Things got a little fishy at Lawrence Grassi Middle School last week as students got an opportunity to learn first hand how to properly fillet a fish.
The lunchtime activity was the second time the school’s fishing club has met this year, being the first club of its kind in the Bow Valley.
“They’re super keen,” said Brenda Nolan, manager of Wapiti Sports, which is helping to run the club, Wednesday (Jan. 17).
“I was blown away by the amount of interest in actually gutting a fish today.”
With 74 children involved in the club, organizers have split the club into four, six-week workshops to ensure group sizes are manageable and everyone can participate.
“I was astounded by the amount of students that were interested,” said Nolan, who was initially approached by Gieta Steingart, a student’s mother, to help get the club up and running.
“This is a new generation of fishing men and women, so if we can teach them a little bit about the area, how to handle fish and have some respect for nature, it’s going to be beneficial for everyone.”
Steingart initially decided to create the club after her son, Zachary Baggott, expressed an interest in creating a fishing club at his school.
“Zackary loves fishing and he and I had talked about this, so I took the idea to Nadine Trottier, the principal, and said I’d run with it,” said Steingart.
With the school on board and Nolan eager to teach students a trick or two, the lure was set and the club officially held its first workshop on Jan. 10.
“I can’t say enough amazing things about Wapiti Sports. This program really wouldn’t have had any sort of traction without their support,” said Steingart.
To keep things fresh, students learn about a different topic each week, from filleting a fish to learning how to cast with a fishing rod. Other topics include learning about fishing regulations, the different species of fish that live in the area, knots, how to read water and water safety.
“There’s a little bit of everything,” said Nolan, adding students also get to learn how to tie a fly and make their own lures.
For students, the fishing club is an opportunity to learn the ins and outs of fishing and make some new fishing friends along the way.
“I wanted to start a club because I usually go fishing with just me and my mom because I don’t have a lot of fishing friends. So I asked my mom if we could start a fishing club and I think it’s been a huge success so far,” said Buggott, a Grade 5 student at the school.
Peter Hutchison, a Grade 6 student, said he decided to join the club because he loves fishing.
“I love to fish and I thought it was a really cool idea and I wanted to learn more about fishing,” said Hutchison.
In the near future, Steingart said she hopes to begin writing a few grants so the school can purchase some flyfishing equipment for students. If she’s successful, she said she hopes to start an after school fishing program.
“Not everybody can rip down ski hills or mountain bike trails, or have the resources to do that, but a fishing rod is $40 and, with a few lures, you’re good to go for hours of fun.”
The club meets every Wednesday from 12:15-12:55 p.m. at Lawrence Grassi Middle School. The club is free and everyone is welcome to attend.
“Everybody can fish, that’s the beautiful thing about fishing,” said Steingart.
