Gone Fishing

Two summers ago, Vick Tan caught a five-pound largemouth bass. That’s a big fish. It “was an incredible experience,” Vick, now 16, told TIME for Kids. He says fishing helps him “feel a sense of belonging” without “constantly being online.”

Vick’s brother, William, 15, enjoys fishing too. For William, it feels “super relaxing” and a way to release stress. Studies support this. These benefits inspired the brothers to start a group called Fish Hut. They hope to boost mental health among young people with fishing.

REEL IT IN In 2023, Vick (left) and William show off a catch from Minnesota’s Lake Minnetonka.

Gearing Up

Vick and William say Fish Hut has served thousands of young people since it started, in 2023. The group operates mainly in Minnesota, where the boys live. It’s also active in Alaska, Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York.

GOOD TEAM Vick (left) and William go ice fishing in Lake Minnetonka in winter 2024.

The brothers give away boxes of fishing gear. These are called “fish huts.” They have “everything that a kid needs to go fishing,” Vick says. That includes donated fishing rods, hooks, and bait. “We place [the boxes] wherever we think people would be able to use them best,” such as community centers and parks, Vick says.

FREE TACKLE This box, called a “fish hut,” contains everything needed for a relaxing day of fishing.

The Southdale YMCA is located in Edina, Minnesota. It recently got its first fish hut. “Fishing is just such a great way to go outside and just take a breath from everything that’s going on in the world,” Abby Pfeifer says. She helps run Southdale’s youth wellness program. Families may be able to use Southdale’s hut this spring.

Community Catch

Fish Hut also organizes free fishing festivals. There was one last July in Mamaroneck, New York. “We had a really good turnout,” Kyle Troy says. She’s the director of the town’s Marine Education Center. The center cohosted the event. Kids love it, she says. Out on the water, “they make friends; they start talking; they’re not on their phone.”

In the winter, Fish Hut hosts an ice fishing event on Lake Minnetonka. To prepare, Vick, William, and their helpers drill fishing holes in the frozen lake. “It’s definitely a lot of work. But just seeing the result is well worth it,” William says. Last year, “I remember this 9-year-old girl, her first time ever going fishing, managed to catch this big pike, straight out of the water. It was huge!”

WINTRY FUN Vick (left) oversees a Lake Minnetonka ice fishing event in 2025.

This year’s ice fishing festival was on February 22. Heated tents on the ice provided shelter. Volunteers taught newbies how to catch and release fish. The Tan brothers raffled off prizes. It was cold outside. But more than 200 people joined the fun. At every Fish Hut event, Vick says, “we try to create an experience that they’ll never forget.”

CATCH OF THE DAY A young fisherman shows off a freshly caught pike at a Lake Minnetonka ice fishing event on February 22.

Inspired?

Let Vick and William’s story inspire you to make a positive difference in your community. Click below for ideas on promoting wellness.