Take a Kid Fishing has been an exiting event for the past several years at Lake of the Woods and it is no different for 2021. Minnesotans 15 and younger don’t need fishing licenses any time of the year. Take a Kid Fishing Weekend is a way for adults and kids to fish together without the step of buying a license. This year the Take a Kid Fishing event is excited to offer the opportunity for 14 and 15 year old participants to win a Minnesota Lifetime Fishing license. The licenses, funded by several local businesses and individuals, will be awarded as part of a 150-200 word essay contest titled: “What a lifetime fishing license would mean to me”.

Please encourage your 14 or 15 year old child to submit an essay with their Take a Kid Fishing registration by the June 1st Early bird deadline. Winners will be announced on the day of the event.

Minnesota’s DNR helps sponsor Take a Kid Fishing all over the state. It provides an incredible opportunity for young children to experience the beauty of the lake, the sport of fishing and the thrill of that first catch.

Lake of the Woods is known as the Walleye Capital of the World™. The lake is known for its great fishery but also for the vast beauty of the waters. The lake itself is the largest fresh water lake in the contiguous United States next to the Great Lakes. It boasts of 14,000 islands and 65,000 miles of shoreline. There are 50+ resorts in the area to accommodate any length of visit to this beautiful area.

It is no wonder that Take a Kid Fishing is one of the greatest opportunities for young people to experience these beautiful waters. There are many kids that take part in this event who have never boated or fished or even been on this great lake. Here’s some great information.

            Top 3 tips for Taking Kids fishing in MN

1. Make sure that the goal is to have fun. Catching fish is a bonus.
2. Keep it simple. Simple tackle, techniques and locations.
3. Keep the focus on the kids. Be a hero by helping them enjoy the day.

Lake of the Woods hopes to entertain 120 kids between 9-15 years of age. This program has been designed to teach kids the joy of fishing – a lifelong activity! This year’s event is scheduled for Wednesday, June 23. The day begins with all participants meeting out at Sportsman’s Ldge at 9:00 a.m. and meeting up with their guides for the day.

Each young fisherman or fisherwoman will receive a bag of goodies which includes pop, snack and a variety of prizes. All boats will return to shore by 4:00 p.m. to enjoy a delicious cookout for everyone, including family members. This is a great time to hear all the wonderful fish stories.

Each child will receive a prize for participating. There are openings available to the first 120 registrants. Organizers are happy to continue this fine tradition here in Lake of the Woods and look forward to seeing the young people very soon.

There is no charge for this great program and it is of great importance to mention that many volunteers step forward to make this a very exciting day for the youngsters. Guides volunteer their time with their great expertise of navigating the lake as Coast Guard approved Captains. The resort and the meal offered are also volunteer contributions, along with other community members who donate time, prizes and monies to sponsor this event.

Take a Kid Fishing will follow any and all guidelines set by the State of Minnesota. Organizers will keep you updated by the Take a Kid Fishing Website, Facebook, Cable TV and the Northern Light Region newspaper.

Register online at sportsmanslodges.com/take-a-kid-fishing or registration forms will be available in the Main Office of Lake of the Woods School or a the Pool office at the school. There will be an early bird registration prize drawing for all registrations received by June 4^th.  Registration deadline is June 15^th.

If you have any questions, please contact Lisa Beckstrand at 218-634-2735 ext. 1101  or lisa_b@lakeofthewoodsschool.org.

Why not make it a whole family event by staying at one of the great resorts in the area. See our website at www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com/lodging for any information you might need.