Front left to Right- Hunter Quist, Atlantic, Colton Anderson, Atlantic, Grant Petty, Atlantic, Brentyn Hoover, Anita, Aiden Krueger, Carson, Colton Krueger, Carson, Letty McSorely, Carson Back Row: Colin Rudy, Atlantic, Colton Rudy, Atlantic, Drey Newell, Atlantic, Cooper Jipsen, Atlantic, Owen Hoover, Anita, Joaquin Wailes, Wiota, Joey Oathoudt, Corning, Mason McCready Macedonia, Caden Forristall, Carson, Jake Oathoudt, Corning, Jake Wailes, Wiota, Holden DeVore, Atlantic.

On Sunday, February 7th the Southwest Iowa Fishing Team casted off their aggressive 2021 conservation project to help to restore and replenish precious deteriorating fish habitat across Southwest Iowa lakes and ponds. Preserving habitats is essential to preserving biodiversity. Like all animals, fish need a healthy living space or habitat, to survive, grow, and reproduce. The quality and quantity of fish habitat in a water body directly affects fish populations and the quality of fishing for anglers.

Structures

The SWIFT goal is to produce 200 different types of artificial fish habitat structures to address the needs of aquatic life in the lakes. Twenty student anglers almost reached the halfway point of their goal by producing 90 fish structures. The team went through an amazing 5000’ of plastic tubing, which was almost a mile which was used to mimic branches of a tree. All the materials used to build are recyclable which keeps the waste out of the landfill and are not harmful to the fish but provide excellent substrate, nesting, spawning habitat, feeding locations, shelter for young fish and attract fish to make for better fishing.

Bryan Hayes from the Iowa DNR also attended the event and spoke to the students about the importance of conservation and the impact of building good fish habitat structures will have on the lake’s aquatic life and for their community. He applauded the students on their commitment to conservation and was impressed with the types of fish habitat structures they were producing. Every structure will help grow the sport of fishing and provide biodiversity in the lakes and ponds in the area. He also informed the students about the duties of the DNR and offered to the students if they wanted to know more about the DNR to consider job shadowing them for a day.

The Southwest Iowa Fishing Team was formed to provide a safe and competitive activity for the students.. The current 26-member team consists of boys and girls from Southwest Iowa surrounding communities who will compete in amateur youth fishing tournaments throughout the year-long season. With the opportunity to win Iowa State and National Championships with the Student Angler Federation and the Bass Federation. The primary initiative is to instill the ideals of good sportsmanship, education, conservation, and fish care through instruction, seminars, and training during all outdoor youth activities. Sixty percent of the students who participate on fishing teams are not involved with traditional high school sports. This extends more opportunity for students to be involved in school-like activity, and the potential to earn scholarships to advance their education.

If you are interested in hearing more information about the team or to sign up. Email swifishingteam@gmail.com or visit https://www.facebook.com/swifishingteam