Levi Schneider gets his award-winning largest fish measured as a 10-inch blue gill. Bows & Bullets’ 4-H member Jack Green assisted at the catch board recording fish lengths throughout the morning.
Winter weather cooperated this year for a 4-H ice fishing activity.
Washington County 4-H and Washington County Conservation hosted the 4-H Fish On Youth Ice Fishing Clinic at Marr Park January 31.
Some youth ice fished for the very first time at this event. The event was a way for them to learn the equipment and give it a try on the ice. Other topics included ice safety, fish species, licensure regulations, fishing technology and fishing careers. A favorite part of the event was getting to fish with the sonar and camera equipment. Teaching was led by local ice fisherman and Washington County Conservation naturalist, Megan Jorgensen.
This year participants could measure their fish. The biggest fish caught went to Levi Schneider with a 10-inch crappie and second went to Kynlee Meader with an 8-inch bass. The smallest fish went to Saylor Altenhofen with a 5.5-inch crappie.
This week’s fishing report from the Iowa DNR shows as of January 29th, ice thickness was around 9 inches. The DNR recommends a minimum of four inches of clear ice for ice fishing.