Quad City Fly Fishers Hosts Scout’s Fly Tying Lesson

Cub Scouts from Pack 24 of Riverdale Heights Elementary School, learned to tie flies, shared fishing pictures, and took home both newly-tied and member-gifted flies, while attending a meeting of the Quad City Fly Fishers (QCFF) on Thursday, January 15th, in Riverdale, IA. After teaching one of the scouts to tie flies, club member Dick Boyer gifted the young man with the first vice Dick had used to tie his his own flies.

The enthusiastic and polite Cub Scouts in attendance, 4 in total, are each working toward their fishing badge for either Arrow of Light or Webelos Scouts. They were taught how to secure the hook to a vice, use bobbins, do pinch wraps, and more, by QCFF members; John Channon, Mick McVey, Kate Lodge, Lisa Davis, Frank Juarez, Dick Boyer, and Bruce Jones.  The scouts were under the supervision of Den Leader, Anthony Heddlesten, who is also the Riverdale mayor.

To earn the Webelos Fishing Badge (the “Catch the Big One” adventure pin), scouts must plan a fishing trip, learn safety and equipment, understand local regulations, practice casting, spend at least an hour fishing, and learn about fish, completing specific requirements outlined in the official guide, working with their den leader or parent.

To earn the Fishing Badge for an Arrow of Light (AOL) The scout must complete The Fishing Elective Adventure, which involves planning a fishing trip, understanding safety (using the SAFE Checklist), identifying tackle and knots, learning about fish, and then spending at least an hour fishing while following local rules, demonstrating skills like proper baiting and casting, and completing a fun, supervised outing with your den or family, building towards leadership in fishing skills for older scouts.

The scouts with Mr. Heddlesten went fishing this summer at summer camp for the rest of the pin requirements. For the AOLs, they will bridge into Scouts BSA in March and can try their fly fishing skills again to earn the fly fishing merit badge which also requires them to catch, cook, and clean a fish with a fly.

(The text for this article came from Alan Heddlesten, Lisa Davis and the help of information from the web.  Photos are also from Alan Heddlesten and Lisa Davis.)