Volunteers needed to teach young people fishing skills

SALT LAKE CITY — Adult volunteers are needed to teach six- to 13-year-olds about fishing and aquatic resources in communities stretching from Logan to Payson. Volunteers will be helping the Division of Wildlife Resources and the various communities with their community fishing program.

Youth fishing clubs have been established in Logan, Brigham City, Ogden, Clinton, Clearfield, Centerville, Farmington, Bountiful, Murray, South Jordan, Orem, Spanish Fork, Salem and Payson in 2004 and each club needs volunteers to help.

Volunteer training will be held in each community in February. The training takes about one day to complete. The clubs of about 40 to 80 children each will be formed by April. To volunteer, or for more information, call Andrew Cushing, urban fisheries biologist for the DWR, at (801) 538-4774 or send an e-mail to him at AndrewCushing@utah.gov.

While patience and good communication and teaching skills are needed, Cushing says adults don't need a lot of fishing experience to volunteer. "After training, regardless of the person's fishing skills, I'm sure they'll feel completely comfortable getting together with their youth fishing club," he said

After training, volunteers will spend about two hours once a week, through the spring and/or summer, teaching children about fish and fishing by fishing with them at a local water.

Cushing says a number of rewards await those who volunteer. "When they see the look on a kid's face, the first time they catch a fish, it'll probably make their whole summer," he said. "Long term, I think they'll feel rewarded by knowing they've helped plug these kids back into a natural environment and have increased these community fishing clubs' stewardship of their own waters."

Cushing says the DWR's community fishing program is designed to introduce young people living in urban settings to fishing. "The DWR has sponsored many fun, one-day fishing events in the past, but a long-term program is needed to make fishing a part of someone's life," he said.

Increasing urbanization along the Wasatch Front, the emphasis on indoor sports and computer activities and less children being introduced to fishing by their families have caused many people to become less connected with their natural, aquatic resources, Cushing said.