On Saturday, June 4th was Wisconsin Free Fishing Weekend and Learn 2 Fish With Us was at High Cliff State Park hosting a fishing clinic.  The afternoon started of with Learn 2 Fish With Us Angler Educator Greg Karch hosting his Fishing Basics seminar at the Parks Nature Center.  The youth and families learned all the skills needed to fish with many getting to do hands on fishing skills. 

After the Fishing Basics seminar, it was time for the youth and families to go fishing where the fishing equipment was provided by Learn 2 Fish With Us and High Cliff State Park.  They fished in the Butterfly pond which was stocked with bluegills and bullheads tin May.  Many fish were caught and six youth caught their FIRST fish!!!

Once fishing was completed it was time to hand out the door prizes which consisted of Shakespeare fishing combo’s Plano and Berkley tackle boxes, Future Pro shirts, Triton Boats hats and more.  Thanks to The Reel Shot for providing the bait.

On Tuesday, May 24^th fourth and fifth graders interested in fishing attended the Learn 2 Fish With Us After School Fishing Program at Menominee Park in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.  This fishing program was scheduled for two evenings but due to the weather, the first day was cancelled.  So on the second day when the kids found out the weather would hold, they were excited as they were going to learn new fishing skills and go fishing.  Greg Karch, Karen Karch, Tim Euting, Tyler Nickel and Tim Winchester educated youth  on fishing through educational stations.  The first station was the AIS station, where the youth and parents learned about the different Aquatic Invasive Species and what they look like along with the different rules and laws.  The second station, youth learned and tied a Palomar and Clinch knot.  The third station, was fish identification, where they learned how to identify the different fish along with where they live in the lake and the bait they like best.  The fourth station, youth were introduced to the fishing combo they would receive for attending the After School Fishing Program.  The youth also learned how to properly hook a minnow, leech and worm on their fishing line.  The final station was casting instruction where the youths practiced casting by trying to catch Backyard Bass.  Tom and Tyler instructed the youth on how they could improve how they cast. 

Once the youth attended the five stations it was time for them to go fishing.  Each youth received a Shakespeare fishing combo for attending After School Fishing program thanks to NPAA and Learn 2 Fish With Us.  Fishing was tough due to the past weeks weather along with the lake fly hatch.   The youth and parents thanked Learn 2 Fish With Us and there volunteers for hosting the clinic and were excited to continue fishing though out the year!!!

Friday May 20th, Learn 2 Fish With Us educated the Webster Stanley seventh graders on the skills needed to fish through their Fishing Basics seminar.  The seventh graders were split into two groups so the group was not to large.  The first group of seventh graders attended the seminar where many of the them were able to participate in hands on training with Greg.  The youth then had time to ask Greg questions.  After their questions were answered, it was time for them too go fishing where they utilized Learn 2 Fish With Us fishing equipment.  Learn 2 Fish With Us had many volunteers to help the seventh graders fish as many of them were fishing for the first time.  While the first group was fishing the second group was attending the Fishing Basics seminar.  Once the Fishing Basics seminar was completed for the second group they went fishing.  Fishing was tough due too the weather we have experienced the last two weeks and due to the lake fly hatch but a couple of crappies and bluegills were caught.  The kids were excited when they found out they would receive a NPAA Future Pro shirt.

Learn 2 Fish With Us Anger Educators Greg and Karen Karch educated youth on casting during the Sturgeon Bay Bass Open Children’s part of the event.. The Sturgeon Bay Bass Open tournament was canceled for the day due to the small craft advisory. but that did not stop the families from coming to the tournament to learn more about fishing.  Greg and Karen worked with the youth on casting utilizing Backyard Bass.  Learn 2 Fish With Us also worked with the youth on the different bait they use to fish and the kids were excited that they could also touch the bait.   Sturgeon Bay Bass Open had many other fishing skill stations where the youth could win fishing combo’s, shirts and more. . A fun time was had by all.

Friday May 13th was not a scary Friday but a day where the third graders from Westside Elementary in Kimberly learned the Fishing Basics.  Certified Angler Educator Greg with Learn 2 Fish With Uscated the third graders on the Fishing Basics which included; safety while fishing, spin cast and spinning combos, casting, tie a Clinch and Palomar knot, bait, fish identification, parts of a fish and finally the AIS message of Clean Drain Dry.  Many of the youth got to do hands on activity during the clinic.  Thanks to the NPAA each youth received a Future Pro shirt.   One student came up to Greg and asked if he would sign their shirt.  Soon their was a line and Greg was getting writers cramp!!!

On Monday, May 9th, the Kids attending Kids Korner at the Appleton Scheels learned fishing skills through hands on!!!  They worked with Justin and Ryan who are Scheels pro-staff and Learn 2 Fish With Us Angler Educator Greg Karch.  Together they worked with the youth to tech them about parts of a fish, casting, tying the Clinch knot and the different bait.  After the educational part of the event each of the youth picked out beads and a spinner blase and with the help from Justin, Ryan and Greg they created their own crawler harness.  All the kids look forward to going fishing and using their crawler harness.

On May 7th, Learn 2 Fish With Us was at Kimberly YMCA Children’s Day during Wisconsin’s Opening Weekend of Fishing.  Most of the parents attending the event asked Greg why he was not fishing on opening weekend.  He replied, ‘I’m here so I can teach the youth on casting and other fishing skills’.  Learn 2 Fish With Us main attraction was Backyard Bass so they could teach one of the most important skills of casting.  So many kids learned how to cast today.  During the casting instruction, youth learned to look behind before casting and ten o’clock and two o’clock.  So many youth learned how to cast after the instruction.  Each youth received one of the following after casting; fish identification cards, Tru Turn Hooks or a Shakespeare casting plug.

Learn 2 Fish With Us also had a fishing display setup where they taught youth how to tie knots. They also had a live bait display which included different types of minnows, leeches and worms.  The youth got to play with the bait.  The fishing display also had a fish identification poster along with a Clean Drain Dry poster.

On May 6th, Certified Angler Educator, Greg Karch from Learn 2 Fish With Us hosted his Fishing Basics seminar for the fourth and fifth graders at Hawley Environmental School which is located in Milwaukee. Wisconsin .  When learn 2 Fish With Us showed up for the fishing clinic students from the school were on recess.  They all would come over during setup as they wanted to know about all the educational tools we use to teach about fishing.  What drew the most interest was the box I brought along.  When they would open it they would see the large walleye and they would want to more about the fish.  At 1:30 PM we started the Fishing Basic seminar where the fifth graders learned all the skills needed to go fishing..

After the seminar it was time for the fifth graders to practice two of the mot important skills needed when fishing.  Greg worked with the youth on tying a Clink knots and each of the students tied the knot.  Nick Schmual came along and he utilized Backyard Bass to teach the youth how to cast.  When they had a good cast they would catch a Backyard Bass.  One student caught Backyard Bass on back to back cast.

This fishing education was just in time for there trip to the Wisconsin Dells where they will be camping along with fishing during the trip.  Last year the National Professional Anglers Association donated fifty fishing combo’s to the school.  Each of the students received a Future Pro Tshirt.

On April 13th, Certified Angler Educator, Greg Karch from Learn 2 Fish With Us hosted his Fishing Basics seminar for the fourth and fifth graders at Oaklawn Middle School is located in Oshkosh. Wisconsin .  The 140 students were split into two group so Greg could work with a smaller group.  Theses students were eagle to learn about the skills and had many questions.  Greg was amazed on how few of the students have fished, especially when Oaklawn school is located a mile away from Lake Winnebago.  Greg commented ‘This is why it so important for Learn 2 Fish With Us to get to all the schools and organizations that are located very close to fishable waters’.  Learn 2 Fish With Us and Greg will be hosting a two evening after school program that will allow the students to get hands on training as the group will be split into ten students per fishing instructor.  After forty-five minutes of education they will go fishing for forty-five minutes.

Greg had brought his Backyard Bass for the casting instruction during his seminar. A student was leaving and shared with Greg that she had never caught a fish and asked if she could cast and try to catch a Backyard Bass.  Greg said ‘ Sure’ and helped her cast.  As she was reeling in she caught one and was so excited!!  This is what it is all about!!!!

Four lucky youth attending the seminar won a Plano KVD Elite Soft-Side Tackle box.  The winners were very excited.  One the clinic was done Greg handed out Fishouflage hats to each of the students and they were excited!!!

On Tuesday, April 12th, Cub Scouts in Neenah learned all about the fishing skills needed to obtain the fishing belt loop. Greg, from Learn 2 Fish With Us educated the cub scouts on fishing skills through his Fish Basics seminar.  After the Fishing Basics seminar, the Cub Scouts practiced the skills of casting and knot tying.  Now that the Cub Scouts know the skills or can reference them in Shakespeare’s ‘My Fishing Journal’ all that is remaining to obtain the Fishing belt loop is go fishing and do some of the skills.

When they were ready to leave, Greg, let them know that they were getting NPAA Future Pro shirt.  The NPAA Future Pro shirt looks like Greg’s professional fishing jersey with all the NPAA  sponsor logos.  Thanks NPAA for the shirts!!!