Youth Education Report

TACKLE BOX SPAGHETTI

February is the perfect time to get your tackle boxes in order for the 2010 fishing season. There is nothing worse than traveling to your favorite fishing spot, opening up your tackle box and finding a ball of monofilament spaghetti from last year. We’ve all been there! I call it the “Monster Monofilament Spaghetti Ball.” The monster monofilament spaghetti ball entangles treble hook lures, snap swivels, high-low rigs and leaders with dropper loops. It takes hours to untangle and you don’t want to begin this task on your first fishing trip of the season. Over the years I have learned to bring my tackle boxes up from the basement and begin the task of untangling my fishing treasures. After everything is back in order I inspect everything and toss out what might not hold up to a good size fish. I sharpen or replace hooks on lures and rigs. It’s a good idea to polish metal lures to give them extra shine. If a metal lure doesn’t look good to you it may not look good enough to a hungry fish. Remember to check monofilament leaders for nicks and wire leaders for kinks that will cause the leader to break. WD-40 works great for cleaning rust spots on lures and it prevents corrosion on split rings. Next month we will talk about getting rods and reels ready for action.

RODS AND REELS FOR KIDS

Bill Browne and members of the Silverton Fishing Club are assisting the JCAA Youth Education Committee with providing “Rods and Reels for Kids.” It’s a new program that we are introducing to children at risk for the 2010 fishing season. Members of the Silverton Club offered to repair recycled rods and reels for children that would like to start a fishing club and learn about fishing in a public school environment. The “Rods and Reels for Kids” program will begin at the start of the new year and continue through National Fishing Week at schools in Monmouth and Ocean County. The program will include learning materials from the Hooked on Fishing not on Drugs program and there is also a $5,000.00 grant for schools to submit. The program is designed to teach students about healthy outdoor activities as an alternative to drugs, alcohol, gangs, and violence. Students will learn about aquatic conservation, biology of a fish, water safety, how to maintain and repair fishing equipment and New Jersey rules and regulations. If you would like to donate used rods and reels that the Silverton Fishing Club can recycle, please phone Bill Browne 732-929-9112. If Mr. Browne is not available please leave a message and he will return your call. Rod and reels can also be delivered to Mr. Browne’s home address: 907 Nevel Street, Toms River, NJ 08753. We already received donations from the Shore Surf Club and Peg Gleman, NCMS/ISAC Committee Member. The JCAA Youth Education Committee will instruct educators and students about utilizing HOFNOD printed materials and assist with the development of organizing a school fishing club. If you would like to help with this worthwhile project, please send me an e-mail with HOFNOD in the subject line at gkucharews@aol.com.

NEW PATCH PROGRAM

The Passport Patch is the coolest new patch around for Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. The Passport to Fishing & Boating is a fun adventure education program designed to teach the skills needed to dive into the wonderful world of fishing and boating. It’s fun and easy to do with the help of a pack leader or parent. Once your pack has these basics under their belts, you’ll be ready to get out on the water and start fishing. There is also a patch for Mentors. Troop leaders can get started by visiting www.takemefishing.org/community/scouting/passport-program-patch. Let’s hope this will be available soon for Girl Scouts and Brownies. They like to fish too.

NJ FISH & WILDLIFE PRESS RELEASE

The NJ DEP Division of Fish and Wildlife is informing the public that the annual Pequest Open House will be held on Saturday and Sunday, March 27 & 28. The dates within the 2010 Freshwater Fishing Digest are NOT CORRECT. We apologize for any confusion. The Open House is a free event usually held the weekend before the opening of the spring trout season (April 10 in 2010); this year it will be a week earlier to avoid conflicts with Easter weekend activities. The event features exhibits, displays and demonstration as well as the popular Fishing Flea Market. Youngsters have the opportunity to fish in the Fishing Education Pond or Kiddie Fishing Tank depending on their age. More information on the Open House will be available on the division's website: www.njfishandwildlife.com/peqoh.htm.

If you would like to help with our youth education efforts and offer some of your time to teach children the joy of fishing, please phone 732-785-9278 or e-mail Gkucharews@aol.com.

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