By Bruce Karnick

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Saturday, Feb. 12, the City of Hastings held its second ice fishing event of the year at Lake Rebecca Park. This event was so popular last winter that the Parks Department teamed up with Carpenter Nature Center and the National Park Service to put on the event again this year. The Parks staff acquired a waiver from the MNDNR so residents could fish without a permit. Volunteers checked people in before 9:00 a.m. to get them on the ice. The event ran until noon.

The families that participated had a variety of ages in them. Some were grandparents out with their grandkids, others were there without kids. Most of the kids were on the younger side in that 4-10-year-old range. Everyone was having a good time and very few expressed any concern for the cold. For many of the kids, it was their first experience ice fishing, so it was a little sad hearing their disappointment because the fish were just not biting like people had hoped. Some fish did make an appearance though, unlike last year.

Photo by Bruce Karnick

Photo by Bruce Karnick

Lyle Russel Post 1210 commander Kevin Kehn hands the Wills family some ice fishing gear of their own to encourage them to get out and enjoy fishing. The gear was bought with donated funds and then given to families at the ice fishing event until they ran out.