Youth development - THANK YOU! - Page 2

narcodog · 03-24-11, 05:56 PM

Say Bub, we had the chief biologist from the GSMNP come to our last TU meeting and they are looking for interns. If your are interested in fishes that would be a great place to spend the summer workin your butt off.

fishinbub · 03-24-11, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by narcodog

Say Bub, we had the chief biologist from the GSMNP come to our last TU meeting and they are looking for interns. If your are interested in fishes that would be a great place to spend the summer workin your butt off.

I saw those intern positions, but I'm pretty sure they didn't include any kind of housing.

I have applied for the back the brookie intern program up in Rabun Co. I've got an interview next week. Ya'll cross your fingers for me...

wilkinstahoe · 09-21-11, 07:12 AM

This has been a passion of mine for many years! I'd like to say first that I love that the Boy Scout on here get's those young people out fly fishing!
Then you have the great parents that take the time to shows their young ones how to do it and have a great bond with them by taking them and showing them how to fly fish!
There are those that get so absorbed in there own fishing that they forget to take the time to show or talk to a young person about fishing.
There are so many intercity kids that would love to go fishing and can't. They are left to run the streets and get in gangs and trouble and a lot end up in prison.
When all it might take is a little time to get some out fishing and change their life forever!
So many times, fisherman get into their fishing that when a kid comes up and watch them, they want the kid to get out of there and leave them alone! When they could take a little time and explain to the kids or young people what they are doing!
If I see a kid come up to me, I let them stand there for a few minutes, then I'll turn and ask them if they fish!
That will break the ice! They may say, they fish once in awhile or that they don't fish but want to. I, then talk with them further and ask them question and let them ask me questions.
I, alway answer them with knowledge and explain to them what I'm doing! When they see you catching fish, they get real excited. They listen! They are willing to learn.
Some times none of their parents are interested in fishing, but they are fisherman but haven't gotten started yet! No one else around them is interested.
Bt they have YOU! YOU, can make the biggest difference in their life! If only you can lay your rod down for a few to help them change their life right then!
You can talk to them about how the fish feed, what they feed on and that your using a bug you tied up that looks like the food they eat! How you have to cast the fly the way you do and etc.
There was a few years ago I was camping and fishing on the Davidson River in N.C. and I was setting on my tailgate of my truck going through my gear and this kid walked by with a cheap flyrod and I could see it wasn't sit up right. So in a few minutes, I walked down to where he was fishing and struck up some talk with him. He was from Florida and had never fly fished for Trout nor much for anything!
So told him I fly fished and asked if I could help him and he turned and just looked at me!
So I told him he needed to be set up right! He had nothing but a 2' section of fishing line tied on to the fly line. Some ol fly that was all beat up.
So I asked him to come back to my truck to sit him up right!
Cleaned his line for him, put on a looped butt section and gave him a new 9' leader and a few of my flies!
Then we went back down to the river and I explained about where the fish would be and where to cast and how to manage the drift.
This kid was busting butt to do it! But had never caught a fish on a flyrod before! Well the next evening he went by me and I went with him again to help! Went for awhile and he never caught a thing. Then out of no where, bahm this Brookie took his fly! Told him how to land it! Got it in and that kid was so excited it wasn't funny! I, congradulated him patted him on the back and made a huge thing out of it!
Well that kid wouldn't go back to his camp site! As soon as the Sun was up, he was back out there. He was on his way!!!!!!!!!! I, also gave him some Bluegill poppers for when he got back to Florida!
Te reason why I'm saying this, is because a few minutes of your life and knowledge can make a difference in a kids life! It can be a life changing difference they will never forget!
Not all like to fish, not all want to fly fish! But if that ONE comes up to you and shows an interest, stop and take the time to be a mentor! Be that life changer!
All these cities holler about the gang problems and kids getting in trouble but none of them take intercity kids fishing! No programs for those that would love to go! Nor the companies that will give equipment to any programes to get the kids off the streets!
Even Bass Pro won't do one thing! I've tried and they won't! Which is stupid to me! Cause the kids are their future!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I've had many kids that would come into the stores wanting to get into fishing, even though the parents weren't interested and I get one on one with them! Get them set up right and take the time to EXPLAIN to them about what they have and why! And HOW! I, don't care about the parents, even though a lot of the time, it's there money that's buying it for them. I, talk to the kid!
Some times the kids come in, they made their own money to get going! I, work with them and their budget! When they come in and say they got their first fish, I make a huge thing of it! Nothing but smiles from them!
That's the way it should be!
Get a kid in your neighborhood or get in the scouts and teach fishing to those that are interested. If a kid watches you fish, take the time to talk with them and be HUMBLE about it!
Donate some old equipment you may have to some kid that WILL use it!
You may just be saving that kids life! Making a huge change in it! Take them fishing, teach them what you know!
Now ya'll brag about how great a fly fisherman you are, prove it to a kid!
Wayne Wilkins

wilkinstahoe · 09-21-11, 11:18 PM

When I had my shop in Lake Tahoe, there was a customer that came in and had just got into fly fishing. He use to go fishing on Sunday's with me and a few of the other customers from my store.
Well after awhile he'd bring his eldest son in and you could see he was really interested in fly fishing. The young guy was about 10 or 11 years old!
Well one day he came in with his dad and he had worked hard and saved some money to get his own outfit! So I sold him a Sage beginner outfit. Now this kid was totally jazzed with his own outfit!
Now his Dad had all the rest of the stuff plus he tied flies.
The next Sunday, we went up to Henan Lake in Markleville, Ca. where it's catch and release only to fish for Lahanton Cutthroats. There were several other customers with us.
So we all split up and I and this other guy Mike went to one side and this kid and dad went to the other side. After awhile, the kid was standing behind me and I asked how he was doing. He said, Mr. Wilkins do you have a fly I can borrow? I, was dumb founded, and I said, doesn't your dad have any flies and the kid said he didn't have enough! Now I'm shocked! Actually I was pissed! Cause I knew different!
This Father was too busy to help his own son! Too busy fishing to show him what to do.
I, stopped fishing and walked out of the water and got with him and got my fly box out and tied on my leech for him.
Walked over to Mike and told him what was happening and Mike put his rod down also. We both got in the water with this young guy and worked with him on his casting and how to stripe his line in.
After 2 cast, this young guy had his first fish, on that brand new fly rod! Worked with him to get it in! Mke went to his bag and pulled out a camera and took some pic's on his polaroid. This kid was nothing but grins and smiles! He ended getting two more fish before we left! None of those fish were under 18", not a bad start.
Now the whole time, his dad stayed on the other side of the Lake till we were ready to leave!
He headed back to where we were parked and the only words that came out of his mouth, Wayne, how many fish did you get? Mike and I lite into him about not helping HIS son and that we got him into fish and showed him the pictures!
There is the down side to not bonding with your own kid or taking the time to make them feel important! Being that kids hero!
Kudo's to those that get their kids going!
Wayne Wilkins
Don't ever be like this kids dad! Be your kids hero!

09-21-11, 07:12 AM	#13
wilkinstahoe Native Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Blue Springs, Missouri Posts: 139	Child Development This has been a passion of mine for many years! I'd like to say first that I love that the Boy Scout on here get's those young people out fly fishing! Then you have the great parents that take the time to shows their young ones how to do it and have a great bond with them by taking them and showing them how to fly fish! There are those that get so absorbed in there own fishing that they forget to take the time to show or talk to a young person about fishing. There are so many intercity kids that would love to go fishing and can't. They are left to run the streets and get in gangs and trouble and a lot end up in prison. When all it might take is a little time to get some out fishing and change their life forever! So many times, fisherman get into their fishing that when a kid comes up and watch them, they want the kid to get out of there and leave them alone! When they could take a little time and explain to the kids or young people what they are doing! If I see a kid come up to me, I let them stand there for a few minutes, then I'll turn and ask them if they fish! That will break the ice! They may say, they fish once in awhile or that they don't fish but want to. I, then talk with them further and ask them question and let them ask me questions. I, alway answer them with knowledge and explain to them what I'm doing! When they see you catching fish, they get real excited. They listen! They are willing to learn. Some times none of their parents are interested in fishing, but they are fisherman but haven't gotten started yet! No one else around them is interested. Bt they have YOU! YOU, can make the biggest difference in their life! If only you can lay your rod down for a few to help them change their life right then! You can talk to them about how the fish feed, what they feed on and that your using a bug you tied up that looks like the food they eat! How you have to cast the fly the way you do and etc. There was a few years ago I was camping and fishing on the Davidson River in N.C. and I was setting on my tailgate of my truck going through my gear and this kid walked by with a cheap flyrod and I could see it wasn't sit up right. So in a few minutes, I walked down to where he was fishing and struck up some talk with him. He was from Florida and had never fly fished for Trout nor much for anything! So told him I fly fished and asked if I could help him and he turned and just looked at me! So I told him he needed to be set up right! He had nothing but a 2' section of fishing line tied on to the fly line. Some ol fly that was all beat up. So I asked him to come back to my truck to sit him up right! Cleaned his line for him, put on a looped butt section and gave him a new 9' leader and a few of my flies! Then we went back down to the river and I explained about where the fish would be and where to cast and how to manage the drift. This kid was busting butt to do it! But had never caught a fish on a flyrod before! Well the next evening he went by me and I went with him again to help! Went for awhile and he never caught a thing. Then out of no where, bahm this Brookie took his fly! Told him how to land it! Got it in and that kid was so excited it wasn't funny! I, congradulated him patted him on the back and made a huge thing out of it! Well that kid wouldn't go back to his camp site! As soon as the Sun was up, he was back out there. He was on his way!!!!!!!!!! I, also gave him some Bluegill poppers for when he got back to Florida! Te reason why I'm saying this, is because a few minutes of your life and knowledge can make a difference in a kids life! It can be a life changing difference they will never forget! Not all like to fish, not all want to fly fish! But if that ONE comes up to you and shows an interest, stop and take the time to be a mentor! Be that life changer! All these cities holler about the gang problems and kids getting in trouble but none of them take intercity kids fishing! No programs for those that would love to go! Nor the companies that will give equipment to any programes to get the kids off the streets! Even Bass Pro won't do one thing! I've tried and they won't! Which is stupid to me! Cause the kids are their future!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I've had many kids that would come into the stores wanting to get into fishing, even though the parents weren't interested and I get one on one with them! Get them set up right and take the time to EXPLAIN to them about what they have and why! And HOW! I, don't care about the parents, even though a lot of the time, it's there money that's buying it for them. I, talk to the kid! Some times the kids come in, they made their own money to get going! I, work with them and their budget! When they come in and say they got their first fish, I make a huge thing of it! Nothing but smiles from them! That's the way it should be! Get a kid in your neighborhood or get in the scouts and teach fishing to those that are interested. If a kid watches you fish, take the time to talk with them and be HUMBLE about it! Donate some old equipment you may have to some kid that WILL use it! You may just be saving that kids life! Making a huge change in it! Take them fishing, teach them what you know! Now ya'll brag about how great a fly fisherman you are, prove it to a kid! Wayne Wilkins __________________ Don't Be A Mental MIdget! Shut up and fish! A fly out of the water doesn't catch fish!

09-21-11, 11:18 PM	#14
wilkinstahoe Native Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Blue Springs, Missouri Posts: 139	A sad story about bonding...... When I had my shop in Lake Tahoe, there was a customer that came in and had just got into fly fishing. He use to go fishing on Sunday's with me and a few of the other customers from my store. Well after awhile he'd bring his eldest son in and you could see he was really interested in fly fishing. The young guy was about 10 or 11 years old! Well one day he came in with his dad and he had worked hard and saved some money to get his own outfit! So I sold him a Sage beginner outfit. Now this kid was totally jazzed with his own outfit! Now his Dad had all the rest of the stuff plus he tied flies. The next Sunday, we went up to Henan Lake in Markleville, Ca. where it's catch and release only to fish for Lahanton Cutthroats. There were several other customers with us. So we all split up and I and this other guy Mike went to one side and this kid and dad went to the other side. After awhile, the kid was standing behind me and I asked how he was doing. He said, Mr. Wilkins do you have a fly I can borrow? I, was dumb founded, and I said, doesn't your dad have any flies and the kid said he didn't have enough! Now I'm shocked! Actually I was pissed! Cause I knew different! This Father was too busy to help his own son! Too busy fishing to show him what to do. I, stopped fishing and walked out of the water and got with him and got my fly box out and tied on my leech for him. Walked over to Mike and told him what was happening and Mike put his rod down also. We both got in the water with this young guy and worked with him on his casting and how to stripe his line in. After 2 cast, this young guy had his first fish, on that brand new fly rod! Worked with him to get it in! Mke went to his bag and pulled out a camera and took some pic's on his polaroid. This kid was nothing but grins and smiles! He ended getting two more fish before we left! None of those fish were under 18", not a bad start. Now the whole time, his dad stayed on the other side of the Lake till we were ready to leave! He headed back to where we were parked and the only words that came out of his mouth, Wayne, how many fish did you get? Mike and I lite into him about not helping HIS son and that we got him into fish and showed him the pictures! There is the down side to not bonding with your own kid or taking the time to make them feel important! Being that kids hero! Kudo's to those that get their kids going! Wayne Wilkins Don't ever be like this kids dad! Be your kids hero! __________________ Don't Be A Mental MIdget! Shut up and fish! A fly out of the water doesn't catch fish!

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03-24-11, 05:56 PM	#11
narcodog Native Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: N Ga. Posts: 1,247	Say Bub, we had the chief biologist from the GSMNP come to our last TU meeting and they are looking for interns. If your are interested in fishes that would be a great place to spend the summer workin your butt off.