This year we are replacing our usual Family Ice Fishing Day at Silver Lake with Ice Fishing Week across the valley!  It is a chance for newbies to get started and experts to learn new tricks!  WISE and our partners are planning a week of learning and ice fishing opportunities throughout the Copper River Basin March 20-27.  Bureau of Land Management Glennallen Field Office, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, and Prince William Sound College will be teaming up to help.

Borrow Gear: Need poles, gear, or bait?  We have a limited number of basic kits available for Copper Basin residents to borrow. Email WISE (robin@wise-edu.org) or call the office (822-3575) to request a kit.

Virtual Ice Fishing Clinic Saturday, March 20, 10am. Pre-register at www.wise-edu.org/family-ice-fishing-day for this online learning opportunity.  “Zoom” in from home to join local experts Tim Sundlov and Kenny Steck of the Bureau of Land Management Glennallen Field Office to learn about equipment, fishing techniques, and caring for your catch.  They will be sharing at least five different ways to make a hole in the ice, from simple tried and true methods to the latest in ice augers, including a propane-powered model.  

Katie and Karolina at Prince William Sound College will be lending their technology expertise to this online event.

Fishing Mentors:  Saturday, March 20 from 2-5pm connect with an expert “hard water” fisherman at a local lake for informal hands-on learning.  Russ Scribner, National Park Service Education Specialist will be at Tex Smith Lake, mile 162 Glenn Highway.  Kenny Steck, BLM Youth and Outreach Coordinator will be at 2 Mile Lake, mile 31 Edgerton Highway. Please plan to wear masks and socially distance.

Fish Local Lakes: Kenny Steck of BLM will be drilling and maintaining holes at local lakes from March 22-27th which anyone may use. The holes will be marked with upright spruce branches and covered to slow freeze up, so plan to bring an axe or ice chipper to reopen.

• Strelna Lake, Mile 10.6 McCarthy Road

• Silver Lake, Mile 11.1 McCarthy Road

• 2 Mile Lake, Mile 31 Edgerton Highway near Chitina

• Pippin Lake at the junction of Edgerton and Richardson Highways. (Mile 83.3 Richardson)

• Tex Smith Lake at mile 162  Glenn Highway.

Prizes and Fame!  We’d love to see pictures of your fishing adventures to share online.  Take pictures of your fish alongside a ruler, measuring tape, or something to help us see the size.  We’ll award prizes to the biggest and most beautiful youth-caught fish.  And because fishing is just one of many reasons to get outside in March, we’ll also have prizes for pictures of winter fun and adventures in the Copper River Valley. Send pictures to WISE at contact@wise-edu.org.

Questions?  Call WISE at 822-3575, or email contact@wise-edu.org.