High school fly tying and fly fishing class

[Striperbobby]

Hi guys, let me start by saying I really enjoy everyone’s posts in the forums sections of this web site. I have been a gym teacher at Coatesville Area Senior High School for 29 years. I started out as the typical gym teacher/ football coach/ athletic trainer but was able to start PE electives for the kids in strength training, mixed martial arts, and now a fly fishing and fly tying course.

I am happy with curriculum for tying, casting, entomology, reading water, safety and conservation. But, what I need assistance with is suggestions for places to take the kids on field trips where they can bank fish without a ton of trees and brush, and can catch fish (panfish, bass, trout) on the flies they tie.

The reason I need to keep them on the bank and not in the water is because most of the kids are underprivileged and will not be able to buy waders to use this Spring. Also, the school district did give me a small budget to buy equipment, but if anyone in the Chester County area has anything they want to donate such as tying materials, rods, reels, nets, or fly fishing books the students and I would greatly appreciate it. Feel free to pm me if you have any suggestions. Thanks to all in advance for your time and consideration.

 

[TimMurphy]

Dear Striperbobby,

Congratulations on getting the ball rolling and started a fly-fishing elective. That's a great idea and I wish you well.

To get started you may want to consider beginning with warm-water fish at places like Chambers Lake or Marsh Creek once the weather breaks in the Spring. Sunnies and bass eat flies well and they are great to learn on.

If you are on Facebook, you may want to consider reaching out to the Hughesville HS Fly Fishing Club for ideas on how to grow your classes. They have a rather extensive fly-fishing club, but they have clearly been at it for several years. I'd wager it started out a lot like your venture.

I have several long-time friends in the Hughesville area who are fly fishermen and general outdoorsman for many years. If you'd like I can get in touch with them to see if they can put you in touch with any of the mentors of the school's fly-fishing club. They may be a valuable source of ideas for you.

Good luck!

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

 

[dc410]

I just wanted to thank you for initiating the fly tying/flyfishing club at your school. Even if you have just a few kids that show a real interest in it, it still may be well worth the effort. I wish I had some great ideas for field trips for you but I’m coming up a bit short on them at this time. Tim Murphy is probably sending you down the right path in considering some of the local warmwater lakes as solid candidates to take the kids to get them into some fish.

I joined a fly tying club as a freshman at my high school back in 1980. My english teacher taught me how to tie flies and also took us out for a field trip to one of the local FFO streams in the Spring of the year. 45 years later, my passion for fly tying and flyfishing is still going strong.

I wish you the best of luck with your club endeavors at your High School. Keep us posted. Thank you!

 

[nymphingmaniac]

can't help with your first question. For the second, check with a TU chapter near you. They may have resources and connections to get you started. fly fishing shops too.
As Tim wrote, there are other models. Phillisburg (centre co) started a club years ago. It is quite large. The members of the club have come to the LJRA riverbank clean up multiple years now. It's good to see the mentor Mike Minarchick include some conservation related activities.

 

[jgish92]

Chambers Lake is not too far from you and that has an area near the dock where you can get panfish quite easily and is not a steep gradient in case any of the kids get to close to the water. There is deeper water over by the dam if you are willing to fish from the rocks.

 

[Tiogadog]

You may want to try some local golf courses. I was able to take a group of middle school students to a golf course pond years ago. We went on the backside of the pond and made sure to stay off of the course.

 

[afishinado]

I took many of my Orvis FFing 201 students to Marsh Creek Reservoir to fish for panfish in the spring. We accessed the lake from the park side, not the Lyndell access. There is plenty of room to fish from shore there in the spring. Summer may be too crowded. Contact the park rangers ahead of time to give them a heads up. They were very accommodating to our group. Good luck with your classes.

 

[Sylvaneous]

I had a flyfishing club at my high school, but, like you, I just couldn't do it in good conscience. To do anything, it would require the kids to spend money they didn't have. Childhood in America is defined mostly by poverty.