CCA News – Part 2

This quote was recently overheard, from one of our adventurous Reedsport Community Charter School students, near the end of this year’s new Fishing Basics Class Brave’s Session. The South Coast Chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association of Oregon (CCA) offered this well-received class, with an objective of providing students with the knowledge and equipment necessary to be successful anglers.
Using philosophies of “fishing is a conservation journey and luck favors the prepared”, the class was developed by Steve Godin, South Coast CCA Chapter President, and Ron Frakes, Biology Teacher at the Reedsport Community Charter School. Funding for the class was provided by the Reedsport Education Enrichment Foundation (REEF).

Many supporters came to our aid from within and outside the Reedsport community. Steve Miller engaged Tom Rumreich, ODF&W Biologist Charleston Office who donated fishing rods and reels. Evan Leonetti and Eric Himmelreich, ODF&W Biologists Roseburg Office provided the students with a strong appreciation for salmon conservation and fish habitat restoration. Doug Buck, GRWB STEP took the students on an informative tour of the Gardiner STEP Hatchery. Michael Northrup, U.S. Department of Agriculture, presented the students with an excellent USDA Fishing Guide and detailed instructions related to local waters. Bill Taylor, a skilled local angler, shared his insight on successful boat fishing techniques for local lakes. Pete Heley, Umpqua Post Outdoors Writer and local angler, provided each student with a copy of his outstanding publication Oregon Coast Fishing Maps, as well as his experience regarding fish available in local lakes. Harold Ettelt, local angler, trained students on how to make their own spinners, and generously donated all the needed tools and materials. As a result of these many donations and supporters, the students got a deep appreciation for local conservation efforts, hatchery management, how and where to fish, and the gear needed!
The Fishing Basics Class was held for half days, at the Reedsport Community Charter School starting on January 19th, and continued for eight days. It was composed of classroom instruction as well as three field trips. Instructions addressed knot tying, equipment rigging, safety, habitat, conservation, hatcheries, regulations, fish identification, fish anatomy, casting, netting, fish handling, cleaning, and cooking. Multimedia presentations were composed of a wide variety of displays, practice equipment, access to the Internet, printed materials, videos, and games. Sammy, ODFW’s three-foot plush stuffed salmon, even volunteered as the subject for a netting demonstration! There were multiple casting practice sessions too, which took place outside at the adjacent sports field and at Lake Marie. Students also had the opportunity to compete in a casting contest, where there were enthusiastic battles for some highly prized chocolates!

At the conclusion of the class, each student received their own fishing rod, reel, appropriate tackle, and instruction specific to its use. Students also had multiple opportunities to rig these rods with depth adjustable strike indicators, split shot, and knots. We accomplished our objective of providing students with all the equipment and knowledge necessary to fish. So, it sounds like it’s time to go dig some worms!
Sixteen students graduated from the Fishing Basics Class on January 28th and were encouraged to continue their pursuit of fishing and come to our South Coast Chapter meetings. Students were also invited to further develop their skills at the upcoming free-fishing day on June 5th at Lake Marie. My favorite student quote was definitely, “I don’t want this class to end.” And it won’t. Graduates are now enrolled as New Tide members in CCA and our local chapter offers them follow-on learning, networking, and fishing opportunities. Additionally, they receive a year’s subscription to the CCA newsletter publication, Rising Tide. This is a class that truly doesn’t end.

from Pete’s Blog – PeteHeley.Com

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