Brainerd Lakes Chapter Let

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Brainerd Lakes ChapterLets Go Fishing
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Lets Go Fishing with Seniors

• Let's Go Fishing was created to enrich the lives
  of people age 55 and older through free fishing
  and boating excursions that strengthen
  communities, build relationships and create
  memories.

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Mission

• We are dedicated to enriching the lives of
  individuals 55 and older through free fishing and
  boating activities that build relationships,
  strengthen communities and create memories.

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Vision

• To develop a network of chapters and volunteers
  working together to serve senior citizens
  throughout Minnesota, the region and ultimately
  the entire country.

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Philosophy 

• "Giving back to those that have given so much.

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Goals of the training

• To insure the safety and enjoyment of all guests
  and LGF volunteers.
• To prevent personal injury and property damage.
• To insure consistent and safe operation of all
  LGF watercraft.
• Help maintain lower program insurance costs.

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Contacts

• Trip Scheduling Coordinator , John Carroll
• for clients contact scheduling trips, trip
  arrangements, etc.
• 218-454-FISH (3474), press 2
• email schedule_at_lgfwsbrainerdarea.com
• Volunteer Scheduling Coordinator, Steve Esser
• for Captains and Co-captains
• 218-454-FISH (3474), press 3
• email volunteer_at_lgfwsbrainerdarea.com

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Lets Go Fishing

• ALL riders must wear a PDF.
• Absolutely NO alcohol, smoking or illegal drugs
  on the boat.
• NO alcohol for the captain or first mate 10 hours
  before the trip.
• Guest must remain seated while underway.
• Operators must have a valid drivers license.
• Operators must be a minimum of 18 years old.

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General Guidelines

• Operate Mon Fri
• Morning and afternoon trips
• Tuesday evening trips
• Excursions (boating only) will be scheduled
  afternoons with shorter duration.
• Fishing and cruising lakes will be Gull, Bay and
  Rice lakes with pontoon docked at specific sites
  for extended periods.
• LGF Chapter Board members will move boat between
  lakes.

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2011 Schedule

• Gull Lake
• May 23-July 15 Gull Lake Marina/Craguns
• Bay Lake
• July 19-Aug 4 Bay Lake Marina/Public Access
• Rice Lake
• Aug 8-Sept 1 Avelsgaards Dock/Lum Park Fishing
  Pier
• Gull Lake
• Sept 7-23 Craguns

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Times

• Monday Thursday
• 930-1200
• 100-330
• Friday Morning
• 930-1200
• Tuesday Evenings June 7-Aug-23
• Senior Sport Fishing
• 530-800

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Booking Process

• Attend LGF Senior Provider training April
  book dates at the training, or
• Attend LGF Day April book trips, or
• Contact,
• Trip Scheduling Coordinator for clients
  scheduling trips, trip arrangements, etc.
• 218-454-FISH (3474), press 2
• email schedule_at_lgfwsbrainerdarea.com

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Booking Process

• Trips will be scheduled during our normal
  business hours,
• Monday - Friday from 900  - 500.

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General Guideline

• Trips are for groups or individuals 55 and/or
  veterans.
• Intergenerational program with children may be
  scheduled later in season or 2011.
• Maximum 10 guests plus Captain and First Mate and
  2 staff from care centers (if applicable ). A
  maximum of 14.

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General Guidelines

• Generally 6 guests minimum to schedule trip.
• Up to 3 wheelchairs on board, none motorized.
• All trips will be pre-scheduled to comply with
  insurance regulations. Impromptu trips not
  allowed.
• Donations always welcome.

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Duties of CAPTAIN FIRST MATE
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First Priority

• Safety and comfort of our guests'.

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Before the trip

• 2-3 days before the trip the captain contacts
  guests to confirm
• date,
• place and time and if there will be any
  wheelchairs
• explain the cancelation procedures
• exchange cell phone numbers provided by
  Volunteer Scheduling Coordinator

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Before the trip

• 1-2 days before the trip the Captain and first
  mate check in with each other to determine who
  will
• pick up ice,
• pick up bait, if needed ,
• confirm outing location, time, and where pontoon
  is located, and
• bring the camera.

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Weather

• Safety and comfort come first
• Check the forecast
• http//www.weather.gov/
• Sheriffs Office 218-829-4749
• Contact your clients to discuss if cancellation
  and rescheduling will be needed.
• The Captain has the final word

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For the comfort of the guests

• Dress appropriately for conditions
• Apply sunscreen in advance of trip
• There is a first aid kit on the pontoon
• Use restroom before trip
• LGF supplies water

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Finding the fish

• Check with immediate past captain to see where
  they caught fish.
• Check marked locations on the GPS.
• Use marks on the maps.
• Pray.
• Hire a guide.

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Before the guests arrive.

• Arrive at designated lake 45-60 minutes before
  guests. Guests often arrive early.
• Most often the canopy is up. If it is not - it
  takes at least 2 people to put up the canopy.
• Raising the canopy can take 20 minutes or more.

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Before the guests arrive

• Pick up bait and ice (if needed).
• Check the gas gauge, should be over ½.
• Arrange pontoon on dock for boarding.
• Start motor to make sure it runs properly.
• Take out seats for wheelchairs if needed. 3
  wheelchairs max. No motorized wheelchairs on
  pontoon.

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Before the guests arrive

• Check the White/Day box
• Duties of Captain list
• Instruction and report forms
• Comment envelopes
• First aid kit if you use any items contact the
  Volunteer coordinator 218.222.2222
• Check supplies water, first aid kit, zip lock
  bags, sun screen, landing net, etc.
• Set out life jackets on shore.
• Check and organize rods, reels, bait, etc.

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As guests arrive

• Greet guests (make them feel welcome) and help
  put on Life Vests BEFORE ANYONE STEPS ON THE
  DOCK!!!
• EVERYONE, including Volunteers and Staff, MUST
  WEAR A LIFE VEST!
• Vests are color coded for size
• Yellow
• Blue
• Green
• Red

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As guests arrive

• Escort and assist guests to pontoon.
• Suggest that guests use the restroom before
  boarding.
• Board wheel chairs last.
• Place in middle 1/3 of pontoon
• Back wheelchairs onto pontoon
• Secure wheelchairs.

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As guests arrive

• Guest Boarding Pass - Release of Liability and
  Photo Approval (BLA02)
• Groups should have form filled out by health
  center representative prior to arrival. If
  not, it needs to be completed on board. Trips
  with individuals scheduled will have to fill out
  on boat. Extra copies are available in white
  box.

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As guests arrive

• Authorization for Residents of State
  Institutions to Fish in Minnesota (BLA03-also
  called License Waiver Form)
• Fishing licenses are required for those under 90
  unless they are full time residents of a health
  facility (or other exceptions) with waiver forms
  completed. Groups should have this form filled
  out by health center representative prior to
  arrival .

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As the trip begins

• Welcome guests to their Lets Go Fishing Trip.
• Introduce crew and explain the schedule.
• Have clients fill out name tags, if desired

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The trip begins

• Be sure everyone is seated with life jackets on.
• Untie mooring lines, and
• Enjoy the trip.

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During the trip

• In case of injury
• Call 911 if injury is serious
• Use first aid kit let Equipment Coordinator now
  if your used supplies

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During the trip Injury Report

• Date and time of incident.
• Name and telephone of injured person.
• Detailed description of accident/injury -
  photograph.
• Name and address where person was treated.
• Any watercraft accident involving either person
  or property damage over 2,000 must be reported
  to the sheriff.

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Fishing

• LGF provides all rods, reels, lures and bait for
  the trip.
• Captain and first mate assist guests with
  fishing.
• Care center staffs primary responsibility is the
  residents safety and comfort. If possible,
  assist crew with fishing.

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Fishing

• Determine where you are going to fish.
• The pontoon is a big boat that catches the
  wind.
• Face the bow into the wind
• Drop anchors.
• Prep rods for each guest.
• Take lots of pictures.

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Fishing

• We prefer practicing Catch and Release, but also
  know the guests catches can be very special.
• If guest wants to keep fish, they must provide
  cooler or container. However, we have extra bags
  in Captains chair. We do not clean fish.

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Fishing

• Serve water during the outing as needed, but best
  served last hour.
• Have fun.
• When done fishing put rods carefully back in rack
  or in safe place.

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After the trip

• Position pontoon for de-boarding.
• Secure pontoon to dock.
• Crew hands out Thank You envelope as guests
  are leaving

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After the Trip

• Escort and assist guests from the pontoon to
  shore with life vest on.
• Wheels chairs debark first.
• Take off life vests once on shore.
• Store in proper places. If wet, secure on backs
  of seats.

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After the trip

• Make sure the red power switch is turned off.
• Gather trash, wipe up spills, check and wipe off
  fishing equipment and return to rack. Make sure
  that the equipment is ready to go for the next
  crew.
• Check supplies and let the next Captain scheduled
  know if anything needed. Names will be provided
  prior to trip from Steve Esser 820-7514.

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After the trip

• Check over boat using common sense to see if
  secure, bumpers properly attached to protect,
  everything in place left as good as or better
  than when you arrived.
• Treat as if your own valuable boat.

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After the trip

• Generally leave canopies up if boat remains
  harbored. Exception would be forecast of bad
  weather.
• Submit photos (email if possible), to
• webmaster_at_lgfwsbrainerdarea.com
• Specify name of group, date, and time of trip.

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After the Trip

• Fill out and return to White Box - Accurate
  reporting is important to the Chapter
• Release of Liability and Approval form,
• Guest Boarding Pass (waiver form) if Care Center,
  
• Trip Report, and
• any donations received
• Submit all reasonable expenses in timely fashion
  along with reports. Any expense over 25 (other
  than gas) needs to be pre-approved.