Outdoors For All | Reel Joy: Fishing In The City

ZACH WOOD

Zach Wood is a public information officer in the DNR’s Office of Communications.

On a sunny April morning, kids excitedly start to form a line at McGovern Park on Milwaukee’s north side. It’s a popular spot with locals for its playground and basketball courts, but today, the buzz among the crowd is about something different — a free kids’ fishing clinic hosted by Midwest Crappie Hunters in partnership with the DNR and the Milwaukee Police Department.

According to a 2016 report from the U.S. Census Bureau, 86% of freshwater anglers are white. Organizations like Midwest Crappie Hunters are hosting free fishing clinics like this one across the country to take one step toward changing that.

“Midwest Crappie Hunters was originally just a fishing club,” said Darrian Perry, president of the organization. “It wasn't until we were talking in a parking lot with guys from the Inner City Sportsmen Club that we decided we wanted to do something for the community and share this sport with people who’ve never gotten to participate.”

TEACHING BASICS, OPENING DOORS

That exclusion, Perry noted, starts with a lack of opportunities to get started.

“You look at some suburban schools — they have fishing, hiking, even archery in their gym classes. You don’t see that in the urban schools,” he said.

“I was lucky because my grandfather and father loved fishing, so I grew up doing it. Today, a lot of parents are so busy and working so hard to just make ends meet, they don't have time to get their kids into fishing. That lack of exposure is a real barrier.”

Midwest Crappie Hunters fishing clinics are a way to help change that and bring fishing opportunities where they’re needed.

“That’s why we started doing our own fishing clinics at McGovern Park,” Perry said of the location near Havenwoods State Forest. “Those clinics keep growing, and it’s special to see kids learning the basics like how to tie knots, cast, clean fish and just have fun near the waters in their own neighborhood.”

BIG FISH CLOSE TO HOME

Another point Midwest Crappie Hunters emphasizes is that you need not drive to Wisconsin’s Northwoods to find fish.

“There are some amazing waters within 30 minutes of downtown (Milwaukee) — Pewaukee Lake, Lake Michigan, the Milwaukee River,” he said. “And I know the DNR stocks some ponds in cities, too.”

Every year, the DNR works cooperatively with county and municipal governments across Wisconsin to manage local fishing holes. This ensures that no matter if you're in Minocqua or Milwaukee, outstanding angling is never far away.

Fishing provides time to disconnect from the stressors of everyday life, Perry said. “Everyone deserves access to that.”

LEARN MORE

Great fishing might be closer than you think! The DNR stocks and manages several urban fishing waters across the state to provide quality angling opportunities and encourage more people to go fishing in their communities. To learn more about the urban angling program and the waters near you, go to dnr.wi.gov/tiny/1636.