Pine River Area Trout Unlimited - #524

4th Annual Youth Event

A loaded question - would a teenager rather spend part of a Saturday in August playing video games and texting friends or learning a sport he/she could use the rest of their life?  Bet on the games and cell phone.  Right choice – nope, and maybe with a little parental guidance, not THE choice.  Pine River Area Trout Unlimited and Schmidt Outfitters are co-sponsoring two different days of “Learning to Fly Fish” on August 6^th and 13^th.

The event is geared for kids aged 10-18 and starts at 9am lasting until 3pm at Schmidt Outfitters in Wellston.  It is free and lunch is provided as is all of the needed gear.  Ray Schmidt, his guides and TU volunteers provide the instruction.  At the end of the day each student will be able to use a fly rod, tie knots, and understand the basics of the sport and best of all catch a fish in Schmidt’s pond.  There is room for up to 30 kids each day and the ride to and from Wellston is the only requirement.  Call 1.231.848.4191 to reserve a spot.  A generous TU member is donating a fly rod to a lucky youth whose name is drawn on each of the 2 days of classes.

Now back to the question.  One of the joys of being a part of this program as an adult is seeing the joy on the face of kids as they learn to cast and later to catch a fish.  But fly fishing is different and most kids resist doing/being different.  Thus the need for a nudge or a push or a pull in that direction.  We need young people in fly fishing.  And they need a reason to be outdoors.  It’s hard to text or play video games standing in the middle of the Manistee or Pine River.  A fly rod is a better tool in that spot and with a little education can be part of a lifelong sport. And another way of enjoying our great outdoors.

Charles Dumanois, MD

WHEN:  August 6,2011 and August 13,2011

AGENDA

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