I'm am a Manufacturing Technology & Machine Tool Technology instructor at a community college. I also teach several non-credit short courses. The content of these courses varies, but most all of them are technical. My job allows me access to formal classrooms and large media rooms.

Lately I have been contemplating the possibility of offering a bass fishing class. This class would meet 3 hours, one evening a week, for 10 weeks. A total of 30 hours of instruction. I'm no fishing expert or pro by any means, but I've bass fished and fished in general all of my life. I feel that there is a lot I can teach someone who is new to the sport or thinking of getting into bass fishing. There may even be a few trick I can teach a more experienced angler. My questions are:

- If you took a largemouth bass fishing class, what topics would you like to have covered?

- How much would you pay to attend the 10 week class?

- What materials, if any, would you expect to receive (lures, books, etc.)?

- What do you think would be the maximum class size?

- Would you expect on the water demonstrations or would classroom/outdoor dimenstrations be acceptable?

- Should it be broken into two 10 week sessions (60 hours total) or will one 10 week session (30 hours) be enough time to

thoroughly cover the material?

The class would be not for profit with only my time and expenses paid. I think the class would give the college a lot of exposure and be an excellent recruiting tool. Especially, since there are no other such classes offered anywhere in the area. I am trying to consider all of the variable before I go to my director with the idea. So, any other ideas or thoughts that you have are appreciated. Also, a guy a work with is thinking of getting approval to offer a class on bow hunting. I'll let you know how they both end up.

Thanks,

Craig

Jerkbate, you've got a great idea going.  I hope you get this class going.  It's always fun to introduce more people to the sport and teach the techniques.  Here's a few ideas:

Topics:  The basics like rod, reel, and line choices.  Lure types.  Tuning lures and reels (baitcasters) for personal preference.  In-class pitching/flipping demonstrations and and in-class student practice in these techniques.

Fees:  Not sure how much I'd pay to attend the 10 week course.  Would the university offer it in their course catalog?  If so, then the class price would probably be covered through tuition costs and added fees on the tuition bill.

Materials:  Expenses should be deferred to students because chances are, many of them will already have some tackle.  No opinion on text books for bass fishing.

Max Class Size:  20 students

Demonstrations:  Classroom/outdoor demonstrations would probably suffice.  Also, a weekend camping trip where everyone would be able to have a good time and to practice what they've learned from the shore for a couple of days.

10 Week Sessions:  One 10 week session would be enough to cover the basics of bass fishing.  Maybe offer two 10 week sessions if you have two different classes, one might be Beginning Bass Fishing, and the  next one could be Advanced Bass Fishing.

Thanks for the input.  The class would not be part of the standard course offerings for the school.  This class would be more along the lines of an adult education course taught in the evenings for non-credit.  These type courses are developed usually at the request of local industries & other organizations.  They may be offered only once to meet a specific need of an industry.  Therefore, they are not listed in the catalog, and are not included in standard tuition.  I am thinking of charging $100.00 (money goes to the school) per adult for the ten week course with kids under 15 free.  I agree with limiting the course to approximately 20 people.  You mentioned a lot of the topics that I am already considering.  This affirms my thoughts about what to include in the course.  Any other thoughts and opinions are appreciated.

Thanks

Jerkbait my son went to Chowan College in eastern NC and he took a class like this and most certainly enjoyed it.

Howdy,

I think you would need to start with the anamatomy of fish themselves.

show the differeneces between the largemouth and small mouth

then preferred habit and the annual cycle

Then demonstrate the differences between baitcasters and spinning gear.

Examples of the main type of lures i.e. topwater, jerkbait, etc.

preferred conditions to use one over another.

Then take em on a field trip  8-)

jerkbait i think that is a great idea. i took a saltwater inshore class with blair wiggins( the guy from addicted fishing) and it was amazing. i learned an incredible amount about inshore fishing. where are you located? i agree with avid, you must start with anatomy. then you could discuss structure and habitat. just a thought.

Jerkbate, great idea!  For course material a would suggest Bass Wisdom by Homer Circle.

I feel that $100 per student is REALLY inexpensive.  You could probably fill the class at twice the price.

Another suggestion I would make is that you hold several of your sessions at a swimming pool so the students could watch the action of the various lures, practice presentations and learn retrieval techniques.

Then take em on a field trip 8-)

Great idea, Avid!  

Craig,

Texas used to have an angler ed. course and we actually had a textbook.  The course was designed for youth, but could apply to adult non-fishermen as well.  I used to teach it to high school Vo-ag students as part of a Wildlife Management class.  For part of the class, I took them outside and had a casting contest into a target I painted on the grass.  We also took a fishing field trip (from the bank) at the end of the course.  I'll see if I have some of the old materials and would be happy to send you some if you wish.  I don't think the state sends out handbooks anymore, but I may have a lead on another book.

I'll check on what I have.  PM me if you're interested.

-Fisher

Craig,

I couldn't find a copy of the old Angler Ed. handbook, but here's a link to an Acrobat document from Texas Parks and Wildlife. I think this may be the new course handbook:

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/learning/angler_education/learnfish_howto.phtml

Click on "Fishing Texas" link at the top and the document should load. If you go back from that page and search around, there's other great references as well (including information on fish species).

Thanks

-Fisher

Again, PM me if you need anything else. I also have copies of the pre-test and post test for the course.

I do classes for teens (12-19) free of charge; mostly cover basics

Bait Casting: how to string line, adjust drag, adjusting centrifugal brakes, casting, flipping, and pitching.

Techniques: Texas Rigs, Jig-N-Craw, Carolina Rigs, Wacky Rigs, Drop Shots, Spinner Baits, Lipless Crank Baits, Buzz Baits, Jerk Baits, Spoons

Structure: map reading, identifying productive structure, boat positing

Seasonal patterns: weather & lunar phases

Boat operation: USCG safe boating course

This is just a few topics covered

I also do advanced on the water classes; the student only pays for expenses incurred  

Thanks to everyone for your replies. You all offer a lot of good information and advice. I am going to set down this week and put together the class outline. Once I finish it, I will post it so you guys can critique it.

bocabasser, I am located in the Northwestern part of MS off of Interstate 55 half way between Jackson & Memphis. I'm about five minutes from Grenada Lake and no more than 10 minutes from several other 10 to 50 acre public watershed lakes.

If you took a largemouth bass fishing class, what topics would you like to have covered?

The "science" of the various large and smallmouth bass and the sunfish family.

The life stages.

What they eat.

How fast they grow.

Basic lures and presentations.

The four seasons of bass fishing.

Just basic information for the beginner and others so we can learn about our opponent.

- How much would you pay to attend the 10 week class?

$25 to $50.

- What materials, if any, would you expect to receive (lures, books, etc.)?

Handouts on the subjects covered.

- What do you think would be the maximum class size?

30.

- Would you expect on the water dimenstrations or would classroom/outdoor dimenstrations be acceptable?

Classroom demonstrations, etc., only.

- Should it be broken into two 10 week sessions (60 hours total) or will one 10 week session (30 hours) be enough time to    

 thoroughly cover the material?

One 10-week sesson.

Second session can then advance to lures, techniques, etc.

I don't know if this has been suggested yet or not, but if your school has a swimming pool you may want to spend some time letting your students see what the baits look like in the water (what the fish see).

I finally had time to type up an outline for the class. I am going to include the casting contest that Fisher of Men suggested. I am also going to take them to a local lake to fish off of the bank. Let me know any recommendations you have about the outline.

INTRODUCTION TO FISHING

WITH FOCUS ON THE LARGEMOUTH BASS

     Largemouth Anatomy

o      Life Cycle

o      Growth Rates

     Locating the Largemouth

o      Preferred Habitat

o      Structure & Cover

o      Map Reading

o      Seasonal Patterns

o      Preferred Conditions

     Equipment Application, Selection, & Use

o      Rods & Reels

o      Lines

o      Common Knots

o      Terminal Tackle

     Live Bait

o      Preferred Food

o      Presentation

     Lures Application & Presentation

o      Spinner-types

o      Hardbaits

o      Soft Plastics

o      Jigs

     Other Local Fish Species

o      Crappie

o      Bream

o      Catfish

     Additional Topics

o      Handling Fish

o      Fishing Ethics

o      Fishing Safety

o      Removing Hooks

o      Fishing Regulations

I really like your outline. It suggests that you will not delve heavily into specific baits and brands and everything, just the fundamentals of gear selection. Although we here talk tirelessly of high end gear and subtle differences in baits, when really it is not that critical. Stressing seasonal patterns and the variables that both cause and effect those patterns will help your students most. Also there may be companies that would donate gear to such a class. A well written letter on the school's good correspondence stock (cheesy "Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou" reference ) would probably go a long way! Also you might be able to talk a bass magazine to donate subscriptions to students. Homework should include BassResource.com article reads.

Man, I hated school, but bass fishing...now that I could do!

I would mix weather in there some where but I'll give it thumbs up  

I'll give you a different take on it. A few years ago, my dean asked for a sample syllabus. I teach a tech curriculum at a community college, also. The following is one of the documents I delivered I did a real one and this one.

Course Title:      Comparative Sport Fishing

Course No.      WDF 100

Room No.            Stinky's Bait Shop and Package Liquor Store

Credit Hrs.            1 Semester Hours (0 hours lecture and 0 hours lab)

Instructor:                Philboyd Studge

Date developed/revised:      September 1603

Required text:

Subscription to IN-FISHERMAN Magazine

Author(s):      a bunch of smelly old guys

Publisher:      a bunch of old smelly guys

ISBN:      what?

Student Audience:

Students working toward a bankruptcy or divorce

Prerequisite:      a lot of old clothes, an expensive boat and no visible means of support

Course Description:

This is a practical, hands-on class, centered on the study and application of fishing poles in the outdoor environment.  This course begins at the introductory level and goes downhill from there. Quizzes and tests will be chuckled over, and will be shredded to provide insulation for the beer cooler. Selected fish will be eaten. The course emphasizes the on-the-job knowledge and skills required to get out of the house without doing any of the things your wife says you have to be do before you can go fishing.    

Course Outcomes:

    Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

1.      Tie a knot that won't unravel

2.      Catch fish

3.      Clean fish

4.      Cook fish

5.      Eat fish

6.      Smell like fish

7.      Avoid work like the plague

Type of Instruction:

The course incorporates talkin about the big one that got away, sittin around tellin lies, sittin around drinkin beer and hangin out at the bait shop.

Methods of Evaluation:

Grades will be determined by a composite score based on fish species caught, fish size, amount of beer and food brought to class, loudest belch, biggest boat, and fanciest reels.  A comprehensive final exam will be used to make hats.  

Extra credit will be awarded for the following:

     Anybody whose boat cost more than his house

     Any lures “donated” to the instructor

     Spending an entire paycheck at Bass Pro Shop

     Any tackle box weighing more than 100 pounds

     Any rod and reel valued at more than $500.00

Course Objectives:

[ch61553]      Learn 5 good reasons for not mowing the grass today.

[ch61553]      Removing hooks from your fingers.

[ch61553]      Picking out backlashes.

[ch61553]      How to convince the wife you need a new fishing pole

[ch61553]      How to dispose of the bodies of jet-skiers.

[ch61553]      Keeping your live bait stinking up the boat.

[ch61553]      Getting your boat back on the trailer after too much fun on the water.

[ch61553]      How to convince the wife you need a new trolling motor.

[ch61553]      Removing hooks from your partner's ears.

[ch61553]      Hiding new fishing stuff from your wife.

[ch61553]      Watching the bikinis on the beach without appearing to.

[ch61553]      Retrieving equipment lost overboard.

[ch61553]      How to take a leak in the livewell without killing the fish.

[ch61553]      Learn 5 good reasons for not fixing the roof today.

[ch61553]      Finding your way home after too much fun on the water.

[ch61553]      Emergency alternatives for toilet paper.

[ch61553]      Getting your expensive lures out of the trees.

[ch61553]      How to convince the wife you need a new boat.  

[ch61553]      How to pack a nine thousand calorie lunch.

[ch61553]      Learn 239 excuses for not catching fish

[ch61553]      How to convince the wife you need a new pickup truck.

[ch61553]      How to light a cigar in a boat at 60 MPH.

[ch61553]      How to get your buddy out of the house so he can go fishing too.

Jerkbate:

I actually had the head of the local college contact me with regard to starting such a class. At the time, I was unable to devote enough time to the project, but it was a great idea.

As a matter of fact, now that I am retired, just maybe I will pursue the idea again. This school is the perfect venue, with a large pond on the premises and a very large population to draw from.  

Wow, your class sounds great.  I'd sign up in an instance if you were in Western MA

Leon