4-H Fishing Project

What you'll do

Getting started

Exhibit ideas

Identify 10 Minnesota fish. Describe their habitats and needs
Make a display about the life history of a Minnesota fish
Create a model or video showing the internal and external parts of a fish
Tell about safety practices for fishing and boating
Explain a fisheries management plan. How would you increase or decrease the size of a fish population?
Explain how water quality affects fish ecosystems
Show a variety of fishing knots, how each of them is used and where
Make a display of fishing equipment, such as lures, rods, ice fishing rig, etc and explain what they're for
Explain how at least five types of natural bait are used, captured, cared for and transported
Display different kinds of lures and explain how they use color, flash, sound, smell or action to attract fish
Make a video of how to clean a fish, and cook it properly
What's the nutritional value of eating fish? Show how it's safely store and cooked.
How has the number of fish species changed over the past century? Explain the reasons for the changes
Find out about an invasive aquatic species and how it affects fish populations.
Which fish are most sensitive to water quality? Why?
How has the species of fish in your local lake changed over the past 100 years? Why?

Fair judging

What a judge is looking for (Fishing project evaluation sheet)

Some counties require record keeping for fairs.

You could study fish conservation and fisheries management at the University of Minnesota.

You could work in commercial fishing. Marine biologists study living fish.

Reviewed in 2018