On Saturday, March 2, BSM science teacher, Mr. John Porisch, invited his ecology students to Seton Bay on Lake Minnetonka to ice fish. This was an optional event for his students to attend. 19 senior boys attended the outing and five of them caught their first fish through the ice. Students caught a mix of bluegills and crappies with a total of around 100 fish caught.

Porisch advocates for getting students off their phones and spending time outside. He saw this opportunity as a great way for students to experience the outdoors and see first-hand what they were learning in class. The ecology class used this event as a final wrap up to their fish unit. “I am always looking for ways that we can get out of the classroom and the traditional way of doing things and it’s always an optional opportunity for kids to get together,” Porisch said. 

Senior Blake Mahmood was one of the students to catch their first fish through the ice. He also caught the most fish at the outing, with 13 total fish––ten bluegills and three crappies. “It was an awesome feeling… catching thirteen fish in two hours was pretty awesome,” Mahmood said. 

Senior John Kalb tries to get out onto the ice at least once a week. He is experienced at ice fishing but still came to the event. He caught seven fish, but he didn’t care as much about how many fish he was catching; he was more interested in guiding the newcomers. “I loved being out on the ice with new people and helping them catch fish,” Kalb said.

Porisch’s main goal for this event is just the experience itself. He hopes students might create a passion for outdoor activities such as ice fishing. Ice fishing is something that can be done no matter what age and is something that Minnesotans will always have access to. “I want [students] to get the experience and to know that if they want to do it someday on their own, it’s not as hard or intimidating as they think it is,” Porisch said.