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Beautiful weather kept the young anglers and instructors busy at Chisago Lakes Middle School during the schools’ annual mini-course program which was designed to add enrichment to the students’ daily routine. The course was conducted October 17, 18 and 19 by Jeff Vitali, a Chisago resident who is a professional angler and substitute teacher in the Chisago Lakes District.

The course has grown steadily since its inception. Vitali has pro-anglers from across the Metro helping out. The course is a mix of classroom and hands-on experience culminating with a trip to a local lake, where students fish from the banks of South Lindstrom Park.

Prizes and tackle are provided by the anglers and their sponsors. The students are challenged to work with each other while learning to cast, bait their hooks, tying knots or learning to cast a fly rod.

This year, the young anglers, were also challenged to design their own lures. The winner of the contest and a new boom box was Kate Johnson. All students received nets provided by Fabill. The nets were filled with plastic baits, provided by Voodoo Baits, Bobbers from Premier Float and Comal Slip Bobber Companies along with hooks provided by by Frankie’s in Chisago City. Frankie’s also donated the minnows for the trip to the lake. Other sponsors were Lund Boats, Evinrude Outboards, Triton Boats, Ranger Boats, Mercury Outboards, Minn-Kota, Triple Fish Fishing Line,Gambler Worms, The Slip Float People and Shimano and Frankie’s Marine.

Muskie, walleye and bass anglers involved in this fall event were Mark Tipler, Travis Pederson, Frank “Buck” Weeda, Rick Johnson and Mark Carlyle. Special Guest was Laura Morrison of Muskies 101, along with the other anglers, provided tips for the students.

The course has gained plenty of notoriety among Vitali’s peers, creating interest from other organizations around the state and nation. The anglers hope to provide their services to other schools and organizations that make requests for such events in the future.

“I could not do this without these people taking time off from their jobs and coming up here to help others,” said Vitali. He also thanks the middle school staff and hopes to continue his course offering at CLMS.

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