Cast Off: Are You Game For Fishing?

CAST OFF: ARE YOU GAME FOR FISHING?

KATIE GRANT

Katie Grant is a publications supervisor in the DNR’s Office of Communications.

Wisconsin has more than 140 species of native fish. Our state is also home to 84,000 miles of rivers and streams and roughly 15,000 lakes. That’s a lot of water for fish to live in!

The state fish of Wisconsin is the musky, or muskellunge, a ferocious member of the pike family known as the “fish of 10,000 casts.” They’re lean, mean fighting machines known to crack rods, bend hooks and do anything else they can to escape.

Get a head start on the unofficial start to summer by practicing your fishing skills with this magnetic fishing game. Get creative and show us the fish you create.

Nikki Hansen

MAGNETIC FISHING GAME

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

• String or fishing line, about the length of your arm

• Stick, twig or dowel, about 12 inches in length

• Craft magnets

• Craft glue or double-sided tape

• Paper clips

• Construction paper, cardstock or felt

• Scissors

• Glitter glue, googly eyes, markers and whatever else you’d like to use to decorate your fish

Nikki Hansen

Nikki Hansen

WHAT TO DO

Make your fish

1. Cut out fish shapes from your paper or felt.

2. Decorate one side however you want — get creative with googly eyes, glitter glue and more!

3. On the back, glue or tape a magnet to each of your fish.

Nikki Hansen

Make your pole

1. Tie your string or fishing line to the end of your stick or dowel. Add a small dab of glue over the string to help keep it from sliding off.

2. Tie your paper clip “hook” on the other end of your string.

HOW TO PLAY

Lay out your fish on the ground, magnet side down. Cast your line and see what you catch!

Nikki Hansen

For older kids: How many fish can you catch at once? Can you catch one faster than your friends? Can you change your fishing pole to catch more?

Nikki Hansen

For parents of younger kids: Add numbers or letters to the fish and help them practice identifying them as they go. You also can use different colors for each fish and practice identifying colors.

KNOT TYING

Tying your line to your hook is an important step to success in fishing. Practice tying yours — all you need is some string or fishing line and a paper clip. A clinch knot is one of the easiest and strongest fishing knots you can learn.

Tie a knot — it’s easy! with a clinch knot