"Hooked on Fishing —Not on Drugs - 2008"

Sponsored by the BWSA since 1993.

This year, the Blue Water Sportfishing Association expanded the sponsorship of the Hooked On Fishing......Not on Drugs program to include the entire seventh-grade from Port Huron's Chippewa Middle School. Over 210 students and over 60 parents participated in the outings held at the Kimball Township Park in Kimball Township. This outing provides our club with an opportunity to promote fishing as a healthy means of having fun, as well as an opportunity to connect with the community and schools.

Chippewa teacher, Erik Barden is the driving force that organizes the school end of the program.. He provides five one-hour lessons for the students in his Social Studies classes. He conducts a survey with his students asking why some people turn to drugs. He addresses these results by offering an alternative activity, like fishing. Such an activity will fill idle time ,be fun, and allow students to be with friends and family. It can also provide students with an opportunity to set goals, and provide a feeling of accomplishment. In another lesson, he uses the D.N.R. Fishing Handbook as the springboard for a discussion on ethics. The reasons for fishing rules illustrate why doing the right thing is best for the environment, the fishery , and all people. This reasoning can be easily transferred to daily life experiences and choices that students make.

Another lesson is about the watershed and how pollution affects not only the immediate area, but when rain washes pollutants away, they end up in ponds, streams, rivers, and lakes. It is hoped that this lesson and the outing to the pond will instill a sense of concern in the students that will make them take care of our natural resources. There is also a video that shows fishing as a positive outlet that is presented to the students.

During the week prior to the outing, students are given a lesson on how to tie fishing knots and how to cast. Club member, Fred Witter, organized the casting practice in which small groups of students were taken to the playground to practice using club provided equipment. Students were striving for accuracy by hitting a box for a treat. Helping Fred with the two day casting practice were fellow club members Preston Schroeder, Jr., Reine Hrdlovich, and Gerry Hart.

The fishing outing was held on May 6 - 9, with about 50 students attending each day. The students each wore a great T-Shirt with the school name on the front and a "Hooked on Fishing" logo on the back. These shirts were provided jointly by the school and our club. Students came to the pond each day and were greeted by a host of club members who had readied the fishing equipment and bait. The volunteers worked all day baiting hooks when needed, untangling lines, and helping the students and many parents catch fish . The club workers, headed by Fred Witter, included Bill and Paula Hillman, Reine Hrdlovich, Gerry Hart, Bill Lill, Ron Angbrandt, and Vic Ruehle. Also helping were club friends Curt Erdmann who retrieved numerous bobbers and hooks from brush and trees, as well as Julie Johnston, who brought brownies and fruit chews for the students. A pizza lunch with chips and pop was provided for all by our club. At the end of the day, prizes of fishing tackle were raffled off to the students. They also received a pledge card that they read from saying they would not turn to drugs.

This activity sponsored by the Blue Water Sportfishing Association is one of the many things we do to promote fishing and to serve our community. It is one that should make you proud to be in our club.

Fred Witter