www.gemfishing.org

GEM Club meetings are open to all youth. A combined club meeting and fishing outing are currently held one Sat. or weekend per month. Meetings/outings consist of fishing, fishing instruction, Bible study/devotions, food, and fun.

For pictures of 2008-09 Activities, visit “current camp/club pictures/ info page.  This is an external blog site maintained by GEM Club leader, Mike Thompson.

2007

January-February: Rush Lake offered up lots of crappies for the January Martin Luther King Day outing and for the February President's Holiday weekend. Crappies were found in 30 feet of water and bit on jigs with and without live bait. Danny, pictured right with two of his numerous crappies (he kept only his limit) was the crappie champ. And it was his first time ice fishing!

GEM club members and leaders stayed at Lindisfarne retreat center near Pine City for President's weekend. A fish fry brunch followed Sunday morning's inspiring chapel.

March: The GEM outing for March was at a pretty spot near Wabasha. The crappies bit well in the late afternoon with plenty of slabs to go around. Thanks to GEM leader Jack Halvorson for showing us this spot. A great day on the ice.

April: The April outing was our traditional Rush Lake outing, but crappies werenít behaving in traditional patterns. They had moved from the back bays out into the main bays. We finally found them.

May: Rather than take a group of GEM kids out on the opener, GEM leaders chose to guide a group from Teen Challenge at Camp Lebanon. Weíve never met a more cordial, appreciative group than the bunch from Teen Challenge. Hopefully we can interact with them at future GEM events.

GEM activities for the summer consisted mainly of camps but GEM leaders helped out with Fishing for Life/ Fish-a-thon activities on several Saturdays.

Sept through Dec fall outings had a different look. The outing dates were switched from Saturdays to Sundays. Following a worship service and a meal, GEM clubbers headed for the river: twice near lock and dam #1 in St. Paul and once in Red Wing. The weather wasnít ideal on those occasions, but we caught fish.

For information on winter ice fishing outings, call Mike at 612-877-2620 or Dave at 952-201-6849 for information about upcoming outings.