Fishing WisconsinFishing for dinner initiative

Wisconsin waters are teeming with hungry fish. Learn how to land one on your dining table for a tasty, healthy meal, harvested from waters close to home.

Northern pike done to perfection by Chef Patrick McKormick.

Angler R3

The Fishing for Dinner Initiative is an angler recruitment, retention and reactivation program – R3; its primary goal is to lure a new anglers to the water’s edge and encourage them to join us as stewards of Wisconsin’s bountiful fisheries. The focus is on young adults who have an interest in local, sustainably raised food – we hope they will consider the fish they catch as part of a healthy diet.

We schedule classes in areas where people have expressed an interest and where we have partners and instructors in place to host and help lead the sessions. Watch this site for updates on class offerings, dates and locations.

Attend an Angler R3 instructor training workshop

Seasoned anglers are invited attend training workshops so that they can lead these classes, or mentor adults who may have missed the fishing boat as kids, so lack fishing skills. Instructors and mentors will be asked to complete a background check by completing DNR Form 4100-217 [PDF].

About these workshops:

Angler R3 includes the Fishing for Dinner and Angler Education programs. These workshops will certify you to lead Fishing for Dinner classes for adults and families at community centers and Angler Education programs suitable for the classroom and youth organizations. Pick and choose from among the options to suit your audience.

At these workshops, we’ll share tips and best practices on teaching people to fish and prepare the catch for the table. Brush up on your own basic fishing skills during hands-on activities and take home guides to implement these programs in your community. Bring your own teaching tips to share!

Participants will Receive:

• Fishing for Dinner and Angler Education Instructor Certification
• Fishing for Dinner Training Manual
• Junior Angler and Hook, Line, & Thinker program materials that can be adapted to classrooms and recreation programs.
• Access to a boatload of resources and loaner gear
• Instruction includes how to teach fish identification, knot tying, casting and more.
• Lunch or dinner!

Angler R3 Instructor Training & Certification Workshop Schedule

Date and Time	Saturday, October 12, 2019, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
County	Walworth
Community	East Troy
Place	Camp Timber-lee Address:N8705 Scout Rd, East Troy, WI 53120
Registration Deadline	Download the registration form, [PDF], complete and send to Andrew Krismer by October 8, 2019 (see form for details).
Audience	Adults who want to teach others how to fish.
Class Size	This class is limited to 20 people. Reserve your seat and register now!
Host:	Camp Timber-lee Many thanks!
Contact:	Theresa Stabo, (608) 577-6332 or Andrew Krismer, (608) 333-2057.

Date and Time	Saturday, November 2, 2019, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
County	Juneau
Community	Wisconsin Dells
Place	Camp Upham Woods Address: N194 County Road N, Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965
Registration Deadline	Download the registration form, [PDF], complete and send to Andrew Krismer by October 28, 2019 (see form for details).
Audience	Adults who want to teach others how to fish.
Class Size	This class is limited to 20 people. Reserve your seat and register now!
Host:	Camp Upham Woods Many thanks!
Contact:	Theresa Stabo, (608) 577-6332 or Andrew Krismer, (608) 333-2057.

Date and Time	Saturday, November 9, 2019, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
County	Milwaukee
Community	Milwaukee
Place	Urban Ecology Center – Washington Park Branch Address: 1859 N 40th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53208
Registration Deadline	Download the registration form, [PDF], complete and send to Andrew Krismer by November 4, 2019 (see form for details).
Audience	Adults who want to teach others how to fish.
Class Size	This class is limited to 20 people. Reserve your seat and register now!
Host:	Urban Ecology Center Many thanks! Thanks also to Darrian Perry of Midwest Crappie Hunters for reaching out to schedule this workshop.
Contact:	Theresa Stabo, (608) 577-6332 or Andrew Krismer, (608) 333-2057.

Date and Time	Thursday, March 19, 2020, 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.
County	Washburn
Community	Spooner
Place	DNR Service Center Address:810 W. Maple Street, Spooner, WI 54801
Registration Deadline	Download the registration form, [PDF], complete and send to Andrew Krismer by March 12, 2020 (see form for details).
Audience	Adults who want to teach others how to fish.
Class Size	This class is limited to 20 people. Reserve your seat and register now!
Host:	DNR Staff Many thanks!
Contact:	Theresa Stabo, (608) 577-6332 or Andrew Krismer, (608) 333-2057.

Attend a class

Watch this page for a listing of classes where adults will learn what they’ve been missing – knot-tying, casting, fish identification and preparing your catch for the table.

Click on the envelope icon to subscribe to GovDelivery and get timely updates to these workshop and class schedules:

Eat local – fish

The Farm to Fork concept is growing in popularity and suggests a parallel Pond to Plate companion, whether that “pond” is a stream or a lake – Great, large or small. As far as “food miles” are concerned, most Wisconsinites live within 50 miles of fishable waters that offer many places to catch a healthy and delicious dinner, with a low food-miles score. Sustainability is an important component, so filling the freezer does not fit the model, but savoring that occasional treat from familiar waters does.

Chefs, local foods advocates and community groups have joined us in this project to offer classes. Cleaning and cooking instructions will be part of the mix and we will include information on how to minimize consumption of fish contaminants such as mercury and PCBs.

Sound good to you? Then keep your eyes open and sign up for GovDelivery notifications so you’ll be among the first to know when class registration materials are ready!