Flyfishing Merit Badge

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Nat Greene Teaches Fly Fishing Merit Badge

Click here to see all the Merit Badge class photos

Part I: Classroom Session (3/14/2009)

On Saturday March 14th, Nat Greene members Anthony Hipps, Jim Brady and Mark Grunenwald taught the Fly Fishing Merit Badge to a dozen eager young anglers at the Boy Scout Akela District Merit Badge College held at Guilford Technical Community College in Jamestown.

Each spring, Boy Scout Troop 68 from the Jamestown Presbyterian Church hold the two-weekend “Merit Badge College” attended by upwards of 300 Akela District scouts from various counties in and around the Piedmont region. On this cold, rainy Saturday, we began the required textbook lesson plan covering fly fishing knots and safety. By 10:00am the boys were already fingering the multitude of curious little tools in the fly tying kits and were eager to get started doing the fun part of the curriculum. Needless to say, having master fly tyers like Jim and Anthony as mentors gave the boys a huge advantage, because by lunch time all of the boys had not only completed one each of the Woolly Bugger and Elk Hair Caddis patterns, but some were starting on their third of fourth. Some were looking better than the ones that I tie!

After a quick lunch of cold pizza and warm Gatorade, we did a little more course work on conservation law and ethics. Then came the unenviable task of teaching our herd of green-horns how to do forecasts, backcasts, roll casts, and double-hauls in a cold and steady downpour. Unfortunately for Jim, Anthony, and I, who would have much preferred sitting at home watching the basketball tournament, these kids are quite acclimated to camping and hiking in foul weather and were thus undeterred. Mercifully the boys quickly came to their senses, running through the casting repertoire in short order and wisely heading back to the warm, dry classroom.

All in all it was a fun and rewarding day, reliving our own early days of frustration at both tying and casting. Except for the thrill of catching a fish or two on their own flys, all 12 boys fell in love with this wonderful sport, thus assuring a ready supply of up-and-coming anglers and future Nat Greene members. A special thanks go to Neal Mitchell for bankrolling a few upgrades to the clubs teaching equipment and tying supplies.

Req#		Description
1		Explain to your counselor the injuries that could occur while fly-fishing and the proper treatment, including cuts, scratches, puncture wounds, insect bites, hypothermia, and heat reactions. Explain how to remove a hook that has lodged in your arm. Name and explain five safety practices you should always follow while fly-fishing.
2		Discuss how to match a fly rod, line and leader to get a balanced system. Discuss several types of fly lines, and explain how and when each would be used. Review with your counselor how to care for this equipment.
3	a	Tie a backing to a fly reel spool using the arbor backing knot
	b	Attach backing to fly line using the nail knot
	c	Attach a leader to fly line using the needle knot, nail knot or loop-to-loop connection
	d	Add tippet to a leader using a double surgeon’s loop or blood knot
	e	Tie a fly onto the terminal end of the leader using the improved clinch knot
4		Explain how each of the following types of flies are used: dry flies, wet flies, nymphs, streamers, bass bugs, and poppers. What does each imitate? Tie at least two types of the flies mentioned in this requirement.
5		Demonstrate the ability to cast a fly consistently and accurately using overhead and roll cast techniques.
6		Go to a suitable fishing location and make observations on the types of insects fish may be eating. Look for flying insects and some that may be on or beneath the water’s surface. Look under rocks. Explain the importance of matching the hatch.
7		Explain the importance of practicing Leave No Trace and how it positively affects fly-fishing resources.
8		Obtain a copy of the regulations affecting game fishing where you live. Explain why they were adopted and what you accomplish by following them.
9		Explain what good outdoor sportsmanlike behavior is and how it relates to fishermen. Tell how the Outdoor Code of the Boy Scouts of America relates to a fishing enthusiast, including the aspects of littering, trespassing, courteous behavior, and obeying fishing regulations.
10		Using the fly-fishing techniques you have learned, catch two different kinds of fish and identify them. Release at least one of them unharmed. Clean and cook another fish.

Click here to see all the Merit Badge class photos

Part II: Field Session (4/11/2009)

On Saturday April 11th, we scheduled a "catching" trip for our scouts at Bur-Mil Park here in Greensboro to try to finish up the last requirement for the Fly Fishing Merit Badge. After a very cool and rainy Friday and predictions for more of the same on Saturday, my hopes were dashed that Saturday would be any different. I was delighted when the sun came up bright and shiny on Saturday morning, giving promise to some good fishing after the day warmed up a bit.

A number of the boys had arrived at the park by 9:00am and strung up the fly rods (without hooks) for casting practice. In less than an hour their casting was looking pretty good, so we gathered up the gear and moved to the fishing pond. For those of you who have never been to Bur-Mil Park, the fishing pond in the woods behind Shelter #7 has a few automated fish-feeding machines and is well-known in Greensboro as a pretty good place to catch a whole bunch of smallish bluegills, crappie, and largemouth in a short amount of time. While not as challenging as mountain trout, the puny little panfish do provide a good confidence-building experience for beginning fly fishers.

For the first 90 minutes or so it wasn't looking very good for our new fly fishermen, so I took this opportunity to go pick up some Subway sandwiches for lunch to boost their morale. By the time I had returned, I was surprised to learn that the boys had already caught a dozen assorted panfish and were well on their way to meeting requirement #10 for catching and releasing one fish and catching, cleaning, and cooking another.

The first boys to make their limit were Hunter and Colin, so I recruited those two to help set up the cleaning table and cooking stove in the parking lot. After I gave a quick lesson in how to fillet, bread, and fry the catch-of-the-day ("Release to Grease" as we like to say), each of the boys took turns cleaning and cooking the silver dollar sized panfish fillets. All of the boys had caught their two fish by 2:30pm, and while some of the boys said they didn't like fish, every one of them waited anxiously to have a taste of the fish they had hooked just minutes before. It was a great day of fishing!

Each parent or adult chaperone of the boys listed below should have received a sheet signed by me or one of the other instructors certifying that they have met all requirements for their Fly Fishing Merit Badge. If you did not receive the sheet or if you have any questions, please contact me via email at admin@natgreeneflyfishers.org and we can discuss.

Scout Name	Troop	Requirements
Hunter Allred	Troop 25	1-10 complete	earned badge
Mike Bauman	Troop 2	1-10 complete	earned badge
Robbie Beeson	Troop 1104
Caleb Cabiness	Troop 25	1-10 complete	earned badge
Jacob Gilbert	Troop 1104	1-9 complete
Colin Grunenwald	Troop 68	1-10 complete	earned badge
Alex Miller	Troop 25	1-10 complete	earned badge
Wayne Mitchum	Troop 19	1-9 complete
Andrew Pearson	Troop 110	1-9 complete
Bryan Serrano	Troop 17	1-9 complete
Lucas Titcher	Troop 301	1-10 complete	earned badge
Joseph Wilson	Troop 1104	1-9 complete

Click here to see all the Merit Badge class photos

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