Western Wisconsin Youth Take to the Water with Union Support
On June 6, the shorelines of La Crosse and Eau Claire saw young anglers, tangled lines, and the patience of union volunteers working to pass on the fishing tradition. The Union Sportsmen’s Alliance (USA) hosted Take Kids Fishing Day events in both cities, providing local families with free gear, lunch, and hands-on instruction.
In La Crosse, 80 anglers gathered at Chad Erickson Memorial Park to learn the ropes from a dozen union volunteers. Despite heavy rain the night before that kept the bite slow, the mood remained high.
“Some of the biggest excitement is from new anglers,” said Bill Brockmiller, treasurer for the Western Wisconsin AFL-CIO. For Brockmiller, the reward wasn’t the size of the catch, but the experience itself. “It’s all part of the learning experience for those kids to get outside. It’s a lot of smiles, and it’s nice to hear from parents who take the time to thank you.”
Roughly 50 miles north at Eau Claire’s Braun’s Bay, the scene had just as much enthusiasm. There, another 80 anglers and their parents received instruction from around ten union volunteers.
Arik Erickson, an IBEW Local 14 membership development specialist who served as the lead volunteer in Eau Claire, emphasized that the goal was removing barriers to entry. “With as many rivers and lakes in this area, you don’t need a $60,000 bass boat,” Erickson said. “A lot of parks have places to fish or docks and shoreline to go fish.”
For families, the events provided more than just a fishing lesson. The USA supplied rods, reels, ensuring that cost was not a factor for any child wanting to participate. In addition, participants were treated to hot dogs and chips for lunch in Eau Claire and pre-made sandwiches in La Crosse. “I had a lot of good feedback from parents who were extremely appreciative,” Erickson said, adding that many of the parents were also fishing for the first time alongside their children.
The effort relied on a diverse cross-section of local labor, with volunteers from the United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers & Allied Workers Local 96, IBEW Local 14, International Association of Machinists (IAM) Locals 21 and 1115, UA Local 434, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Local 13, and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 8047. In addition, there were volunteers from SMART Local 18, LIUNA Local 268, and the OPCMIA Local 599.
For Brockmiller and Erickson, success was measured in the number of squeals from participants reeling in their first bluegill, or in some cases, snapping turtle.
“Sharing the fishing experience with the next generation brought back memories,” Erickson said. “Nobody cared how big or small their fish was. They were just happy catching fish”.
