2015 Kids' Ice Fishing Day at Nelson a big hit despite bitter temps, cutting wind

From Bureau of Land Management

MALTA - Bitter temperatures and numbing winds did not stop smiling students from enjoying a day on the ice during the annual Nelson Reservoir Kids' Ice Fishing Day held Feb. 10. 

Students and teachers from Hays Lodgepole, Malta, Saco and Whitewater, joined members of the Malta Chapter of Walleyes Unlimited, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks to learn how to fish on a frozen lake. 

"My students and I had a great time despite the windy, cold day," said Gail Wilcott, an educator at Whitewater School. "Everyone was so helpful. Three students and I each caught a perch."

Kia, a Whitewater School student, hooked a fish.

"It was fun," she said. "I am so glad I caught a fish. This was my first year that I caught a fish. My fish was a yellow perch."

Participants learned from the expertise of Walleyes Unlimited members about the more common fish species caught in Nelson Reservoir and how to use an assortment of ice fishing gear. Students were able to tour a variety of ice fishing structures set up on the frozen surface, which was about three feet thick.

"Stations included two Darkhouse Spear houses, several portable shacks for jigging and warming up and plenty of rods and minnows for jigging outside," said Scott Meneely, a BLM fire operations specialist at the Little Rockies Fire Station in Zortman, Montana. Meneely brought out his custom built spear house, which has a heater that maintained a temperature in the mid 70s.

Hal Moore, a rangeland management specialist at the BLM Malta Field Office, helped Meneely man his spear house.

"Scott set up his spearing shack which also doubled as a warm-up area where at any given time there were 8-10 kids crammed in to get warm and learn about spearing fish, many of whom had never seen a spearing hole"

Moore said that while all the effort Meneely put into setting up and teaching students about spear fishing was significant, what impressed Moore most was Meneely's expression of goodwill.

"The really cool thing that Scott did was give a little girl (who only had a light jacket relative to the conditions outside) a beanie to help keep her ears warm and also loaned her his gloves. If that is not goodwill demonstrated by a BLM employee, then I don't know what is."

Marc Kloker, the Information and Education Program manager for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Region 6, based out of Glasgow, also taught students about spearfishing. According to Kloker, the weather conditions kept students moving from one warming hut to another.

"I spent some time in the ice houses because my fingers and toes got cold," Kia said.

Engaging youth in public land stewardship is one of Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell's and BLM Montana/Dakotas State Director Jamie Connell's top initiatives.

  "The Nelson Reservoir Kids Ice Fishing Day fits in with several state and national initiatives, such as BLM's Take it Outside Initiative, which focuses on programs that engage children and families in outdoor activities," said Kathy Tribby, the BLM Hi-Line district outdoor recreation planner.

"My favorite part was when I caught my fish," said Heidi, a Whitewater School student.

A fisherman's proverb states, "A bad day of fishing is better than a good day in the office." Some students may apply the same principle to the classroom.

"I did not catch anything, but that's OK. I had a great time fishing," said Beau, a Whitewater student. "I personally love to spear fish; it is my favorite part of ice fishing."

Whitewater student Kendra said, "I'm excited to go next year."