Here fishy, fishy, fishy: Ice fishing gives students an up-close look at the ecosystem

The look on children's faces when they catch their first fish are priceless -- and there were plenty of priceless moments last week on Finger Lake.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game's education program brought students from around the Valley together to ice fish for stocked fish in Finger Lake last week. The ice-covered water offers up char, grayling, rainbow trout and landlocked salmon.

Last week's event was one of several that teach students about the life of fish and the ecosystem, but learning was cleverly disguised by the fun.

"Obviously we want to get kids interested in fishing and teach them about things like the life cycles of fish, but most of all, it's important for them to have fun doing it," said Fish and Game's Fritz Krauss, a man who, at first glance, appears to have fun every day.

One hundred holes were drilled in Finger Lake, and with excitement, students grabbed small ice fishing poles and a piece of cocktail shrimp last Thursday and Friday. Despite some whipping winds, the students generally had a fun time trying to coax fish into take the shrimp bait.

"This is my first time ice fishing, and it's pretty fun," said Pioneer Peak fifth-grader Rebekah McQuown. "The only thing is that it takes a lot of patience if you want to catch a fish."

As Lauren Guinotte pulled her fish from the small hole -- the first fish she'd ever caught -- she squealed with delight. For Krauss, Craig Baer and the rest of the Fish and Game personnel who run the program, that moment alone makes it worth it.

"Check that out," Krauss said, pointing at Guinotte as she waved the fish around. "You have to get a picture of that."

Students who were lucky enough to catch a fish -- usually a 6- to 10-inch stocked fish -- were allowed to take them home with them in plastic bags. The program was originally scheduled for December, when catch rates would have been much higher, Krauss said, but cold weather forced the rescheduling to January.

Learning through hands-on programs such as the ice fishing trip is a key component in the Fish and Game program.

"It's so important for these kids to care about the natural resources around them, and they get that with this program," said teacher Terry Slaven.

As part of the program, students gathered eggs from spawning salmon last fall, and are now watching the development of the eggs as they turn into salmon fry in classroom aquariums. The ice fishing component is the second stage. Next month, students will take part in a fly-tying program, in which the flies resemble what is going on in the aquariums. As school is ready to get out for the summer, the students will go to Matanuska Lake and release their salmon fry into the lake.