ASHFIELD — As a certified angler instructor for MassWildlife, a teacher and former biologist, Alia Woofenden is passionate about connecting children with nature and making fishing more widely accessible.
“My goal is to get as many kids outside, hopefully finding some new hobbies, as possible,” said Woofenden, who is holding a free ice fishing clinic for beginners on Saturday.
The clinic, held in collaboration with the Mohawk Trail Regional School District, where Woofenden is the liaison for community engagement and enrichment programs, will be held at Ashfield Lake from 8 a.m. to noon. Participants will meet at the lake house dock, and equipment will be provided.
As Woofenden explained, ice fishing tends to only be available to those who grew up with someone to teach them about the sport. The goal of Saturday’s clinic is to provide an opportunity for people to learn the skill of ice fishing, especially those who may not have the resources to try it on their own. This will mark Woofenden’s third year teaching the workshop — the first year came after she realized there were no angler instructors west of the Connecticut River, and she wanted to share her expertise with students and families.
Ashfield Lake makes for a good beginner’s ice fishing spot, Woofenden said, because it is home to a wide variety of fish species, has easy parking access and is fairly clean, so it is safe to eat the fish that swim there. The lake is often used for swimming and boating in the warmer months, too.
Topics covered during Saturday’s clinic will include the basics of ice safety, fishing laws and regulations, and what equipment is needed to get started. Bait has been provided by Round Back Bait and Tackle in Williamsburg, and no experience is required.
Woofenden also organizes spring and summer fishing programs, in service of her goal of familiarizing children and families with fishing and other outdoor activities. She works with all five schools in the Mohawk Trail Regional School District, and with students in kindergarten through 12th grade.
“I help integrate our schools into their communities,” Woofenden said.
Anyone interested in registering for the ice fishing clinic can email Woofenden at awoofenden@mtrsd.org.