As I was fishing at my favorite local lake last week I had the company of a group of high school kids on a fishing field trip. Some of these youngsters were spin fishing and some were fly fishing. Being the kind of person I am I just couldn’t resist talking to their teacher about how the kids were doing. Turns out that the teacher herself just started fly fishing last fall and she took an interest in the contents of my fly box. I am by no means a master tyer. To me, my tying leaves a lot to be desired but my flies do catch fish most of the time. Well, the teacher asked me if I would be willing to volunteer to teach a class to her twenty fly fishers on what I know about fly fishing and tying. How could I say no? I said yes! I told her to have her kids visit this web site and use it’s wonderful data base on our sport. I told her that it’s a kid safe site and that all of you folks on the board would gladly help answer any questions from her and her students. I also told her about the great sponsors of this board.
I want to be able to do this right for these youngsters so I am asking you all for your advice on teaching these kids. For instance: What kind of patterns do you think are easy for the begginer to learn to ty? Please feel free to post any advice that I can pass on about our sport and the best way to teach these young fly fishers. I’m going to need all of the help I can get with this and I am very thankful to have you folks to give me your advice.
I just want to say I think what you are doing is GREAT. I wish more people would take time to help our kids. Better kids mean safer streets and less crowded jails in the future.
Every day that I wake up and everything still works. Is a good day.
Eric… nothing quite like the feeling of teaching the youth. I’m fortunate enough to be helping with a group of kids here in Arkansas. The group was started by a member of this forum that has since passed on. It is a definite pleasure for me to be involved with the youth. I wasn’t there from the start, but I do know what they have been tying lately. We have done San Juan worms, sow bugs, woolies, soft hackles and a few egg and Y2K patterns as well as some local Arkansas patterns. The club meets every Thursday in the high school band room… the director is the faculty advisor. The kids made their own rules, elected officers and there is a GPA that must be maintained to remain in the club. Then, every other Saturday the kids get taken to some local water that is catch and release for 16 and under. The topper was the weekend of the Sow Bug Roundup. Everyone that I had the chance to talk to commented on how well behaved and polite and respectful the youth were. I truly hope you get half the enjoyment and fulfillment from the youth you are working with that I have gotten. Even at half, yuo’ll feel like you are walking on air… I know that’s how I feel.
Mike
Eric… as far as that goes, I’d burn off a copy of the beginning tying and fishing section from FAOL and use that as a good reference.
Mike
There is no greater fan of flyfishing than the worm.
Patrick McManus
[This message has been edited by maddog48 (edited 28 March 2005).]
wow, i wish my highschool offered a program like that. I would do anything to start a program like that. The bad thing is we have a very small population, only 400 with the middle and high school mixed (and only one serious flyfisher). The kids at that school should consider themselves very lucky. good to hear people like you are helping out people my age.
-Zac
The way to a flyfisherman’s heart is through his fly
Eric,
Good for you buddy! Of course, knowing you, I’m not surprised that you’re getting involved. You’ll do great & you’ll also be a super role model for those kids.
Mike
Nighthawk
I posted a thread asking for advice on holding a Flyfishing/picnic outing for a group of students. Kathy Scott came in with some very good advice so I hopes she comes in on yours.
Here’s some of the Advice
Remove the barbs.
Be supportive/positive.
Be very careful how you touch the kids.
Kathy had some good guidelines for this.
If you have a contest have prizes for all.
Take lots of photos.
And, most important. Have Fun!!
Thanks for the advice. I was also thinking about buying Honey Bug kits from E. Hille Angler’s Supply House. I was up there the other day and bought one for myself to see what they are like. A real easy fly to ty and good for trout, bass and panfish.
Jack, that’s great advice about how to conduct myself around the kids. It’s kind of sad that gone are the days when a teacher could put their arm around the shoulders of a troubled youth to show support and not fear a lawsuit. I had a couple of teachers that were like that and I am so thankful for the kindness they showed a troubled teenager (me). We will take lots of pictures and perhaps use the video camera as well. Burning a copy of the beginners sections of FAOL is a great idea so long as LadyFisher and J.C. don’t object to it. I don’t want to do anything to offend them. I knew I could count on all of you for good advice and I am very greatful to you for it. If there is anything else anyone can think of please post it or feel free to email me.
Eric,
I just started ff’ing last year. A couple of buddies and I went to a seminar one weekend that was held at a local high-school. We reluctantly, because of nerves, sat down at a short introduction(one fly) to fly tying. After that quick 5-10 min. I was hooked on tying(I didn’t even have a rod yet!).The instructors showed us how to tie a green weenie. It is a simple tie using lead wire substitute, chartruese chenille and white thread. It can also be tied w/ a bead head. The 1st trip to the local stream I landed a few browns on it, and that was iceing on the cake. I commend you for taking on this task, keep it simple and fun will be had by all.
THE GREEN WEEENIE should work for your area, it looks like a chubby inch worm.
Sorry it takes me so long to respond. I work Thursday-Sunday and some o.t. days. Have to get up at 3a.m. and don’t get home until 5:30-6:00p.m. Makes for a long day. I had computer problems this week cause I did some work on the machine without backing up my system first. Take my advice, always back up your system first. Fortunately windows xp saved my bacon!
Nighthawk, you may indeed burn copies for your students - we do allow the material to be used for teaching purposes, or by clubs, FFF or TU chapters just as long as they are not charging for the information. Do it with our blessing - hurrah for you and the kids!
I hope Eric doesn’t mind!, I just found the first Volunteer Post I could find!
Volunteering has enriched my Life and I wanted to share this Link I found in my MSN News!
Kids are great to teach. They’re like sponges for information, and catch on faster than adults. Just remember to preface everything with “this is easy” and they won’t know the difference. Tomorrow five of us from our local FFF Club (North Coast Fly Fishers http://www.ncff.net) will be teaching several modules of the Fly Fishing Merit Badge for two scout troops in out area. You should see the stuff i have in my truck!
See if you have a local TU club in your area that might loan you their fly tying kits. Our club has 20 complete kits and 7 teaching rods for our various outreach programs. BTW, when we teach Women in the Outdoors classes, the first fly we tie is the Green Weenie, and most of the ladies will catch SOMETHING on it. Can’t go wrong with the classic wooly worm as well. Quick tie and very effective. Tie it size 8-12 in brown and olive, both with red yarn tail. Foam spiders and beetles are also easy ties that catch lots of fish.
Check your local fly shop to see if they will give you a discount for teaching materials. Many will do that. TU & the Ohio Council of FFF may also offer some assistance as well if you have an ongoing program for kids.
Good luck and have fun. Let us know if you need any support.
Joe,
Don’t get MAD at me, but this is Eric’s Post from March! I just attached a Volunteer Link onto it.
Forgive me, I just wanted to have a post/ example.
Doug
