Creating a buzz about fishing

KEEWATIN—An additional 30 kids from Keewatin Elementary could be on the hunt for a lunker today on one of the area’s lakes.

Thanks to Nashwauk-Keewatin’s Spartan Angling class and teacher Luke Adam, the kids now have fishing rods to do just that.

The elementary students gathered Monday in the Keewatin gymnasium and their smiles soon went from ear to ear after Adam asked them, “Who are some of the people in Keewatin who love fishing?’’

The students all enthusiastically raised their hands, still not knowing what was in store.

Adam talked to the kids about how fishing is a lifetime sport that can keep them healthy and active, from ice fishing to open water angling to catch sunnies, bass, crappies and more.

The 30 rods donated to the school were all line up across the gym and the kids quickly grabbed the one with their name on it. They were visibly excited as they checked out their new fishing pole and took it back to their seat.

“The first step is having a rod,’’ he said. “The next step is finding someone to go with. My challenge to you today is to find a relative or someone and ask them, ‘Can I come (fishing) with you next time?’ You have to find them to get out on the water.’’

Fishing rods have been donated before, he said, so every kid at the high school that has an interest was given one.

“I figured I would just try to extend it over to the next generation of younger kids and see how it goes.’’

Fourth-grader Lucia Radel said it shouldn’t be a problem finding someone to go with. “I think that might be maybe my two brothers,’’ who are in eighth grade and sixth grade, respectively. “They like fishing. They actually did it yesterday.’’

Radel said she has fished before and likes putting the bait on the hook, despite it being slimy.

Fourth-grader Eli Anderson has gone fishing before, usually with his parents and his brother. In fact, he “just bought a new fishing rod’’ for today’s opener.

Sylvie Scepurek, a third-grader, said she was excited to get a fishing rod since she has never fished before. As far as a fishing buddy, she said, “maybe my dad.’’

Fifth-grader Cole Wiita was “really happy because my dad’s been wanting to get me a brand new one.’’ Cole plans to be fishing for the opener because he lives at a lake and can just walk down to the water.

—

Adam started the class in 2019 thanks to a DNR grant and it has been sustained since then with charitable gambling and other donations.

“The biggest thing is just kind of getting them interested in fishing’’ and teaching them, fish biology, fish behavior and what kind of species are out there, he said. Other topics include water quality, pollution, invasive species, lakeshore management and the environmental side of things, which is also important “so we can have lakes that we can fish in the future.’’

Spartan Anglline also includes fishing field trips, open water and ice fishing, which have netted a variety of species.

“We also take the kids spearing. It’s just a way to tap into what we have locally for kids.’’

As far as the elementary kids, “we try to catch them early,’’ Adam said. “I don’t want to wait until they get to high school. If I can catch a kid in kindergarten that likes to fish’’ that will give the student that many more years to fish.

“You’re never too old to fish’’ and anyone can do it, he added. “It doesn’t take athletic ability, it’s not gender based, you don’t have to have special talent. You just have to have a rod and have a little bit of patience.’’