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So, you wanna go fishin'?
Program in Ile Bizard aims to introduce a whole new generation to the joys and patience of fishing
Karen Seidman
The Gazette
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
While some people these days worry about depleted fish stocks, the Quebec Wildlife Foundation has been more concerned with fishers becoming an extinct species.
To address that, the foundation set up a program about a decade ago called Pêche en Herbe to create a new generation of fishers and keep the spirit of fishing alive in Quebec.
The program has been growing every year and this year, about 300 local youths participated in the one-day program in the Île Bizard-Ste. Géneviève region.
The last group of 12 kids were at the Bois de l’Île Bizard Nature Park on Tuesday to learn about fishing and to be able to experience sport fishing while surrounded by nature.
“It was a huge success,” said Jennifer Marchand, a naturalist for the Groupe uni des éducateurs-naturalistes et professionnels en environment, which oversaw the program. “The kids often come back with their parents to show them what they have learned.”
While there was a certain gross-out factor to putting the worms on the hooks, Marchand said the kids really learned a lot and were succesful – about four or five fish were caught in about 45 minutes.
“They really did pretty well,” said Marchand.
While the fish were thrown back in the water, the participants did get to leave with a fishing rod, a tackle box, an initiation guide and a fishing permit that is valid until they are 18.
It is Canadian Tire that funds the program, which enables thousands of youths to be introduced to fishing each year.
“The problem is that fishers are getting old and we need to replenish the stock,” said Daniel Despins, a spokesperson for the Pêche en Herbe program. “This is an important initiative because fishing has a major economic impact.”
The students learned about fish anatomy, fish families, the role of fish in the ecosystem, how to handle a rod and fishing techniques.
Marchand said there was an emphasis on safety, proper fishing etiquette and that quality that kids today are sometimes lacking, but which is so important to fishing: patience.
The most important objective, however, is to make fishing fun and Marchand believes that goal was achieved.
“They definitely left with an interest in fishing,” she said.
Photos:
First photo: Maryse Sirois, 12, catches a catfish as brother Maxime, 9, looks on in awe.
Second photo: Kids from Boisbriand Nature day camp take part in the annual Pêche en herbe program that tries to get a new generation of kids interested in fishing, at Ile Bizard Nature Park in Ile Bizard.
Third photo: A boy from Boisbriand Nature day camp casts his line.
Fourth photo: Boys from Boisbriand Nature day camp take part in the annual Pêche en herbe program.