Hooking Folks on Fishing

By Mike Demick Hooking citizens to a lifetime sport of fishing and increasing awareness of the amazing aquatic world are two main goals of Idaho Fish and Game's aquatic education program. The diverse program is involved in everything from educating people of all ages how to fish and personal responsibilities regarding the Idaho outdoors, to providing public information about angler opportunities and various fish and water resource issues. Obviously, meeting the challenges of these varied interests requires a multi-dimensional approach to projects and activities that will best serve the Idaho public. Funding for aquatic education comes from a portion of the federal excise tax on fishing equipment, outboard motors and boats. Locally, one of the most visible projects of the program has been the implementation of fishing clinics designed for the beginning angler, giving them the basics of what they need to know to get started fishing. On June 10, 2006, over 700 people participated in the seven fishing clinics held in the Clearwater Region. Besides catching fish, participants could also observe live fish and aquatic invertebrates in aquariums, create fish artwork, learn how to identify Idaho's common fish species, and ways to prepare and cook their catch. Mark your calendar for June 9, 2007, as similar events will be held throughout the area. In addition, a local youth steelhead clinic and several women's outdoor clinics are held annually to introduce young anglers and women to the joys of fishing. Both clinics have been very successful in introducing new anglers to a great life-long sport. Working with several outdoor groups is also an important part of communication with the angling public and many aquatic education programs would not be possible without their assistance. For example, the Kelly Creek Flycasters have teamed up once again with Fish and Game and the Wild Turkey Federation, and will hold a Women's Flyfishing Clinic designed to introduce women anglers to casting techniques, equipment use, knot tying and fly selection. The clinic will include two evening classroom presentations at Lewis-Clark State College and an overnight campout and two days of instructed fishing on a north Idaho river. The classroom sessions will be August 30 and September 6, with the campout scheduled for September 9-10. For more information, contact Jill Green at (208)798-0215. Other local examples include working with Trout Unlimited chapters, community groups and area university students on habitat improvement projects, classroom demonstrations and fishing clinics. More importantly, these organizations play an important role in the formalization of an aquatic education network throughout the state that can be called upon to develop ideas to benefit fishing. Perhaps the most exciting project of the aquatic program is the implementation of a formalized fishing education unit in the lifetime sports program of Idaho schools. The program is designed to promote fishing and conservation education, as well as provide teachers with educational lessons which they can use to expand their teaching programs. An instructor lesson-plan manual was written and tested at several schools in the state and is available for educators and youth leaders through Fish and Game offices. The lessons include the basics of fishing along with elements of aquatic ecology, fish identification, fish habitats, ethics, management concerns, safety and how to care for the catch. A variation of this program has also been used in the lower grades with a very good response. In addition, Idaho Fish and Game is a national leader in administering Project WILD programs, a conservation education program designed for school teachers and youth leaders that emphasizes wildlife, responsible behavior and constructive actions regarding our natural resources. IDFG has expanded this highly successful program and developed WILD in the Yellowstone Ecosystem held July 16 - 21, at Harriman State Park and Fast Food in a WILD World to be held July 31 - August 3, in McCall. Both programs are college-level conservation educational programs designed for closer, in-depth studies of some of Idaho's unique fish and wildlife species. The aquatic education program has addressed the need for more angler information by producing a wide variety of fishing guides and pamphlets. These brochures include information of fish availability, when to fish for them, appropriate tackle, and fishing access areas. Several visitor interpretation sites cover a variety of topics from anadromous fish life-cycles to lake ecology. These projects are generally done in conjunction with other agencies, and have been very useful in providing information to the general public. The Lewiston Wildlife Habitat Area in Lewiston is also part of the aquatic education program. The area was designed as a demonstration area of wildlife and fish habitats and serves several thousand visitors annually. The small pond and stream includes an underwater viewing window that provides great views into the aquatic world. Seeing fish in their natural surroundings is something few people have the opportunity to witness. Schools from as far away as Kooskia and Potlatch have made the trip to Lewiston to view this unique area. Volunteers are also very important to the program. Thousands of Idahoans have participated and provided much needed assistance with habitat improvement projects, angler surveys, hatchery operations, fish stocking, and fish population surveys and habitat surveys. Not only does volunteer assistance make the department more efficient and productive, these projects truly bring together those who care the most and offer educational opportunities to those wanting to return something to the resources they enjoy. Aquatic education is off and running and Fish and Game would like to invite you to be a part of this program. For more information, contact Mike Demick at the IDFG office in Lewiston, 208-799-5010. Mike Demick is the Clearwater Regional Conservation Educator in Lewiston. He has worked for IDFG since 1994.