1st Boy Scout Merit Badge Clinic @ NCWRC Pechmann Center 3-2-13

The NCWRC John E. Pechmann Fishing Education
Center located on the west side of Fayetteville hosted several troops of Boy
Scouts this past weekend as they finalized their requirements to qualify for the
Boy Scout Fly Fishing Merit Badge. We've held these qualifying events for the
past several years. They are so popular scout leaders are not allowed to enroll
until a previously announced date. All slots are usually filled before noon on
that date.



Most troops make a weekend of it by arriving Friday
evening early enough to pitch tents, build a fire
pit and have a grand old time.



The troop leaders have been provided teaching
materials at the time of enrollment
which helps focus the scouts attention to the requirements of the merit badge.
Once they meet up with our cadre of volunteer instructors we follow the same
format as our Basic Fly Fishing Clinics. While they warm up from what proved to
be a chilly night of sleeping in tents, they are asked to demonstrate their
knowledge of knots.



Another volunteer reviews the proper procedures for
assembling a fly rod.



Two of our veteran volunteers provide an overview
of the equipment required and the essentials of effective fly casting.




It's then outside for another lecture on the
essentials of fly casting, complete with demonstrations on both the right and
wrong way to present your fly to the target area.



The kids liked the "power application" station
which utilizes a ball on a stick. It is a little more difficult to master then
it appears. Too much power drops the ball right at your feet.



Other stations are "parallel lines", "back cast /
front cast" and "loop control". By the time they have made the rounds most
participants have a grasp of the five essentials of effective fly casting.
(Eliminate slack line, timing, casting stroke / arch, power application
and rod tip in a straight line)



"Enough practice already. Let's see if we can catch
some fish!" The afternoons are reserved for fishing. We have two ponds filled
with trout who test the skills and patience of our fly fishing participants.




The weather was cool but thankfully not too windy.
Best of all the fish were biting. Everyone caught several which put a smile on
lots of faces.



Our clinics are normally catch and release, however
one of the requirements of the Boy Scout Fly Fishing Merit Badge is the
harvesting of at least two fish. This works out just fine because our ponds are
shallow warm water ponds and start to heat up about this time of year. We
schedule fishing activities to harvest all of the fish prior to their succumbing
to high water temperatures.



We have a mix of rainbow, brown and brook trout.
Most exceed the twelve inch mark.



The fish are brought to a cleaning station where
one of the scout leaders demonstrates proper cleaning techniques and keeps count
of all fingers.


Add a little butter, wrap in aluminum foil and you
have the main ingredient of a nice meal.



Grilled fish, Cole slaw, French fries and a can of
Mellow Yellow - what a way to end the day!

Our 2013 series of fly
fishing clinics is rapidly drawing to a close. We have one more Boy Scout event
on March 16th which will end trout fishing in Fayetteville for the year.


The NCWRC Pechmann Fishing Education Center also hosts Wounded
Warriors, NC Handicapped Sportsmen and any military and their families on the
2nd Wednesday of each month from 1-5 pm (That's March 13th this month). We offer
fly tying and basic fly fishing instruction. At least half of the afternoon will
be spent fishing. Participants from our 4th clinic who were short changed
because of the weather are invited back for the fishing portion on March 13th as
well.