Hooked on Scouting attracts local attention

Scout Director John Feick shows children how to rig up a worm on the new rod and reels that new Cub Scouts will receive.

A program called Hooked on Scouting has started in Southwest Missouri. The goal of the program is to introduce youngsters to fishing, as well as scouting.

The Ozark Trails Council of the Boy Scouts plans on recruiting between 1,500 and 2,000 new Cub Scouts this fall and each of them will receive a fishing rod and reel, as well as a tackle box and basic tackle.

John Feick, Nixa, is the Scout Director for the Boy Scouts in 28 southwest Missouri counties -- including Vernon County -- and three counties in southeastern Kansas. There are 8,500 scouts in the Ozark Trails Council, in total.

"We have partnered with Bass Pro Shops, who have involved some of their vendors, including Zebco," Feick said. "We are also working with local fishing clubs to run our fishing education events.

Each of the new Cub Scouts will have the opportunity to attend one of seven fishing education events throughout the area. One of the new Cub Scouts and an adult partner will win a fishing trip to Lake Fork, in east Texas, to fish with Tom Redington, who is an FLW pro, and sports the Boy Scout logo on his boat."

Feick has experience in running recruitment events in other areas of the country that were well-received by parents, children and the sportsmen and anglers who helped run them. Over the next four years, the program hopes to put fishing equipment and education into the hands of 6,000 to 8,000 children and their parents.

All new Cub Scouts are invited to attend a Hooked on Scouting fishing event, Sept. 21. At this event, they will earn their fishing belt loop and have a chance to fish with their new rod and reel.

Events will be held at Kellogg Lake, Carthage, Roaring River State Park, Pomme de Terre State Park, Bass Pro in Springfield, Rolla Lions Club Park, Twin Pines Conservation Education Center, Winona, Austin Community Lake near Cabool and Cow Creek, Blue Eye in Missouri, and Lakeside Park, in Pittsburg, Kan.

"From past experience, most of the kids who say they would like to go fishing, don't go," Feick said. "Oftentimes, it is due to the lack of knowledge on the parents' part or lack of the equipment to fish with.

"There is also the perception by many young families that to be a successful fisherman, you need a $30,000 boat and several thousands of dollars worth of electronic gear, as well as expensive rods, tackle, etc. While doing a program about scouting, I asked how many in attendance would like to go fishing and every hand would be raised. However, when I asked how many of the kids had been fishing, about two thirds of the hands dropped."

While checking the rising water at the State Park Marina last week, I ran into Jack Martin, Springfield, who was talking about how his 9-year-old son, David, finally started fishing this summer on Table Rock and caught his first fish, an 11-inch crappie.

"I remember when I started fishing by using a cane pole with a bobber and a hook, baited with a worm," Martin said. "My first fish was a 2-pound channel catfish and I was hooked for life on fishing.

"I think the Cub Scout program is a good thing for youngsters. Once they get started fishing at an early age, they will be hooked like I was."

When surveyed, boys in the correct age range to be Cub Scouts indicated that fishing was one of the top things they wanted to do. The fishing education events are also aimed at moms and dads who may not have fishing experience and are willing to learn as their sons do.

On a recent trip to Scout Camp Arrowhead, near Marshfield, several Cub Scouts checked out the new rods and reels on the 20-acre lake at the 600-acre camp. The lake has bass, crappie, catfish and perch. Most of the young anglers landed fish and were excited to be fishing.

For more information on Hooked on Scouting, contact the Ozark Council at www.ozarktrailbsa.org, or call 417-883-1636.