Youth Program

The Eden Prairie Chapter of Let’s Go Fishing (LGF) provides a Youth Program that provides fishing trips on Lake Riley.

Let’s Go Fishing Eden Prairie Youth Program Expansion is supported through a grant from the Eden Prairie Community Foundation.

The program targets area youth who would love to experience the sport of fishing, but don’t have the access or the means to give it a try. Trips are now available for individuals, families, youth groups, camps and other youth-related organizations. LGF continues to provide excursions for older adults, and veterans as well. All excursions are led by trained volunteers.

Free two-hour fishing trips are available on an accessible pontoon boat from 6:00–8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings throughout the summer. In addition, LGF offers a 90-minute “Introduction to Fishing” seminar for any group that is interested. This seminar covers fish types, habitat, how to read a lake map, knots and other fun fishing facts, all tied in with a corresponding life lesson.

The youth program is designed to get children interested in fishing and give them the opportunity to experience getting out on the water to give it a try. “We are so excited to be building this program for the youth of the communities in our area to introduce fishing and boating to children that wouldn’t have the chance any other way,” said Joe Oprosko, LGF Youth Program Director. “We see it as a great way to bring some of the great Minnesota outdoors into their lives, and a fun way to get them outside enjoying what the state is famous for, its lakes.”

LGF provides the boat, the captain, and the mate to help with baiting and handling the fish, plus all the necessary equipment and supplies to make it a successful trip. Additionally, each child receives a certificate at the end of their first trip (if they successfully baited their own hook) for a free fishing rod to keep when they come on their second trip with LGF. After their second trip, they will receive a certificate for a free tackle box loaded with tackle, and if on that second trip they successfully removed a fish from the hook and released the fish back into the lake, they can redeem this certificate on their third trip.

All you need to bring with you are any snacks you may want and a Minnesota fishing license for anyone over the age of 16 who will want to fish. Ice cold bottled water is available on the boat.

Sign up for trips here…. SCHEDULE ONLINE

For more information, to donate, or just to learn more about the Youth Program, call Joe Oprosko at 612-968-5028 or email him at joeop@lgfws.com. Those who would like to become an LGF volunteer or schedule an excursion may do so online at www.edenprairie.lgfws.com or by calling 612-743-9989.