers if you are planning to sit outside.
If you do not own your own equipment, we can drill your holes. We will do our best to provide a pole, tip-up, or both, but if you have your own equipment please bring it along. I can’t guarantee there will be enough extras for everyone.
Please bring your preferred bait. Good bait to buy include angle worms or wax worms and crappie minnows for panfish. Shinners, Chubs, and Sucker Minnows are good choices for Walleye and Northern. Since we are fishing for only a couple of hours, a little will probably go a long way.
Please bring something to sit on while fishing. A foldable camp chair or five gallon bucket works great.
For the more experienced ice fishers here are some other things to consider:
Feel free to bring any equipment that you find helpful. Ice augers and portable ice houses are welcome and appreciated.
Electronics such as vexlars and fish cams are also welcome.
If you have extra poles or tip-ups to lend to less experienced fishers please bring them along.
Prizes
Choice of available prizes will include gift cards, a rods and reel, tip ups, fishing jigs, and a yeti mug. Prizes will be awarded for largest keepable walleye, largest keepable northern pike, largest panfish, most fish, and a raffle door prize.
We are looking forward to a great day!
If you have any questions, please feel free to call Tim Newcomb from the Town of May 4-H Club at 651-238-4713. (The day of the event I’ll probably be wearing a green coat with carhartt overalls.)