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WELTZ: Teach fishing in schools

Just over a week ago I read a column titled “Fly-fishing touted as a lure for lethargic kids.” The column was printed in the Knoxville News Sentinel. That is right, in the heart of Bassville, Tenn., Jefferson Middle School has discovered what I was preaching back when I was a youth fly-fishing club coordinator.

Fly-fishing is a great teaching tool that often appeals to marginalized kids. I applaud the faculty of Jefferson for taking the step to make their fly-fishing program an actual course, rather than a one-off extra-curricular activity. In this program, it is the teachers from the school who will be teaching fly casting, knots, and fly tying, after receiving training from experts, in the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.

Why is it here in British Columbia, a place where fish and fishing are woven into the fabric, culture, and heritage of this land, we do not teach fishing (both sport and commercial fishing) as part of the curriculum in our schools?

 

The report

Fishing on our Lower Mainland lakes is good. For wet (sinking) fly-fishing try: Chironomid, Bloodworm, Coachman, American Coachman, Professor, Wooly Bugger, Micro Leach, Sixpack, Dragonfly Nymph, Halfback, Doc Spratley, Baggy Shrimp, or Zulu. For dry (floating) fly action try: Tom Thumb, Irresistible, Black Gnat, Griffith Gnat, Royal Coachman, or Renegade. For Kokanee try: Red Abbis, Bloodworm, Red Spratley, San Juan Worm, Red Quill, or Double Trude.

Our Lower Mainland bass and panfish are fishing well.

You can find more at “The Reel Life Press” by Jeff Weltz.