Feb 08

Insider Tricks on How to Catch the “Big One” + Ice Fishing Safety Checklist

Insider Tricks: ice fishing insider tricks

Know your target species 

Before you grab your ice-fishing gear and head to the lake, do a little research on the fish you are trying to catch and where they spend their time. What do they eat? Where do they live? Do they tend to like deep or shallow areas? After you conduct your research (a visit to a local bait shop IS research…), create an ice-fishing action plan that includes the bait and tackle for the fish (like walleye) you want to land.   

Master jigging 

Whether you’re fishing perch or walleye, mastering ice fishing jigging techniques is crucial to your success. After you finish watching Captain Greg Karch’s video on how to jig while ice fishing, get out on the ice and start practicing!  

Patience is key 

Learning how to be patient when ice fishing is a must-have skill. It might take a little longer to get a bite because fish have less energy when it’s cold out, but don’t give up! Practice patience and you’ll start catching fish in no time (ok, you may need to wait awhile before you get a bite on your line).  

 Ice Fishing Safety Checklist 

  • Wear the proper gear to stay warm 
  • This includes the correct footwear, a hat and gloves (pro tip: bring two pairs of gloves in case the first pair gets wet), heat packs, and layered clothing. If you start to get too cold, it’s time to head back inside.  
  • Don’t go alone 
  • Bringing a friend gives you an extra hand or someone to call for help if something goes wrong.  
  • Know the current ice conditions 
  • Always be prepared in case you fall through 
  • Bringing the right equipment on your ice fishing trip is important if you or someone else falls through the ice. Safety gear you should always bring with you includes a whistle, ice spuds, life jacket, rope and ice cleats.  

Watch Captain Greg’s ice fishing safety video to review more tips on how to stay safe while out on the ice!

Jan 16

NPAA Conference

What better way to kick off the new year than by joining fellow fishermen and fisherwomen from around the Midwest at the National Professional Anglers Association (NPAA) conference Jan. 4–6 in Minneapolis. Learn 2 Fish With Us President and Executive Director, Greg Karch, led a seminar called “Make a Wave by Hosting a Future Angler Event” on Saturday, Jan. 5 and Sunday, Jan. 6 to help fellow anglers learn what it takes to host a fishing workshop for kids.

The NPAA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to sportfishing. Members range from professional guides to angler educators to passionate industry professionals, and the annual conference gives anglers of all experience levels a sneak peek at new fishing gear, as well as keynote and breakout sessions covering a wide-range of topics.

Captain Greg’s seminar covered various topics including the ins and outs of an NPAA-sponsored angler educator event, identifying your audience and key topics to cover when hosting a future angler event.

“I loved leading a seminar amongst so many like-minded individuals at the NPAA conference,” Karch said. “I am so passionate about teaching kids how to fish, and I hope I inspired other anglers to give back to their communities by hosting NPAA-sponsored fishing workshops.”

NPAA Conference NPAA Conference NPAA Conference

 

Jan 16

Nothing but Gratitude for the Kellers’ Donation

Learn 2 Fish With Us received a very generous donation from James and Rosanne Keller at the Future Anglers Association banquet on Saturday, Jan. 5, which was held during the National Professional Anglers Association (NPAA) Conference.

And this isn’t the first time Learn 2 Fish has been lucky enough to receive a donation from the Kellers. In 2016, they matched the amount the organization raised itself. Those funds not only helped Learn to Fish increase its number of fishing workshops, but also establish much needed policies and procedures to keep volunteers and participants safe, including a liability insurance policy and running background checks on all volunteers.

Learn 2 Fish also received a generous donation from Greg and Kristin Strehlow, active followers of the organization.

As a not-for-profit 501 (c)(3) organization, Learn 2 Fish relies on donations like these to cover expenses—like background checks, purchasing fishing combos and reimbursing travel expenses—of hosting fishing workshops. This year Learn 2 Fish is also developing a program to work with high school fishing teams.

Learn 2 Fish President and Executive Director, Greg Karch, said donations like these are the driving force of the organization.

“Without support from our donors, it’s hard to live out our mission of ‘Growing the sport of fishing by educating and inspiring the beginner and experienced angler’,” Karch said. “I am so thankful for the continued support of donors like the Kellers and Strehlows who help keep our organization strong and are investing in teaching kids and their families an activity they can enjoy together for a lifetime.”

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Oct 11

Pulaski Cub Scouts Learn About Fishing

On Monday, October 8th, Learn 2 Fish With Us traveled to Pulaski, Wisconsin, where Captain Greg presented his Fishing Basics seminar to the Cub Scouts.  Besides Cub Scouts, sibling also attended which brought the youth count for this event to just over ninety.  That is an awesome turnout!!

During the Fishing Basics seminar Captain Greg covered safety while fishing, parts of fish, how to us a spin cast and spinning fishing combo, how to cast, how to tie a Clinch and Palomar knot, different fishing presentations, live and artificial bait, fish identification and the Aquatic Invasive Species message of ‘Clean Drain Dry’ .  We also reviewed catch and release and when fishing try to leave the area you are fishing cleaner than when you arrived.

The youth were so excited when they learned that would get a educational book, Shakespeare’s, My Fishing Journal along with a fishing related prize.  The prizes consisted of spin cast and spinning fishing combos, NPAA Future Pro shirts and Plano tackle boxes with tackle.

Sep 13

Youth Learn To Fish At Snooze In The Zoo

On Saturday, September 8th, Learn 2 Fish With Us volunteers educated and took families fishing during the Snooze In The Zoo event.  The event was held at the Menominee Park Zoo which is located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.  Families attending this event were able to camp in the Menominee Park Zoo.

One of the events during Snooze In The Zoo, was for families to experience fishing which was hosted by us, Learn 2 Fish With Us.  The afternoon started out by Captain Greg educating the families on the fishing equipment and skills needed to begin fishing.  The campers learned safety while fishing, fishing combos, different fishing presentations, fish identification and the AIS message of ‘Clean Drain Dry’.   After the seminar the campers then yet fishing with the help from the Learn 2 Fish With Us volunteers where many fish were caught in the Zoo’s pond!!

Each youth went home with a Shakespeare fishing combo, NPAA Future Pro shirt and Shakespeare My Fishing Journal.  The to The Reel Shot (TRS) for supplying the bait for the event.  Thanks to Learn 2 Fish With Us sponsors not only are we able to educate future anglers but also provide equipment for them to continue to fish.

Aug 04

Bago Walleye Club Kids Fishing Day a Success!!

On Saturday, July 28th, Learn 2 Fish With Us helped at the Bago Walleye Club Kids Fishing Day at Breezy Woods Campground in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.   Each youth was given a fishing combo, Tru-Turn hooks and a National Professional Anglers Association and the bait needed to fish.  The youth were given bait and with the help of the Bago Walleye Club and Learn 2 Fish With Us volunteers the youth learned to fish and many of the youth caught fishing from Bluegills to Largemouth Bass!!  After fishing the families were served lunch with consisted of hot dogs, burgers, chip abd water and soda.  After lunch each youth was give a Root Beer float thanks to A&W of Fond du Lac!!

After the fishing clinic many of the youth were seen fishing!!  The weather was perfect along with the fishing.  What more can you ask for!!

 

Aug 04

Future Anglers Learn How To Fish At PBS Get Up And Go Day

On Saturday, August 4th, Learn 2 Fish With Us and it’s volunteers where at PBS Get Up And Go Day at the Timber Rattlers Stadium in Appleton, Wisconsin.  Learn 2 Fish With Us had a Fishing educational booth at the event.  The primary focus of the booth was to teach the youth how to cast.  While waiting in line to cast, they learned about safety while fishing and fish identification.  When they were ready to cast they learned how to cast and cast accurately!!!  Hundreds of kids attended the booth caught a Backyard Bass.  Once they completed casting, they were given a NPAA Future Pro shirt and a Shakespeare My Fishing Journal.  Thanks to all the Learn 2 Fish With Us volunteers for enduring the heat.

 

Jul 22

Riverside Park, Mauston Wisconsin Fishing Clinic

On Saturday, July 21st it may have started out gloomy but by 9 AM, the start of the Fishing Clinic is had started to clear and by 10 AM the sun was out.  Muskie Matters Inc. and Learn 2 Fish With Us partnered up to hold the Fishing Clinic at Riverside Park in Mauston, Wisconsin.

The Fishing Clinic started out by Captain Greg reviewing skills and equipment needed to fish.  Greg reviewed Shakespeare Spin Cast and Spinning combos and how to use both of them, different fishing presentations and the AIS message of Clean Drain Dry.

Muskie Matters Inc. Club members the manned the five educational stations that each of the youth attended for ten minutes of education.   The stations were Knot Tying where the youth tied a Clinch and Palomar knot.  The next station was casting were they learn how to properly cast.  Another station was Safety while fishing where they learn how to be safe and about the safety equipment.  Fish Identification was another station where the youth learned how to identify the different fish along with the best bait to catch them.  The final station was bait where they learned about the different bait along with seeing it along with the different artificial baits we use.  They were in shock when Adam showed the youth the Muskie baits!!!

After the seminar it was time for the youth to go fishing.  They caught bluegills and perch but fishing was slow.  Thanks to the sponsors and Muskie Matters Inc.  the kids were provided lunch!!

Each youth went home with the fishing combo, NPAA Future pro shirt and a goodie back thanks to the sponsors and National Professional Anglers Association.

 

Jun 21

What?? “Best Fishing Day Ever!!!”

“Best Fishing Day Ever!!!”, this is what we heard from the youth and parents that attended the Secret Fishing Spot fishing clinic, which was held by Learn 2 Fish With Us, Badger Sportsman and Shakespeare Fishing. Thanks to a local farmer who allowed our group to fish a pond that had plenty of fish!! Captain Greg from Learn 2 Fish With Us and NPAA organized this special event, allowing youth who attended a Learn 2 Fish With Us clinic in 2018, to attend.

The day started out with the youth meeting their fishing lead that would help them all evening long as they fished, along with receiving a Shakespeare spin cast or spinning fishing combo. Youth, parents and the fishing lead then took a short walk to the pond where they were instructed on safety and setting the hook. Captain Greg’s first two youth of his group casted, and as quick as the bobber hit the water, it was under, and the kids were yelling “FISH ON!!”. Besides catching fish the youth and parents learned how to adjust a boober to fish different depths, place a worm on the hook, set the hook, take a fish of the hook, hold a fish for a picture, keep moving when not catching fish, how to identify the fish they caught, how to release a fish and more. Youth caught largemouth bass, pumpkinseed, perch and these fish gave them a great fight. Looking around the pond, all you saw was rods bending, smiles, and parents taking pictures of their sons or daughters catch!!
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Thanks to the Badger Sportsman magazine for providing dinner, which included: hot dogs, chips, watermelon, chocolate chip cookies and drinks. Youth were really hungry from catching all the fish. After dinner the youth learned that thy would be keeping the Shakespeare Fishing combo that they were fishing with. They were excited!!!

Thanks to all the volunteers from Learn 2 Fish With Us and the Badger Sportsman!!

Jun 16

Sharing Our Passion For Fishing With Foster Kids/Parents

On Friday, June 15th we held a Fishing Clinic for Foster Kids and Parents.  Learn 2 Fish With Us partnered with Sara and Cindy from the Winnebago County and Lisa from the Downtown Oshkosh YMCA where the fishing clinic was held.   This event started out with Captain Greg presenting his Fishing Basics seminar that educated the youth and parents on; safety while fishing, different fishing combo’s and fishing presentations.  After the mini Fishing Basics seminar, it was time for the youth to attend the five hands-on fishing educational stations.  The youth were split up into five groups that attended each station which consisted of Aquatic Invasive Species, fish Identification, knot tying, live/artificial bait and of course casting.  So many Backyard Bass were caught at the casting station.

Once the youth rotated through all five fishing educational stations, they found out they would receive a fishing combo, Plano Stowaway with tackle and National Professional Anglers Association Future Pro shirt.  Everything needed to take their skills they just learned and utilize the fishing equipment to get out fishing!!

Five youth attended this fishing clinic will attended the Secret Fishing Spot where they will go fishing with an experienced fisherman so that they can catch a fish.

Thanks to our sponsors for donating the fishing goods.  This event could not be held without all the great volunteers from Winnebago County along with Learn 2 Fish With Us volunteers; Karen Karch, Nick Schmal, Mike Anderson, Tony Rieth and Sharon Miller.