Minnesota Volunteers Hook the Next Generation on Ice Fishing

Despite subzero temperatures and strong winds sweeping across the ice of Mille Lacs Lake, union volunteers led by Dave Morin spent Saturday morning helping 58 kids experience the excitement of ice fishing.

On February 28, International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC) Local 9 hosted the annual Union Sportsmen’s Alliance Minneapolis Area Take Kids Ice Fishing Day near Nitti’s Hunters Point Resort, bringing young anglers and their families from across the region—and even California—to chase jumbo perch and walleye on Mille Lacs Lake.

“The weather dictates the turnout,” said Morin, an IUEC Local 9 member who has organized the event for the past seven years. “And when a mom drives 40 miles with three boys, we’re going to get them on some fish. I’ve seen days with 50-mph winds and six inches of snow where people want to cancel. But we’re from Minnesota—we deal with it.”

The event’s reach even extended to the West Coast. Gino Pertelli, a member of IUEC Local 18 in Los Angeles, who runs ocean charters for 200-pound bluefin tuna, traded the Pacific Ocean for lake ice to support Morin and his brothers from Local 9.

“I’d never seen ice like that before,” Pertelli said. He brought his 10-year-old daughter, who spent the trip “hooking fish left and right.”

“And we thought we were going to stay at his house,” Pertelli added. “He said, ‘No, we’re staying on the lake.’ The craziest part is when the ice cracks—it sounds like thunder. It was one of the coolest things I’ve ever done.”

The success of the event was fueled, in part, by a sprawling union brotherhood network that Morin began tapping as early as August. Financial support poured in from across the continent, including IUEC Local 33 (Des Moines), Local 5 (Philadelphia), Local 74 (Tampa), Local 16 (New Orleans), Local 19 (Seattle), Local 10 (Washington D.C.), Local 93 (Ottawa), Local 23 (Portland), Local 36 (Detroit), Local 31 (Houston), Local 124 (Mobile), and Local 139 (Orlando), as well as the IUEC International office. Donations ranged from $250 to $1,000.

“We’re all a big brotherhood, and when we have an event that needs a sponsor, we all donate,” Morin said. Those donations funded 20 portable heaters, 20 pop-up huts, and nine permanent “skid” houses to keep families out of the cold. The funds also provided $4,000 in prizes, ensuring every young angler walked away with gear like fish finders, underwater cameras, and tackle boxes. One lucky participant even headed home with a 55-inch TV.

The USA provided free fishing rods and reels to youths, and more than a dozen union volunteers from Local 9, along with several carpenters, spent the morning drilling holes, rigging lines, and making sure everyone was warm enough.

The kids found plenty of action beneath the ice, pulling up jumbo perch and walleye. One young angler landed a 12-inch perch, and her father planned to have it mounted.

Local support was just as critical. Nitti’s Hunters Point Resort pitched in with discounts on gear and dished out free ice cream with plenty of toppings for every kid.

“I gave a kid an auger, he gave me a hug, and he was so excited,” Morin said. “I was super happy that the kids caught fish. I’ve been there when they didn’t catch fish, and this is way better. They really get into it. They’re watching that bobber from nine to noon.”

The event is part of the USA’s Work Boots on the Ground program, a national initiative where union members volunteer their time and trade skills to mentor the next generation of outdoorsmen and women.

“I’m incredibly thankful for our volunteers,” said USA Conservation Coordinator Maggie Sager. “Their dedication and heart truly bring USA’s mission to life, showing up, no matter the weather, to make sure the next generation has the chance to experience the outdoors.”