Kids Fishing Clinics

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Minnesota state parks offer Kids Fishing Clinics and loan out free equipment to hook the next generation of anglers

From the walleye havens in northern Minnesota to the blue ribbon trout streams in the southeast, outstanding fishing opportunities lure anglers of all ages to Minnesota state parks every year. 

Walleye fishing on Lake Mille Lacs at Father Hennepin State Park, the heritage fishery at Glendalough State Park, and the fly-fishing at Whitewater and Forestville/Mystery Cave state parks are well worth the drive. And two state parks in the Twin Cities metro area - Fort Snelling and William O’Brien state parks - provide especially good opportunities for urban residents to wet a line close to home.

In addition to offering programs that teach kids and other beginners the fundamentals of fishing, these two hotspots even loan out free fishing poles to anyone who doesn’t have their own.

Fort Snelling State Park, conveniently located at the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers near Highway 5 and Post Road in St. Paul, offers shore fishing along the riverbanks of scenic Pike Island. It also has an accessible fishing pier on Snelling Lake, where there are plenty of panfish and a good number of northerns.

William O’Brien State Park, just north of Stillwater in Marine on St. Croix, offers a choice of fishing for the bluegills and sunfish that are plentiful in Alice Lake, or plying the channels of the St. Croix River for northerns, walleye, bass and trout.

Both Fort Snelling and William O’Brien state parks have wheelchair-accessible fishing piers, canoe rental, and full-time interpreters who specialize in showing park visitors how to have fun outdoors.

Upcoming fishing programs include:

Saturday, June 6, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., a fly fishing workshop offered in partnership with the Fly Fishing Federation, Trout Unlimited, and the St. Paul Fly Tiers at William O’Brien State Park
Saturday, June 20, 1 p.m., a kids fishing clinic at William O’Brien State Park
Saturday, July 25, noon, “River Fishing for Fun” at Fort Snelling State Park (space is limited; call 612-725-2724 to register).
There is no charge to participate in these programs, but a vehicle permit ($5 daily/$25 annual) is needed to enter the park. Fishing poles and other equipment will be provided courtesy of the Fishing in the Neighborhood program, which was launched by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources in 2001 in an effort to expand urban fishing opportunities. When the equipment is not being used for special programs, it is loaned out to visitors on a first-come, first-served basis.

Additional family-oriented fishing programs - some of which are presented by MinnAqua, a statewide angling education program - are listed in the Minnesota State Parks 2009 spring/summer Programs & Special Events catalog, a free publication available at Minnesota state parks and recreation areas, at REI stores, or by calling the DNR Information Center at 651-296-6157 or 888-MINNDNR (888-646-6367).

Event information is also posted online.