High School Students Introduced to Fishing
Fly Casting Instruction
The Chapter was invited to help teach students from Gillett and Suring High School how to cast a fly rod. The opportunity arose as part of a” Life Sports” Class taught by Jill Halla of Gillett Mary Smith of Suring. The class included a unit on fishing. Students were taught basics on different styles of fishing including spinning, baitcasting, flyfishing and how to prepare your rods reels and lines for fishing. Over 35 students, in two sessions, participated in the casting demonstrations with “hands on” individual instruction out on the football field. A skilled group of T.U. instructors gave mostly one-on-one lessons in effective fly casting, using Chapter-provided rods. Only a few students had used a fly rod before, and several had never fished at all.
Fishing Field Trip
On Wednesday Sep.24, 2025, the “Life Sports” students went on a field trip to Lyman’s Wocking’s Pond. This would be their opportunity to use what they had learned in the “Fishing” segment of the Life Sports Class. The class was split into groups of about 8 or 9. Each group could spread out on a side of this 5-acre manmade mini lake. A windward side was reserved for those new fly fishermen to test their skills.
The groups switched sides every 25-30 minutes allowing students ample opportunities to catch something. Each fish caught was logged as to species, length, and captor. Over a hundred fish were caught and released on a fun day for both students and the adults that had volunteered to mentor them. Some of these fishing students caught the first fish of their life.
We extend our appreciation to the many Chapter Members and Friends who contributed to mentoring the students and ensuring the event’s success. Special acknowledgement is given to Dale Halla, the event organizer, and Lyman Working, the pond owner. The Chapter has conducted this program each spring and fall semester for the past four years. (Photo of TU Mentors and Students from Gillett and Suring High Schools. September 24, 2025)
