Family Fishing Day at Tifft Nature Preserve

Teach-Me-To-Fish Clinic at Tifft Nature Preserve 2015
Magical Fishing Moments for 241 Learning To Fish!
June 13, 2015; 81 kids registered; 11 volunteers; 7-Learning Station format!
There was excitement! There
was expectation! There was
also a nasty forecast of
possible rain, thunder and high
wind too that held youth
attendees this year to under
100. Some 81 girls and boys
from the Buffalo urban area
challenged the weather
ringmaster and were wide-eyed
and ready for the outdoor
action challenge of Fishing.
The clinic challenges kids to
encounter the adventure of a
series of 7 Learning Stations.
Encouraged by the adults, the
kids learned about the science,
biology and physics that
comprise the basic secrets of
how to catch fish. They
explored the exciting life cycles
of fish, arthropods,
invertebrates and other pond
life at Lake Kristy, part of the
246 acre Tifft Nature Preserve.
Attendees lined up right out the
main entrance door to the
registration station in the lobby of the new and
exciting Tifft Nature Preserve Learning Center
Lodge. Rose Barus and Evie Derry provided
free fishing beads to all the kids with information
of the good news for outdoor adventure and
happy fishing fun just ahead.
The Learning Stations were expanded to include
“Tifft Goes Green”, with Tifft Learning Facility
Director, Meghan Dye, who explained the
modern efficiency of geothermal and solar
energy with LED light bulbs and other manners
of the evolution for modern energy saving.
Kids learned about Knot-Tying,
learning to tie a Palomar Knot
with Russ Johnson and Bob
Carlson. At the Plastic Baits
station, kids learned to rig a
Cabela’s plastic worm and jig tail
on a hook with master-angler,
Paul Stoos.
“At the “Fish & Fauna” station,
DEC Biologist Mike Todd and
intern Alex Kulakowski explained
identifying traits of common fish
species, aquatic insects and
other pond life in a friendly faceto-face discussion”.
Joe Fischer provided Where-ToFish details for Erie County sites
and answered curious questions
from the kids and adults too.
Jeff Jondle taught kids the right
way to cast a fishing line, then
the kids tried it until they were
satisfied they could achieve the
same feat on the lake.
Bass Angler Professional, Scott
Callen, provided the kids and
adults hands-on lessons on HowTo-Fish, explaining bobber stop adjustments,
hook size choices and fishing essentials, all
from his 18-foot bass boat, where parents had
lots of questions about modern electronics.
At the Live Bait Station, Tom Fischer provided a
fresh supply of more than 500 worms to the
youngsters where they were also offered a free
rod/reel to borrow for the day. Here too, the
kids learned how to bait a hook with live worms
all donated by Weekley’s Wholesale Bait in
Hamburg, New York.
Junior Bassmaster, Collin Voss, helped kids find
their confidence as he provided hearty
congratulations and identified, measured,
recorded and placed the fish that kids caught
into the aerated Lunker Pool. Kids that did not
catch a fish could view fish that lived in the lake.
The Lunker Pool was hopping with fish! The kids
caught yellow perch, bluegills, sunfish, rock bass
by yelps,
screams and
verbal
expressions of
complete
happiness from
the kids as their
names were
drawn.
Parents and kids all enjoyed Sahlen's backyard
barbecue hot dogs,
thanks to chefs Hal
Lawrence and Willie
Sieber.
and largemouth bass, mostly using live worms.
More than 100 fish were measured through the
event, including nearly 50 kids who caught their
first fish ever! At the end of the 4-hour session,
kids that did not catch a fish were asked to help
put the fish from the Lunker Pool back into the
lake, instilling the idea of “Catch & Release.”
The “biggest fish” landed was a 14-inch
largemouth bass, the “smallest ÿsh” was a 3-3/4”
sunfish, that viewers had to search to find! Both
youth catch entries were judged to be an instant
winner and the kids that landed these fish were
awarded a brand new rod/reel rig to a rousing
round of audience applause.
Every boy and girl that attended the outreach
fishing event was awarded a Shakespeare,
Mitchell or Zebco rod/reel rig drawn by random
raffle. That kept the kids who successfully
completed the expanded program on the edge of
their seats until their name was picked, followed
Special thanks to our
event sponsors at Pure
Fishing, Cabela’s, WNY
Safari Club, Weekley’s
Wholesale Bait, TripleS, Crow’s Nest, Bison
City Rod & Gun, Will
Elliott (Buffalo News),
the Future Fishermen
Foundation of America,
to moms & dads, and
most of all, to our
determined volunteers
who donated their
Saturday to help kids learn more about how to
have fun in the outdoors through fishing. God
Bless!
Thanks TEAM!
Dave Barus 2015
Federation
coordinator.
Mike Todd 2015
NYSDEC coordinator.