Learn to Fish/Fishing for Dinner Workshop
Learn to catch, harvest and cook Wisconsin fish through a Fishing for Dinner workshop being held in Superior, Wis., from September 14-16, 2023. The FREE 3-session workshop will cover everything from knot-tying and casting to fish identification and fish cookery. The mix of indoor and outdoor lessons are for people over the age of 15. With over 84,000 miles of rivers and streams and roughly 15,000 lakes, there are plenty of opportunities to fish in Wisconsin. Registration is limited.
Registration on EventBrite — bit.ly/Fish-on
When: September 14-16, 2023
- Sept 14 (Thurs), 5:30-8:30 pm
- Sept 15 (Fri), 5:30-8:30 pm
- Sept 16 (Sat), 8:30 am-1 pm
Where: Lake Superior Estuarium, 3 Marina Drive, Superior, Wis.
Cost: Free but must have a Wisconsin fishing license to fully participate.
Who: This workshop is being offered by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and Wisconsin Sea Grant with support from the Lake Superior Reserve and the Friends of the Lake Superior Reserve.
Target audience: Adults without much fishing experience who are positioned to encourage other community members to fish. (15 and older)
Presenters include:
- Theresa Stabo, Angler R3 Coordinator, Wisconsin DNR
- Sharon Moen, Food-Fish Outreach Coordinator, Wisconsin Sea Grant
- Luciana Ranelli, Education Coordinator, Lake Superior Reserve
- Paul Piszczek, Fisheries Biologist-Sen, Wisconsin DNR
- Ryan LePak, US EPA (mercury/PFAS contaminant expert and avid fisher out of Superior, Wis.)
Agenda:
Day 1 – Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023
4:30-5:30 p.m. – Social Hour – Get your bobber on and enjoy some hearty nibbles.
5:30-6 p.m. – Orientation
6-6:30 p.m. – Getting Hooked: Overview of Wisconsin fishing including Anishinaabe fishing history
6:30-7:30 p.m. – Preparing to Fish
- Knots
- The fish you’re after – fish behavior and identification
- Rods and Reels
- Tackling the tackle box
- Hook, line and lead-free sinkers
- Bobbers/indicators – fixed, slip, none
- Lures – selection and presentation
- Pliers, deliers, stringers and swivels
- Bait – selection, presentation and proper disposal
7:30-8 p.m. – The Science and Art of Fishing
- Fish habitat and reading the water (where fish lurk; all water is not equal)
- Safety issues
- Regulations: What to do with your catch – assuming you can keep; regarding moving fish
- Invasive species & footwear
- Fish handling – catch and release; harvesting
8-8:30 p.m. – Prep for tomorrow: assemble tackle boxes and groups, reflect on workshop so far
Day 2 – Friday, Sept. 15, 2023
4:30-6:30 p.m. – Go Fish! Casting instruction and practice, fish ID game, food and beverages
6:30-7:30 p.m. – Consuming Fish
- Fish consumption advisories
- Fish parasites
- Regulations/reminder – Legal requirements regarding moving fish
- Cleaning a fish and fish anatomy
- Post-harvest fish handling – harvesting, smoking, freezing, etc.
7:30-8 p.m. – Where to Fish
- Public Trust Doctrine
- Public access to shore fishing sites
- Stream-wading access and what’s allowed
8-8:30 p.m. – Prep for tomorrow: plan a fishing trip
Day 3 – Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, 8:30 am-1 pm
8:30-11 a.m. – Go Fish! Practice your new skills with instructors or on your own. All loaner equipment to be returned by 11:30 a.m.
11 a.m.-1 p.m. – Fish Cookery
Bonus! Extra fishing instructor training — 1:15-3:30 p.m.