Gone Fishing

Two summers ago, while fishing on Lake Minnetonka, in Minnesota, Vick Tan caught a five-pound largemouth bass. That’s a big fish. Pulling it out of the water “was an incredible experience,” Vick, now 16, told TIME for Kids. He says fishing helps him “feel a sense of belonging” without “distractions like social-media use or constantly being online.”

Vick’s brother, William, 15, enjoys fishing too. For William, it’s “super relaxing” and a good way to release stress. Studies support that.

These benefits motivated the brothers to start Fish Hut, a group that seeks to boost mental health among young people through 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 in five states since 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.

Giving away boxes of fishing gear is one way the brothers get kids outdoors. Each box, called a “fish hut,” has “everything that a kid needs to go fishing,” Vick says. That includes retractable fishing rods with reels, hooks, bait, and sinkers. Sponsors donate supplies. “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.

Southdale YMCA, in Edina, Minnesota, 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. Thanks to Fish Hut, “you can [fish] for free now,” she says. Plans are in the works to start lending the fish hut to kids and families this spring.

Community Catch

Fish Hut also organizes free fishing festivals. One took place last July on Long Island Sound, in Mamaroneck, New York. “We had a really good turnout,” Kyle Troy says. She’s the director of the town’s Marine Education Center, which cohosted the event for a second time. 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 annual ice fishing event on Lake Minnetonka. To prepare for it, Vick, William, and a team of helpers drill deep holes in the lake’s frozen surface where kids can drop a line. “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 from wind and cold. Volunteers taught newbies how to catch and release fish. The Tan brothers raffled off prizes. It was only about 10°F outside, but more than 200 people bundled up and 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.