Youth fishing clinics, DNR webinars coming up on Outdoors Calendar (2024)

To get an event in the Outdoors calendar, contact Brad Dokken at (701) 780-1148, (800) 477-6572 ext. 1148 or by email at bdokken@gfherald.com . Deadline is 5 p.m. Wednesdays.

• June 25 and July 17: Free Youth Fishing Clinics, 6 p.m., Fargo Scheels Training Center. Participants will learn about aquatic nuisance species (ANS), fish identification, on-the-water safety and more from pro angler Spencer Deutz. For kids ages 4 through 12; first 30 kids will receive a free rod and reel. Space is limited, and pre-registration is required. Info/registration: Contact Deutz directly at spencer.deutz@gmail.com ; or call/text (701) 361-2521.
• July 26-27: Cats Incredible Catfish Tournament, Red River, with headquarters at LaFave Park in East Grand Forks. Tournament hours 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, July 26, and 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 27. Info: catsincredibletournament.com.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources webinars are free and begin at noon Wednesdays. Pre-registration is required at mndnr.gov . Webinars also are recorded and available online. Upcoming series topics are as follows:

• June 26: Northern Minnesota wildlife: updates and hot topics. Join Minnesota DNR wildlife managers and researchers as they discuss the wildlife found in northern woodlands and waterways and how DNR is working to improve wildlife habitat and hunting opportunities.
• July 3: Loon lessons: restoring and conserving Minnesota’s state bird. Loon Specialist and Minnesota Loon Restoration Project Lead, Jayden Jech, dives into conservation efforts focused on the common loon in Minnesota.
• July 10: Southern Minnesota wildlife: updates and hot topics. Southern Minnesota DNR wildlife managers will cover the latest wildlife habitat projects and stories of wildlife found in the prairies, wetlands, river valleys and farm country.
• July 17: Birding 101. DNR birding expert May Vang will share ways to engage people in bird watching and conservation.
• July 24: Topwater bass fishing. DNR staff fishing experts and tournament anglers Eric Altena and Jeff Ledermann will cover the gear and tactics needed to find and target active bass feeding on the surface.
• July 31: What is micro fishing and how do you do it? Tony Long, DNR natural resource specialist, will discuss the challenge and fun of micro fishing. He will provide lots of tips on this growing sport and how and where to catch these little fish, some of which can rival saltwater reef fish colors.
• Aug. 7: Tracking kestrels, wood thrush and more. Kristin Hall, nongame wildlife program supervisor, will talk about DNR research on the American kestrel and “crowd sourced data” that are being collected across the Motus network. Motus (Latin for movement) is an automated telemetry system of receivers that can track very lightweight, simple transmitters, allowing researchers to track birds, bats and even insects throughout their annual life cycle and over distances that were unimaginable only a decade ago.
• Aug. 14: Tree stand safety. Kraig Kiger, DNR shooting sports program administrator, and staff from the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association will discuss tree stand safety. They will cover strategies for pre-season, during the season and post-season to make sure stands remain safe for years to come.
• Aug. 21: Introduction to North Shore fishing. Angling expert Jason Swingen will talk about fishing for spring steelhead and fall pink salmon and coaster brook trout. Swingen will cover some of the history of the fisheries, what's needed to get started and techniques to improve success.
• Aug. 28: Orienteering for fun and survival. Members of the Minnesota Orienteering Club will talk about the basics of map and compass use and share tips on orienteering.

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