Fishing Class

[mattrd]

Hey guys, looking for some suggestions on topics or ideas for a class that I teach. The high school where I teach down here in IA has what they call May-Term where the whole month of May is some core classes, but also some lifetime classes as well. I teach a class called Outdoor Recreation (have for a few years) and it's a 90minute class. We spend most of our time fishing with a couple days of canoeing in there as well. We are fortunate to have a river in town with lots of smallmouth, northerns, catfish, and the occasional walleye as well. We have a program through the DNR down here called Fish Iowa! and it's a basic coverage of fishing. It's a great program and wonderful for these beginners. Just wanted to get some of your thoughts on some things that should really be emphasized to my class. We go over all the rules/regs, ethics, safety, basic equipment, and different species of fish. I think this year I am going to bring in my boat and go over some boat safety with them as well. Just wanted to see if you guys have some input or ideas on things that would be good to cover. Thanks guys!

[Stick in Mud]

Knot tying might be useful....both for fishing knots and general all-purpose ones.

It might be fun to get them out practicing various canoe strokes--J-stroke, pitch, and the pry, scull, and draw. Maybe you cover this already in your canoeing section.

You could also teach them the art of argumentation and rhetorical "flourish" (and fallacy) by showing them around Sillytown for a while.

[IcePro]

Teach them....

-You do not need a $30,000 boat to catch fish

-You do not need high end equipment to enjoy the sport

-You do not need to have sunglasses and shoes to match your boat

-You do not need a fancy looking tournament shirt to catch fish, the Wantabee syndrome

-Fishing is more than catching fish, enjoy the moment while you are fishing

-Proper photography of fish, best way to hold the fish. (you do not want them to be accused of photo shopping the picture )

-Respect the lake, the fish and others on the lake

-Just because you caught fish on a spot does not mean it is your spot and other are allowed to fish it if they are there first.

-Weed identification

-Do a field trip to the local river/lake and do a river/lake cleanup

[EBass]

Teach them how to remove an embedded hook.

[joe55398]

Come on Ice Pro every one knows you need at least 50k in equipment in order to catch a fish. I agree 100% that just being out on the water is as good as catching lots of fish.

You could show students how to use a casting reel, or fly fishing. Also being able to talk lots of trash to your fishing partner if your catching more fish than they are is the most important skill.

[walleyeking19]

How to get a hook out of someone's hand if they get hooked. Basic first aid if something happens out there

[mainbutter]

- Safety

- Conservation

- Fun

Short but sweet list with unlimited possibilities.

[amateurfishing]

diff't types of rods n reels and what they are designed for? baitcast, spincast, etc

[Stick in Mud]

-You do not need to have sunglasses and shoes to match your boat

Hold on a second...people do this?!?

[Old Dewjabber]

-You do not need a $30,000 boat to catch fish

-You do not need high end equipment to enjoy the sport

-You do not need to have sunglasses and shoes to match your boat

-You do not need a fancy looking tournament shirt to catch fish, the Wantabee syndrome

Gaul darn it! Now you tell me!

Well glad you stopped me before the glasses,shoes, and shirt.

[delmuts]

You may already be doing this, but paying attention to things around you.

When the kids were little i carried a couple small books about the different snakes, birds,animals and different types of weeds or grasses you find in and around water.

[CANOPY SAM]

FM. A guy asks an honest question and gets a slough of sarcastic answers. Nice.

An important, and often over-looked component of "outdoor training" is the weather; what to look for, what to look out for, and how does it affect fishing and hunting.

You could easily fill a class time with discussion about weather. Barometric pressure is a defining factor in fishing success, and where to "find" fish, and what to expect with fish behavior when under a low pressure, or high pressure system.

Learning to read the weather, knowing when it's safe to go out on the lake, or the field, or when it's best, and safest to run for cover.

You could also spend a significant amount of time discussing fish locations as they change with the seasons. Again, changing temps, changing life cycles, changing patterns with progressive seasonal change.

Another topic, River Fishing vs. Lake Fishing. Learning to "read" the water, Lake contour maps, break-lines, flats, current eddies, riffle-hole-run, etc., etc.

Once they've learned the fundamentals of how to catch a fish the next step is one of the toughest, how to find a fish. I could talk about how to find fish for days.

Great topic! Good for you for teaching new people about our sport!

[walleyeking19]

Canopy Sam, I dont think that any of them were really that sarcastic. Some of the ideas weren't actual skills you use for fishing like reading a river or contour lines, but instead they were values and false ideas that many kids believe when it comes to fishing....such as needing a $30,000 boat.

[CANOPY SAM]

Yea, I suppose. Just sounded a little sarcastic to me. Not that I disagree with many of the suggestions. There's definitely something to be said about using simple, inexpensive equipment, and fundamental techniques to catch fish. But to have really good quality, expensive gear doesn't mean a guy should be ridiculed just for having it. Know what I mean?

[FisH_SLaYer24]

I teach a class called Outdoor Recreation (have for a few years) and it's a 90minute class. We spend most of our time fishing with a couple days of canoeing in there as well.

I wish I could have taken a class like that!

[Coach1310]

Just a couple of thoughts...

*Teach them how to take care of their gear. We live in a disposable society where folks just abuse stuff and toss it. Teaching them how to take care of their outdoor gear is a lifelong lesson that will help their personal finance skills!

*A conservation on how things in nature are connected. A shortage of this leads to a lack of this for this animal/fish/etc.

*How to create good outdoor habits... like wearing a life jacket as soon as you get to the landing to unload your boat..... or etiquette to use at a crowded landing.... etc.

[IcePro]

walleyeking19.....

Thank you for setting the hook on my point.

Remember:

KISS

Keep it simple sportsman; there is no need to get too technical, just stick to the basics.

You do not want to turn anyone off because it became to technical.

Enjoy the moment on the water.