In 2017 I took the TPWD Angler Education Instructor certification workshop. I have always wanted to have a fishing club at the school where I teach. I am a physical education teacher at Griffin Elementary in Tyler. As a child I loved the sport of fishing and wanted to give my students the same experience. Keira Quam, TPWD Training Specialist, got me in contact with Michael Scherer, TPWD Area Chief who also works with Fishing’s Future. He was gracious enough to give me equipment to get started.

We held our First Catch Center event at the Glass Recreation Center in Tyler and everyone had so much fun. From there, I started a fishing club at my school. We meet every Wednesday for two hours after school and the kids and parents love it. I called the program, “Let’s fish.” Our club got started at the end of the school year but we were able to start with lessons on safety and casting for backyard bass during our meetings. I even had a station at our field day. By the end of the year, I had about twenty kids wanting to sign up. I will definitely continue next year!

I have had parents tell me that all their child wants to do now is fish. I even had one guy that wanted to have fishing for his birthday theme! This next year I would love to have an event for the kids to camp out overnight and also go fishing. I appreciate the support from TPWD, Keira and Michael for making a dream come true. 

Program Note:

Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF) created a Sixty in Sixty national campaign in 2016 to recruit 60 million anglers in 60 months. The overall objective is to grow national participation in the sport of fishing.

RBFF and Fishing’s Future have collaborated to set up multiple “First Catch Center” fishing events in Texas to provide a positive and fun fishing experience for families and youth. Angler Education Volunteers support the free events and help teach basic fishing skills, knot-tying, fishing regulations, fish ID and habitat, angler ethics, proper fish handling techniques, water and boat safety, environmental stewardship, and shoreline fishing. Fishing’s Future provides equipment and bait, or families can bring their own gear. Class registration is limited to give families a quality experience and create lifelong anglers and boaters, who in turn conserve our natural resources for current and future generations through the purchase of equipment and fishing licenses.

Sign-up online to volunteer at an event, use the keyword search First Catch Center.

It has been a busy spring for all and we are delighted to fully staffed once again.  

FREE FISHING DAY
Volunteers and staff hosted several fishing events across the state for the annual Free Fishing Day – the 1st Saturday in June in Texas. If you missed the opportunity in June, be sure to start planning your event now for the National Hunting and Fishing Day on September 22, 2018.  Our Fishing Event Planning Guide is available online on the Instructor Resources webpage; it offers a helpful timeline and checklist to  make your event a great success. If the event is free and open to the public, we can advertise it on the TPWD Events Calendar. TPWD has also been supporting multiple First Catch Center fishing events hosted by Fishing’s Future and sponsored by the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation, look for an event near you and sign up to help -- use the keyword, "First Catch Center".

Image: Lots of fish were caught at the Free Fishing Day event held at the USFWS Inks Dam Fish Hatchery. Photo courtesy of Luedecke Photography

PROUD PARTNERS
Did you know a TPWD Proud Partner Logo is available for Certified Instructors to use on event fliers and banners? The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department logo has long been a well-recognized symbol of the agency. In order to maintain the distinction between agency and partner groups, we ask that instructors use the TPWD Proud Partner Logo. To request the logo file, download the Proud Partner agreement from the Instructors Resource webpage, complete the agreement and send it to the email address on the form and cc me at Karen.Marks@tpwd.texas.gov Upon approval, the logo file and print guidelines will be sent to you.

Note: If you forgot the password for the Instructors Resource web page, look in your Instructor Guide notebook - see chapter VII, or contact us. 

REPORTS MAKE A BIG SPLASH

During the first three quarters of our fiscal year, which ends August 30th, we received 2,000 reports from 450 volunteers -- 60% of them were submitted online!

We love to get the online reports! They are also more likely to pass the auditor's review. However, we realize that sometimes a paper roster is necessary if the 45-day deadline was missed or if you need to capture the hours for your volunteer helpers. Just remember that if you submit a volunteer roster for your assistants, use one roster per day, and each volunteer must "self-report" on the form - this means each individual must print, sign and list their hours. Per the federal guidelines, the class/event leader may not sign for or write in the number of hours for other volunteers.

Another common error we see on the reports, is a lump sum of hours for multiple days. Remember that your hours must be itemized by day – you can do this in the notes section of the online report. If you need to document time for multiple days, use the new Instructor Timesheet Tracker form on the Angler Ed Instructor Resources web page under the Order and Reporting Forms section.

If we receive an incorrect report, we will attempt to contact the instructor to correct the report and verify their hours so we can include them on the annual federal aid grant report for the $24/hour match.

Documentation of  your fishing classes and events are vital to the success of our program. View the Reporting Guidelines to ensure your reports meet the policy. Whether you lead or assist at an event or class, reporting online is easy. You can use a computer, smart phone or tablet that has an internet connection. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

Keep up the great work and help us make a BIG SPLASH (like a Tarpon) on our year-end report!

By Ryan Cash, TPWD Area Chief

Modern fishing reels have become a sophisticated machine of gears, bearings, springs, clips, and washers that are all equally important to the function of the reel. Routine care of fishing rods and reels is crucial to maintain their function and improves the angler's success.To clean and maintain a reel, first become familiar with the parts of a reel.

INTERIOR MAINTENANCE
Cleaning and maintaining the inside of a reel is a little more challenging than the outside. While not impossible to do, taking apart the inside of a fishing reel requires close attention to where each and every part goes. Some helpful hints before you start:

1) Use a cell phone or a digital camera to take pictures of how it looked before removing anything.

2) Search the internet for a schematic or parts diagram and print it for reference. Almost every reel has a schematic or parts diagram available either through the manufacturer’s website or through a handful of online resources. Some reels when purchased new will come with a schematic or parts diagram.

When you are ready to disassemble your reel, begin with a towel on the table and gather your tools:

• a couple of different sized screwdrivers, both flat-head and phillips-head
• a pair of pliers or a small adjustable wrench
• reel oil and reel grease.
  

ROD CARE AND ROD TIP REPLACEMENT
Fishing rod maintenance is not as difficult or intensive as reel repair, but there are a few things to remember. After fishing, rinse any dirt, mud, sand, or salt from the rod. Allow it to dry, then take a rag and wipe the rod down with reel oil or a silicone spray. Check for any lose or damaged rod guides. Car doors, truck tailgates, and ceiling fans can be particularly tough on rod tips. If the rod tip gets broken, it can be replaced with these simple steps:

STEP 1: Purchase a rod tip repair kit from an outdoor retailer. The kit will include three popular sizes of rod tips and a glue stick. Select the rod tip that fits your rod best. The replacement tip should fit snug. Remove the damaged rod tip if it is still attached by heating the metal base of the guide with a lighter. This will melt the glue and loosen it. Use a pair of pliers to hold on to the tip as it could be hot from the heating process.

As summer begins, we enter the 4th quarter of our fiscal year that ends on August 31st. Those of you that have been around for awhile know that means it’s time to get your reports in. But just as important, we want everyone to stay safe outside when conducting fishing classes, events or camps this summer.

Image: Storm clouds roll in at Cedar Hill State Park. Photo by TPWD.

Thunderstorms, lightning, hail and flash floods can pop up during the summer – so be sure to check the weather forecasts and apps for alerts, and have a safety plan in mind. During a weather incident, retreat to a nearby building for safety, vehicles are a good alternative. NOAA recommends waiting 30 minutes after hearing the last thunder before going back outside (where there is thunder, there is lightning.) As I write this, I remember a Girl Scout Brownie troop campout where we had half the girls in the bathroom and the other half crammed into the Suburban during an expected afternoon thunderstorm.

Heat stress is another factor to consider. Make sure everyone (participants and volunteers) drink plenty of water. To stay cool on these dog days of summer, wear a hat and a wet neck towel or bandana, provide shade, and set up a buddy system to watch each other for signs of heat stress. OSHA has a great Heat Safety app that is free to download on your smart phone. The app has heat stress symptoms, first aid recommendations; and uses your location to predict the hourly heat index for the day (low, moderate & high risk). Use the heat index information to make adjustments to the class or event schedule as needed to keep everyone safe. Consider scheduling events in the morning to avoid the hot afternoons. If event is all day, plan outdoor activities in the morning and indoor activities in the afternoon.

No matter the size of the event, it is important to keep patrons and staff safe. For example, event coordinators made a wise decision to close the day-long Abilene Outdoors Adventure Days event early due to the rising heat index. At the Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest, staff and volunteers had to make a hasty retreat to vehicles during an unexpected thunderstorm.

To keep our waterways safe for people and wildlife, our program has re-usable mesh litter bags available for anyone planning a clean-up. Angler Education Instructors who have been actively reporting, can order up to 12 free bags while supplies last. Email education@tpwd.texas.gov with the subject line, “Angler Education Litter Bags,” include in the email the quantity request, along with your name, shipping address and phone number. Remember – these are re-usable bags, so don’t throw them away at the end of your clean up – empty, rinse and reuse them. And don't forget to report your clean-up event. For additional resources, webinars and lessons about litter, check out EPA’s Trash-Free Waters Program and NOAA’s Marine Debris Program. We also have a link on the “Teach Fishing” webpage on how to build and monitor a fishing line recycling tube. Everyone can make a difference. Thanks for supporting the sport!

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Area Chiefs worked in small teams to discuss best practices for workshop planning and presented how to teach different fishing skills.

They revealed their true creativity during the Aquatic WILD “Fashion a Fish” activity and tested their reflexes with a “Set the Hook” activity using a 12-inch ruler.

Image: Area Chiefs Jael and Chad try out the "Set the Hook" activity.

Saturday afternoon, staff prepared a fish fry dinner while everyone went on a guided historical walking tour of the park. During dinner, we had a Game Warden Q&A session with Captain Eric Minter. Later in the evening, a small group practiced tying flies.

On Sunday, we learned about the new Explore Bowfishing program, and how to throw a cast net. Twenty-seven people from Abilene, Central Texas, DFW, El Paso, and the Houston region attended the training meeting, including 13 new Area Chiefs. Annual awards were presented to Area Chiefs for their leadership and dedication to our Instructor training program. If you are interested in becoming an Area Chief and training new instructors, please contact us.

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