Elm Creek Elementary Girls Learn How to Fish

A group of fifth grade girls from Elm Creek Elementary are getting a lesson at the lake.  On Monday, the students boarded buses and headed to Weaver Lake.  The popular Maple Grove Lake provided the perfect backdrop for the first-time fisher girls.

“We have a lot of girls who were really interested so we just limited it to 5th grade girls,” said teacher Dan Baker. He’s an avid fisherman. Baker and a co-worker started the Elm Creek Fishing club last year, with just boys.

“We thought if we did some kind of fishing club, then we could bring people out into the water and get them exposed to the thing we love to do,” explained Baker.

The students studied for 5 weeks in the classroom before heading out on the water.

“How to tie different kinds of knots so you can keep your bait on it,” said Ava Cherichel.

The students got to help to design their rods.

“I picked the colors orange sunset and blue island lagoon,” said Ava Cherichel. “I think sunset would represent me as nice, and lagoon would represent me as crazy and stuff.”

And best of all, students get to keep all their gear.

“I’m excited to use my new rod, all my other ones I have to share with my brothers,” said one student.

Reeling in Self Esteem

An expert guide, showed the students a popular spot for fish on the lake. And it didn’t take long for the girls to get a nibble.  They quickly caught three largemouth bass.

“I got one,” said yelled one enthusiastic student.

Baker says he hopes the girls reel in a big dose of self-esteem.

“We want them to be able to have something they can have success in, something the can feel good about, they can have pride in,” said Baker.

In the end, students caught over 20 fish. Tuned Up Custom Rods donated the materials and time, so Baker could make the custom rods.