Middle School Fishing Club

[ArthurLK11]

I'm a K-8 physical education teacher at a school down in Florida. Obviously I love fishing and in the past year I've realized that many of my students do as well. I was thinking about starting a fishing club once Covid dies down and we can get back to campus. I'm thinking I'd open it up to middle school first before letting the whole school join. I've never been a part of a fishing club at any level and I'm curious if anyone here has any experience with this at the middle school level. I was thinking of meeting twice a month. One day after school in the classroom where we can have some formal learning opportunities, discussions, maybe lure painting, fly tying, etc. Then one day a month we'll go out to a local park for a few hours after school and fish. Does this sound good? Anyone have any suggestions?

[Jermination]

2 minutes ago, ArthurLK11 said:

I'm a K-8 physical education teacher at a school down in Florida. Obviously I love fishing and in the past year I've realized that many of my students do as well. I was thinking about starting a fishing club once Covid dies down and we can get back to campus. I'm thinking I'd open it up to middle school first before letting the whole school join. I've never been a part of a fishing club at any level and I'm curious if anyone here has any experience with this at the middle school level. I was thinking of meeting twice a month. One day after school in the classroom where we can have some formal learning opportunities, discussions, maybe lure painting, fly tying, etc. Then one day a month we'll go out to a local park for a few hours after school and fish. Does this sound good? Anyone have any suggestions?

hey man it's huge here in east tennessee. There isn't a middle school team specifically here, the middle schoolers are on the high school team. Most of the tourney's have high school then a junior division. Here's a quick rule sheet that we use 

 

[ArthurLK11]

5 minutes ago, Jermination said:

hey man it's huge here in east tennessee. There isn't a middle school team specifically here, the middle schoolers are on the high school team. Most of the tourney's have high school then a junior division. Here's a quick rule sheet that we use 

 

Thanks for this. That's a lot of formality and details. I'm not aware of any high schools that offer it as a sport around here. I was thinking of this club being more informal and not really a "team". If we do any tournaments I think it would just be within the club and not versus any other schools. I just want to kids to have fun and something to do a couple times a month. 

[Jermination]

1 minute ago, ArthurLK11 said:

Thanks for this. That's a lot of formality and details. I'm not aware of any high schools that offer it as a sport around here. I was thinking of this club being more informal and not really a "team". If we do any tournaments I think it would just be within the club and not versus any other schools. I just want to kids to have fun and something to do a couple times a month. 

Gotcha. Probably quite a few less formalities in that situation, i'm sure you will still have to have some type of waiver but i would talk to some of the other club coaches/leaders(4h, chess club, deca, etc)

[Captain Phil]

South Florida is a great place to start a school fishing club.  I grew up in South Florida myself.  There are so many options available and you don't need a boat to fish.  Everything from walking canal banks, to piers and bridges. When I lived in Ft. Lauderdale, I worked with Dade County Social Services and took some kids and their counselors out in my boat.  To protect yourself, make sure you have adequate adult supervision.  The need is great.  So many kids these days don't have parents to be their role models. I encourage you to make this happen.  You could be changing someone for life.

[TheBasslayer]

Wow. You guys are lucky. I don't even have a high school team or club at my high school, let alone a middle school team. It may be because of my location, but I would've been so excited if there was or is a middle/high school team.

[Bluegillslayer]

18 hours ago, TheBasslayer said:

I don't even have a high school team or club at my high school

Yeah where I live most people dont even know their is fish in the local lake and I am pretty much the only person who fishes more then once or twice a year. But a bass club would be sick.

[TheBasslayer]

41 minutes ago, Bluegillslayer said:

Yeah where I live most people dont even know their is fish in the local lake and I am pretty much the only person who fishes more then once or twice a year. But a bass club would be sick.

Yes, I would like there to be a bass club, or anything related to fishing at all in my school!