4-H Sportfishing Training Coming to East Central Alabama

4-H Sportfishing is coming to east central Alabama, and it’s an activity everyone can enjoy.

The 4-H Sportfishing program is open to youth ages 9 to 19, and younger children can participate if a parent is with them. The program will teach youth about fishing and field safety, tackle crafting, aquatic ecology, which lure to use, and many other skills to help them become good fishermen and women and environmental stewards.

Volunteers are needed for the program. Adults who enjoy the outdoors and fishing as well as working with young people make ideal volunteers.

A volunteer training class focused on angling, tacklecrafting, aquatic ecology, and more will be held October 14 and 15 at Lake Point State Park in Eufaula.
Training will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Friday, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.

Lunch, snacks and drinks will be served on Saturday. Registration is $10.
Volunteers who complete the course will qualify to be reimbursed up to $60 for travel expenses.

For more information or to register, contact your county Extension office or Ruth Hunter, 4 H regional Extension agent, at (334) 775 3284 or hunterh@auburn.edu.

“This is a hands-on workshop,” says Dr. Emily Kling, a 4-H environmental program specialist with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. “The workshops include sessions on tacklecrafting, knot-tying, spincasting and casting safety, fishing and field safety, bass and bluegill, post-catch care and preparation cooking tips, as well as teaching techniques, how children learn, starting and managing a Sportfishing program, and county resources, just to name a few.”

Participants should bring outdoor clothing, a hat and sunglasses or safety glasses. Participants may want to bring their own rods, reels and tackle boxes as well and some sort of sun protection or rain gear. They will be outdoors on Saturday.

Goals for the 4-H Sportfishing program include strengthening families through recreational activities; exposing participants to the broad array of lifelong activities related to sportsfishing; developing caring relationships as well as appreciation for sportfishing; understanding the ecological and social basics of fisheries management; learning about a variety of fish species and using a variety of sportfishing equipment; making and repairing fishing tackle; and developing and building life skills that will help youth become better communicators and leaders in their communities.

The program is sponsored by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries and the Auburn University Department of Fisheries and Allied Aquacultures.

Source: Dr. Emily Kling, Extension Specialist, 4-H Natural Resources, Alabama Cooperative Extension System, (334) 844-2226.

Posted by at October 6, 2005 10:56 AM