Amazing Take a Kid Fishing Event at Lake of the Woods
More than 100 area youth will enjoy a day of fishing fun and prizes on Wednesday June 19th, 2024 as they participate in the 26th Annual Take a Kid Fishing event at Sportsman’s Lodge, Lake of the Woods near Baudette, MN. 
Many sponsors, volunteers, captains, and first-mates do everything they can to see this event is a chance of a lifetime for young people to learn and enjoy the sport of fishing. Thanks to their dedication, their time, and their boats, dedicated to this event.
Take a Kid Fishing (TAKF) operates under the Baudette Community Foundation Inc. and is a widely popular event among local anglers, young and old. Volunteers in charge of organizing this fun activity are busy with pre-preparations.
The annual event pairs around 120 area youth aged 9-14 years with volunteer fishing and boating enthusiasts throughout the area who get the kids out on the water, sharing with them the joy of fishing.
Volunteers who guide are not required to have a captain’s license but can be an experienced boater with room for extra anglers. This year’s guide dinner will happen on Tuesday, June 18th.
Many prizes are awarded to participants included four Minnesota Lifetime Fishing Licenses. As a qualification for entry to win a Minnesota Lifetime License 14 year-olds submit an essay on “What a Lifetime License Would Mean To Me”. 
Participants usually receive a bag with special prizes and goodies and enjoy a lunch on the boat, packed in part with help from residents at LakeWood Care Center, and, together with their families enjoyed a fish fry afterward at a local resort.
Mike Hirst is involved as a representative of the Keep It Clean Initiative. This is also a great learning initiative for young people to be aware of for their future lake experiences and knowledge of keeping our special waters clean and healthy.
If you have questions or want to learn more abut volunteering your boat and guiding or as a first mate on another boat, you can contact Brian Peterson at 612-220-5556 bspet74@gmail.com, or Lisa Beckstrand at 218-308-0165. Applications for TAKF can be submit to Brian as well.
Lake of the Woods is a first class fishery known as the Walleye Capital of the World™. The fishery itself is very healthy with an abundance of many varieties of fish. The area has been proud to participate with the Take a Kid Fishing program that the MN DNR started many years ago. It especially reaches out to young people who might not otherwise have a chance to experience the sport of fishing, or just get to enjoy this enormous lake.
Lake of the Woods is the largest fresh water lake next to the great lakes and hosts 65,000 miles of shoreline and 14,000 islands. The lake is shared with the two countries of the United States and Canada. The border crossing is actually located right in the city of Baudette. Both sides of the border is completely open to travel and is encouraged. The only qualification is that you have an updated passport or passport card or enhanced MN driver’s License.
The US side of the lake features the biggest body of water called Big Traverse. Resorts line the Rainy River which flows into the lake and resorts are also located along the south shore of the lake. Don’t forget at the Northwest corner of the lake which forms a “chimney” on the map of Minnesota is the home of the Northwest Angle and Islands. The town of Angle Inlet hosts great resorts there and Oak Island and Flag Island feature incredible places to stay as well. The experience of being on that part of the lake is awesome in itself.
The northern part of Lake of the Woods residing in Canada features more rock and islands but both sides provide incredible fishing experiences. You can see why Take a Kid Fishing introduces young people to the many features they can enjoy as well as learning the sport of fishing. Hats off to all those who participated.
To stay informed about the events, sign-ups and more, find Take A Kid Fishing at TAKF Baudette on Facebook.
For more information on the area, see our website at: www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com
For lodging see: www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com/lodging
See our Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/lakeofthewoodsmn
