I guess we all have something that we are embarrassed to admit we never learned how to do. Maybe it’s riding a bike or swimming or cooking something that didn’t come off the shelf in a box.
Last weekend, I participated in the Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries new Go Fish, Alabama! program, which is designed to assist adults and families with little to no fishing experience.
I have gone fishing plenty of times, but it would be more accurate to say I went with someone else who was fishing. If I woke up one morning and decided to throw a line in the water, could I tie on a hook and make it stay, bait it according to the fish I am most likely to catch and remove the fish I reel in without cutting myself or it all to pieces? I probably could not.
When I was little, my dad handled the actual work of fishing. My only job was to hold the pole and wait for the bobber to disappear under the water. Since I’ve gotten married, I am more likely to be sitting near Zac reading or taking pictures than taking any real interest in the fish.
Zac and I have been spending a lot of time on the river since losing my dad and his mom last summer.
Daddy wanted to fish more, but life got in the way and then it was too late. Being on the water this past year felt like a way for me to escape, manage my grief and fulfill one of his final unspoken wishes, but I questioned whether I was doing it right if I was just sitting in the canoe with Zac. I bought a fishing license so that I could fish if I wanted, but I haven’t made much use of it.
When I got the email that Go Fish, Alabama! was coming to Walker County Lake, I almost signed up immediately, but then I hesitated. I pictured a dozen kids and me going through a four-hour class. That felt like it was going to be awkward.
I almost talked myself into trying to figure it out myself or asking Zac to show me a few things.Then, at the last second, I filled out my online registration.
When I got to the lake on Saturday morning, I was greeted by a group from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. I learned very quickly that this was the first program that had every been held in the state and that I was going to be the first (and lone) participant.
Throughout the morning, I learned about the different aspects of fishing. I also came to realize that I was exactly the kind of student the DCNR folks had in mind when they developed the program.
While DCNR does have programs aimed at kids, including an annual Take a Kid Fishing Day, the fact is most kids are going to need an adult in their life who will buy the necessary equipment and drive them to a good fishing spot.
If I as a parent don't have an interest in fishing, then it's much less likely that my child will. Over time, that means we'll end up with more people who don't know anything about hunting, fishing, archery and such, which will have all sorts of implications for our state.
For DCNR, the decades-long trend of fewer people getting outdoors has a financial impact because the department receives no funding from the Alabama's General Fund. The money they spend on education, research and conservation efforts comes from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses, license plates, boat registration fees, and other sources that are then supplemented with federal funds.
A lot of people ventured outdoors during the pandemic. The Go Fish, Alabama! program is one way that DCNR is trying to keep that interest up.
I caught a catfish on my first cast and we all celebrated. Before I left, I helped clean and fillet a string of fish that I and some others from the group had caught. The next day, Zac and I fried them up, and he, Wyatt and I ate them for lunch.
That's certainly the first time in my life that I have ever eaten something that I harvested. It may sound silly, but I was pretty proud of myself.
The Go Fish, Alabama! program is making a lot of stops around the state this summer. For more information, check out https://ift.tt/3uQahlv.
The Link LonkMay 15, 2021 at 07:00PM
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Teach a girl to fish - Daily Mountain Eagle
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