July 21, 2004
First Cast nets young anglers
Children's museum offers six-week course on fly fishing basics
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
Calling all future fly fishing enthusiasts: the Great Lakes Children's Museum is looking for you.
For the second year, the museum is offering Fly Fishing for Beginners to introduce children ages 7-12 to the basics of the sport. The six-week course will be held on consecutive Wednesdays, beginning July 21, from 4:30-6 p.m. The local Adams chapter of Trout Unlimited is sponsoring the course; Tim Smith will be the lead instructor.
Mastering the art of casting is just one part of the course's integrated curriculum.
"It's a six-week course that covers biology and lifecycle of insects, fly tying and river etiquette, plus they will do some casting here on our front lawn," said John Noonan, executive director of the Great Lakes Children's Museum. "Ultimately there's a culminating fishing trip where they go to the Boardman River and do some fishing. Last year they wrapped up at the Trout Unlimited's annual fishing BBQ."
Adrienne Bruder, 12, was snared by the sport last year after completing the course. She enjoyed all aspects of the instruction and, although she did not catch anything during the class's river foray, Bruder went on to continue fishing.
"Being on the river was kind of like putting together everything that we learned," said Bruder, who will be a seventh-grade student at East Junior High School this fall. "You mostly need patience but it did take hand-eye coordination to actually throw the line and get it in the right place. The instructors were very good at teaching us."
At the national level, Trout Unlimited developed a curriculum to teach students and encourage them to pursue the sport. Local chapters, such as the Adams chapter, take the initiative to offer it locally and inspire a new generation of fly fishers.
Attorney Tim Smith, a local fly fishing enthusiast, is also a member of Trout Unlimited and board member of the Great Lakes Children's Museum. He spearheaded the program locally by reviewing the curriculum and then enrolling the local Trout Unlimited chapter in purchasing it.
"It just seemed like a great fit with the museum because we are an interactive, hands-on and water-based museum," Smith said. "The name of the curriculum is First Cast and the response was great from the kids and their parents."
"It's a great program and the kids seem to have a lot of fun," he added.
Smith also helped round up equipment for students to use in the course, such as waders and fishing rods and reels.
"LL Bean has developed a kid-sized rod and reel and our chapter of Trout Unlimited purchased three sets of them at a discount," Smith said. "Also we get an assist from area fly shops, such as Orvis Streamside Shop, The Troutsman and Northern Angler Flyfishing Outfitters."
Fly Fishing for Beginners starts Wednesday, July 21, and runs for the six consecutive Wednesdays through August 25. Classes are for students ages 7-12 and run from 4:30-6 p.m. Cost is $60 per student, $54 for museum members. For more information on the Fly Fishing for Beginners class or to register, call the Great Lakes Children's Museum at 932-4526.