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Family hosts memorial fishing clinic

School of Fish program has 25 Charles City graduates

Contributed photo Dennis Westergard helps a young fisherman at a School of Fish clinic he and his family sponsored. The clinic served as a memorial to Westergard’s parents, Harry and LaVola Westergard who loved to fish. Over 25 students participated in the School of Fish clinic. Each learned the basics of fishing and were equipped with fishing essentials.
Contributed photo
Dennis Westergard helps a young fisherman at a School of Fish clinic he and his family sponsored. The clinic served as a memorial to Westergard’s parents, Harry and LaVola Westergard who loved to fish. Over 25 students participated in the School of Fish clinic. Each learned the basics of fishing and were equipped with fishing essentials.

By Amie Johansen

amie@charlescitypress.com

 

Last Saturday, Dennis Westergard and his family put on a fishing clinic in memory of his parents, Harry and LaVola Westergard.

“Dennis’ parents loved to fish,” Rhonda Westergard, Dennis’ wife, said. “It was something they truly enjoyed doing together.”

According to Westergard, the couple took annual fishing trips to Canada and often fished along the Mississippi River. Part of their love for fishing was sharing their experiences with friends and family.

 “We wanted to do something in their memory to honor them. Dennis had heard about this school for children and thought it would be a wonderful way to educate children on the basics of fishing,” Westergard said.

“Fishing the Midwest” is a fishing television show that was started 26 years ago. In 2013 “Fishing the Midwest School of Fish,” taught by Mike Frisch, was started to provide good fishing education along with three specific goals: to teach children about fishing, to teach basic fishing skills and to teach about and provide quality equipment.

Each year Frisch puts on roughly 40 classes over the course of just 70 days, graduating more than 2000 fishing students. According to Westergard, there were 27 Charles City School of Fish graduates.

Although these classes have been held all over the midwest —  Minnesota, North and South Dakota, and Wisconsin — this was the first ever School of Fish class held in Iowa.

School of Fish students received a book that explains basic fishing, a rod and reel, tackle pack, snack bag and a variety of other fishing goodies.

“(Frisch) helped the children develop knowledge and skills that will help them catch fish,” Westergard said. “They learned about where to look for fish and about some good lures for catching them.”

A goal of School of Fish is for each graduate to have the ability to tie their own fishing knot and be able to rig their own slip-bobber set up, Frisch said. The students also learned how to tie the “fisherman’s knot.”

Besides honoring Harry and LaVola Westergard, the fishing clinic fulfilled a sense of duty.

“We have a responsibility to get our children into the outdoors so they acquire a love for nature,” Westergard said.

Participation was done through a preregistration of children in third through fifth grade. The Westergard family looks forward to hosting another fishing clinic next year.  

“What a wonderful opportunity for our family to share our love of fishing and the outdoors with the next generation,” Westergard said. “It was a huge success and we look forward to making it an annual event. What a great way to highlight our beautiful Cedar River within our community.”

 

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