by Gayle Johnson
GAZETTE STAFF
Devon Baete is a passionate ice fishing enthusiast with a wealth of knowledge that he eagerly shares with others. As a board member of the Cypress Wildlife Association, he is dedicated to fostering a love for the outdoors and educating the community about the diverse wildlife that surrounds us.
Recently, we had the unique opportunity to connect with Devon, who balances a busy schedule with his commitment to conservation and education. Our conversation focused on an exciting outing where Devon guided a class from Glenboro School onto the ice of Marshs Lake, located in Spruce Woods Provincial Park, for an afternoon of ice fishing.
The students were thrilled to learn from his expertise and gain hands-on ice fishing experience during this winter activity.
“Back in November 2023, Mr. Watson (a teacher from Glenboro School), asked if I could organize an ice fishing day for his Outdoor Education class,” Devon shared. “The Cypress River Wildlife Association was happy to sponsor supplies for the event, and Marty at the Brandon Home Hardware Building Centre gave us a great deal on minnows and measuring boards.”
The Outdoor Education Day was discussed at the Cypress River Big Buck Night held on January 10, with members Gord Dearsley and Richard Jonsson offering to help. Before the Outdoor Education Class participants arrived at Marshs Lake, Gord and Richard went out and pre-drilled the fishing holes in the thick ice and got everything else set up, making it easier and quicker for the small group arriving to get out on the ice and start fishing.
Devon admitted he was initially concerned about the freezing temperatures. “It was extremely cold for most of January and February, so I was expecting to need to postpone, but we ended up with great weather.”
Devon is the ideal instructor for teaching ice fishing to students, thanks to his extensive knowledge of the sport. He provides insights on a wide range of topics, including ice conditions and the best techniques for catching fish in winter.
For this event, Devon arrived at the school early and was ready to engage the students promptly at 9 a.m. with a dynamic presentation that included fish identification, fishing regulations, and ice safety.
In addition, he covered local citizen science opportunities, which involve observing and reporting different plant and animal species.
Although most plants and animals, such as the very unique prairie skinks and hognose snakes, are only found out and about in the warmer months, there are many citizen science opportunities available all year round.
After the presentations, Devon demonstrated to the students how to make their own ice fishing rigs. “These are made using heavy braided line wrapped around a short willow stick, with a weighted hook tied to the end. They are simple, inexpensive, and easy for the students to remake whenever they need.”
With the morning filled with information, the class then headed out onto the ice to put their newfound knowledge to the test. After taking a few minutes to find the best spot to catch fish, “everyone got baited up with minnows.”
Devon noted that “typically, if fish are caught, it’s shortly after.” He had been out on the ice a few days prior and had caught a fish, but, “unfortunately, there was plenty of ‘fishing’ and no ‘catching’ that day.”
To add to the adventure and provide some warmth, a large pop-up tent with an underwater camera was set up on-site to check out what was happening under the ice.
Although the students weren’t catching fish, they had several other spots available to drop their lines, allowing them to either split up to try new areas or group up together. Ice fishing is more than just about catching fish; it’s also about spending time with friends and having fun. “Even with no fish caught, it was still a great day to get outside, and for several participants, it was their first time ice fishing. That’s what this event is really about – giving students an opportunity to enjoy the outdoors and learn new skills.”
Thank you to dedicated educators like Devon, who share their time, knowledge, and experience, allowing others to learn and discover new pastimes that they can enjoy for a lifetime.
