Captain Greg and volunteers of Learn 2 Fish With Us shared their passion for fishing with the cub scouts of Oshkosh.  The fishing clinic took place the evening of May 12^th at Winnebago County Park located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.  It was the perfect night to host the fishing clinic as it was sunny and warm and may have been best evening of 2022!!

The evening started out with the scouts learning the skills and equipment needed to begin fishing through Captain Greg’s Fishing Basics seminar.  Fishing Basics teaches; safety while fishing, spin cast and spinning fishing combos, how to cast, different fishing presentations, fish identification, knots, live and artificial bait, aquatic invasive species, keeping a fishing log and so much more.  After the Fishing Basics seminar, scouts walked to the pond which was a catch and release.  Due to this being a catch and release pond, it did not take long for the scouts to start catching fish!!  Scouts caught Largemouth Bass, Bluegill and hybrids.  Captain Greg would love to see more fishing locations that are catch and release to allow youth and families to be able to catch fish!!

Each youth was excited as they received with a fishing combo or soft-sided tackle, a Future Pro Shirt and a fishing educational book that to the National Professional Anglers Association and Learn 2 Fish With Us.

Captain Greg Karch of Learn 2 Fish With Us held fishing clinics for the third graders of Woodland Elementary on the afternoon of April 29^th.  Woodland Elementary is located in Kimberly, Wisconsin.

Eighty-six third graders learned about the equipment and skills needed to begin fishing, through an interactive Fishing Basics seminar.  Fishing Basics taught students; safety while fishing, spin cast and spinning fishing combos, how to cast safely and accurately, knots, fish identification, live and artificial bait, aquatic invasive species, logging fishing trips, conservation and so much more.  After the seminar Captain Greg and the students asked each other questions which was a fun part of the fishing seminar!!

Captain Greg has been hosting Fishing Basic seminars for Woodland Elementary for the last nine years.  Last year due to COVID, the Fishing Basics seminar was held virtually.  Captain Greg was so happy to be back in person doing what he loves, fishing for future anglers!!

At the end of the fishing clinic students learned they would receive a NPAA Future Angler shirt, Mercury water bottle, and a fishing educational book thanks to the National Professional Anglers Association, Future Angler Foundation, Learn 2 Fish With and were the third graders excited!!   

Captain Greg Karch of Learn 2 Fish With Us and the National Professional Anglers Association held fishing clinics for the third graders of Westside Elementary on the afternoon of April 28^th.  Westside Elementary is located in Kimberly, Wisconsin.

Eight-seven third graders learned about the equipment and skills needed to begin fishing, through an interactive Fishing Basics seminar.  Fishing Basics taught students; safety while fishing, spin cast and spinning fishing combos, how to cast safely and accurately, knots, fish identification, live and artificial bait, aquatic invasive species, logging fishing trips, conservation and so much more.  After the seminar the students had many questions to ask Captain Greg such as; ‘What’s your biggest fish you caught?? and “What’s you favorite fish to fish for?’ and so many more.

Captain Greg has been hosting Fishing Basic seminars for Westside Elementary for the last ten years.  Last year due to COVID, the Fishing Basics seminar was held virtually.  Captain Greg was so happy to be back in person doing what he loves, fishing for future anglers!!

At the end of the fishing clinic students learned they would receive a NPAA Future Angler shirt, Triton Boat hat, and a fishing educational book thanks to the National Professional Anglers Association, Future Angler Foundation, Learn 2 Fish With and were the third graders excited!!  Captain Greg got writers cramp signing the shirts and hats for so many of the students.

Young anglers eager to use their new skills

Expo event gets next generation ready to get out on the water

PAMELA COTANT

For the State Journal

It’s been five weeks since youngsters attended a fishing seminar indoors with hopes of heading to some body of water to practice what they learned.

But the spring has been marked by bouts chilly weather and snowfalls, dampening chances to use the lessons from “Fishing Basics 101” during the Wisconsin Fishing Expo at the Alliant Energy Center.   “We’re still waiting,” Emily Rennicke, of Sauk City, said about her 6-year-old daughter getting out to fish after attending the seminar.

Rennicke said some weekend days, Olive, a kindergartner, has been able to use the fishing rod she received at the seminar to practice casting in the gym at the school where her mom works.

While the family mostly goes fishing on the Wisconsin River and Lake Wisconsin, Rennicke said her fourth-grade son, Cooper, finally got out to fish last weekend on a barge on the Mississippi River near Genoa.

Cooper, who fished with his father, Michael, said he remembered what he learned in the seminar about looking behind him before casting his line so he wouldn’t hook anybody. He also used the fisherman’s knot he learned to tie on his lure.

“It’s a nice way to keep them away from screens and outside and to spend time as a family,” Rennicke said about having her children learn to fish in the seminar. “Even as an adult, we learn something new every time we come.”

“Fishing Basics 101” was presented by Greg Karch, of Oshkosh, who started the nonprofit company“Learn 2 Fish With Us” and is a certified angler educator through the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and Boy Scouts.

It was part of the annual Wisconsin Fishing Expo, which returned to the Alliant Energy Center after not being held for a year because of the COVID-9 pandemic.

“What I am really hoping to do is to educate them so they can do this and so they can share the skills with the family so they can do this as a whole family,” Karch said. “We want to teach activities that these kids can do especially during this COVID time.”

Karch had seminar attendees demonstrate various skills during “Fishing Basics 101,” which is designed for youths and adults. The seminar included topics such as safety while fishing, how to use a spin cast and spinning fishing combo, how to cast accurately and safely, how to tie knots, fish identification, the use of live and artificial baits, and how to keep a fishing journal.

Please see SPOTLIGHT, Page A6

Fifth-grader Jordan Masko, of Watertown, gets instruction on how to reel in a fish from Greg Karch during a “Fishing Basics 101” seminar at the Wisconsin Fishing Expo. The seminar included lessons on safety, fishing preparations, knot tying and fish identification.

ANDY MANIS PHOTOS, FOR THE STATE JOURNAL

Eighth-grader Ryah Speciale, of Delavan, gets instruction from Max Kofnetka on tying a Palomar knot during the “Fishing Basics 101” seminar at the Wisconsin Fishing Expo.

From A5

Karch was assisted by volunteer Max Kofnetka, who is a member of the fishing team at UW-Whitewater, where he is a junior.

The first 100 youths age 16 and younger received a spin cast rod and reel through the National Professional Anglers Association and Future Anglers Foundation.

Karch said he knows those who attend the seminar retain what they learn because he has received thank you cards from those who came and then remembered a tip he taught them. He also hears from parents about how their children are fishing after the class.

“What we are doing is planting a seed and hoping it grows a whole garden. They will share what they learned with their friends,” Karch said.

Jordan Masko, a fifthgrader from Watertown who helped demonstrate how to cast a rod and reel in a fish during the seminar, said he learned some tips.

“I can use the fishing rod that we got for free to practice keeping my line straight and casting it out,” he said.

Greg Karch shows Gage Haffele, a 4K student from Brodhead, how to wear a personal flotation device during a “Fishing Basics 101” seminar at the Wisconsin Fishing Expo.

ANDY MANIS PHOTOS, FOR THE STATE JOURNAL

Fishing educator Greg Karch demonstrates a slip bobber during the seminar at the Wisconsin Fishing Expo.

On Tuesday, March 29^th, Captain Greg Karch of Learn 2 Fish With Us and National Professional Anglers Association (NPAA) taught fourth and fifth graders the Fishing Basics.  Captain Greg hosted four Fishing Basics seminars at Omro Elementary for over one hundred and sixty students where they learned about the equipment and skills needed to begin fishing through an interactive seminar!!  They learned; safety while fishing, spin cast and spinning fishing combos, how to cast safely and accurately, simple fishing presentations, how to tie the Clinch and Palomar knot, fish identification, live and artificial bait, aquatic invasive species and so much more.  We had parents email us on how excited the students were to talk about everything that was covered in the fishing class.  Captain Greg, was just as excited as when he asked a question or asked for a volunteer, all hands would go up quickly!!  How cool is that!! 

Learn 2 Fish With Us has hosted many seminars at different schools over the years, but this was the first time for Omro Elementary.  Dave, the principle for Omro Elementary asked if we could come back in 2023.  Dave also heard about field trips we host for fishing and so looks forward to this possibility!!

Thanks to the National Professional Anglers Association, Shakespeare, Mercury Marine and Learn 2 Fish With Us, each student received a NPAA Future Pro Shirt, water bottle and fishing educational book..

You asking what is STEM??  STEM  stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Captain Greg and Karen Karch of Learn 2 Fish With Us educated girls and woman to the great sport of fishing while attending Discovery World’s Girls & STEM.  Attendee’s learned different parts of a fish and how a fish uses them, how old an eight inch bluegill and a thirty-three inch walleye is, how to identify different fish and where you can find them, aquatic invasive species, weather, live bait and artificial bait, and so much more.  Science plays such an important role in fishing and our fishing environment.!!

Captain Greg and Karen worked with over a thousand attendee’s during Girls & STEM.  The Karch’s explain ‘it is so important to educate the public on our great sport of fishing and our fishing environment’!!

Thanks to the National Professional Anglers Association and Learn 2 Fish With Us many of the youth received a fishing educational book, fish identification cards, fishing combo or a NPAA Future Pro Shirt. 

Captain Greg, Learn 2 Fish With Us, National Professional Anglers Association (NPAA) and the Wisconsin Fishing Expo have partnered for the last ten years to bring youth and fishing education to the Wisconsin Fishing Expo!!  Thanks to Learn 2 Fish With Us and NPAA members Karen Karch #121 and Greg Karch #138 for hosting three seminars this past weekend to educate youth and adults to the great sport of fishing.  The first Fishing Basics seminar was Captain Greg’s and Learn 2 Fish With Us, three hundredth fishing clinic since their inception in 2009. 

Captain Greg introduced his new seminar Advanced Fishing during the Wisconsin Fishing Expo.  Advanced Fishing seminar was created so youth that attended previous  Fishing Basics seminars had another seminar to build their tool box with more advanced equipment and fishing skills education. 

Greg and Karen hosted two ‘Fishing Basics’ seminars during the show which educated youth, families and adults to all the skills and equipment need to begin fishing.  ‘Fishing Basics’ educates attendees on; safety while fishing, spin cast and spinning fishing combos, casting safely and accurately, basic fishing presentations, knots, fish identification, parts of a fish, live and artificial bait and aquatic invasive species and so much more.  ‘Advanced Fishing Basics’ seminar is built upon the ‘Fishing Basic’ skills and equipment and educates attendees on: bait caster and line counter reels, jigs and plastics, crankbaits, crawler harnesses, jigging and trolling presentations, how a graph works, maps, filleting a fish and cooking fish.

Thanks to the National Professional Anglers Association and Learn 2 Fish With Us youth attending the seminars received one of the following; Shakespeare fishing combo, mini tackle box with tackle or a NPAA Future Pro Shirt. 

Captain Greg of Learn 2 Fish With Us, hosted their 300^th fishing clinic during the Wisconsin Fishing Expo!!!  What an accomplishment for the both of them!!  That’s like hosting a fishing clinic everyday for year!! 

Captain Greg founded Learn 2 Fish With Us in 2009 and has been averaging about thirty fishing clinics a year.  All Learn 2 Fish With Us fishing clinics are FREE to the organizations they work with.  In 2019, Learn 2 Fish With Us and Captain Greg hosted thirty-eight fishing clinics and over ten thousand people attended.  During the COVID era in 2021, Captain Greg and Learn 2 Fish With Us hosted thirty fishing clinics that were safe for the public.  In 2022, Captain Greg has already schedule thirty fishing clinics and is looking for a couple more.

Learn 2 Fish With Us host three different seminars.  The first seminar is ‘Fishing Basics’ which educates youth, families and adults to all the skills and equipment need to begin fishing.  ‘Fishing Basics’ educates attendees on; safety while fishing, spin cast and spinning fishing combos, casting safely and accurately, basic fishing presentations, knots, fish identification, parts of a fish, live and artificial bait and aquatic invasive species and so much more.  

The second seminar is ‘Advanced Fishing’ which allows youth and adults to build upon the fishing education learned in the ‘Fishing Basic’ seminar.  Attendees will learn about advanced skills and equipment such as: bait caster and line counter reels, advanced fishing presentations of jigging / casting / trolling, jigs and plastics, crankbaits, how a graph works, fish marks, maps, filleting a fish and cooking of the fish.

The third seminar is ‘Ice Fishing Basics’ which educates youth, families and adults to all the skills and equipment need to begin ice fishing.  ‘Ice Fishing Basics’ educates attendees on; safety while ice fishing, augers, ice fishing combos, ice fishing jigs and spoons, tip ups, tip downs, knots, fish identification, live and artificial bait and aquatic invasive species.

Learn 2 Fish With Us has hosted fishing clinics in the following states: Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska and New York.

Organizations Learn 2 Fish With Us has worked with over the last ten years is; Best Friends, Big Brother & Big Sister, boy scouts, cub scouts, girl scouts, YMCA, Boys & Girls Club, Farm Technology Days, Breakfast on the Farm, 4H, Discovery World, Kids Fishing Day, state parks, elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, many different fairs and so many other organizations.

Greg would like thank his and Learn 2 Fish With Us sponsor’s which include: National Professional Anglers Association, Shakespeare, Mercury Marine, Berkley, Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund, The Boat Doc, Lake Poygan Sportsman’s Club, Dave’s Musky Club, Off Shore Tackle Company, Northland Tackle, TTI Blakemore Fishing Group, Maui Jim, Mad Wraps, Future Angler Foundation and The Reel Shot.

Learn 2 Fish With Us hosted a Volunteer Appreciation Ice Outing on Saturday, February 5th on Partridge Crop.  Learn 2 Fish With Us wanted to thank all the great volunteers we have and get them out fishing.  The day started out very cold and there was a breeze, but that didn’t stop our volunteers from showing up.  We were tip-up fishing so that we could chat with each other between the flags going up.  Some awesome bass were caught with a couple Notherns.  It may have been slow but you would have never known that.  Captain Greg cooked lunch on the ice!!  This was a great event to get our volunteers together and do some fishing of are own!!  Learn 2 Fish With Us could not exist without the help of our volunteers!!

Captain Greg and BJ of Learn 2 Fish With Us shared their passion for ice fishing with the cub scouts of Neenah.  The Ice fishing clinic took place the evening of February 8th at Spring Hill Elementary, which Is located in Neenah, Wisconsin

The evening started out with the scouts learning the skills and equipment needed to begin ice fishing through Captain Greg’s Ice Fishing Basics seminar.  Ice Fishing Basics teaches; safety while ice fishing, different ice fishing combos, electronics, bait, tip ups and tip downs, augers, how to tie a Clinch and Palomar knot, fish identification and so much more.

Thanks to Learn 2 Fish With Us, each youth received a soft sided tackle bag by Shakespeare, fish identification cards and a fishing educational book.  All scouts also went into a door prize drawing for Shakespeare ice fishing combos and Berkely tip ups.  Everything needed to get out ice fishing!!

On Sunday, February 20^th the cub scouts will hit the ice where they will utilize their newly learn skills and use the equipment they received.