THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, May 13, 1995 TAG: 9505130253
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: EDENTON LENGTH: Medium: 96 lines
John Ellis of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was only a few minutes into his presentation on ``Where Fish Live.'' But one look at Tameka Johnson's face told him he had the 11-year-old hooked.
Tameka stood a head taller than her classmates at the fish hatchery on Friday. But she stood on tiptoes, a right arm stretched skyward, begging to be recognized. She was ready to tell her own fish story.
``I go fishing with my mama all the time,'' Tameka said with a smile. ``I caught a catfish once.''
The fifth-grader at D.F. Walker Elementary School was not alone. Two big yellow buses brought her, along with 133 of her classmates, to the Edenton National Fish Hatchery, to participate in ``Pathway to Fishing.''
The ``Pathway'' program is a 12-station, one-hour tour that teaches youngsters the basics of fishing. Included are brief talks on angler ethics and safety, live baits and lures, ecology, rods and reels, knot-tying, casting and native wildlife.
At the national level, the seminar is geared to children who have had little exposure to angling. But for many of these children, like 11-year-old Brian Hux, fishing always has been a part of life.
``The Albemarle Sound is right in my backyard,'' Hux said. ``One time, I caught a 6-pound bass. It was the biggest thing I've seen in my life. I only use live baits.''
Fishing is a part of life for many children in this community on the banks of the Chowan River. But Fish and Wildlife Service officials said ``Pathway to Fishing'' provides an angling experience that can benefit even the experienced.
``A lot of the children here have experience,'' said Bonnie Strawser, a wildlife interpretive specialist with the Fish and Wildlife Service. ``But many of their parents work and aren't able to take them out fishing. I think this is important because it provides exposure to aspects of fishing without having to be on the water.''
The kids got an opportunity to do a little casting on the grassy lawn in front of the Edenton National Fish Hatchery and Aquarium, trying with determined hand and eye - and, in some cases, a crooked tongue a la Michael Jordan - to land a lure in a nearby tire.
And not all were as savvy about the ways of trout and rockfish as Brian Hux and Tameka Johnson.
Harrel Johnson, District Supervisor for the North Carolina Divi sion of Marine Fisheries, asked a group of students where they go to catch fish.
The answers he got speak volumes about the degrees of angling experience among the crowd.
``In the sound,'' cried one.
``Ocracoke,'' said another.
``Food Lion,'' said a third.
``This is a learning experience,'' said Elliott Atstupenas, manager of the hatchery. ``This teaches children about fish and what a valuable resource they are. We hope we're teaching some lessons for the future.''
Now three years old, ``Pathway to Fishing'' has done far more than teach about spinner baits and catch and release.
``We're trying to teach kids about the environment,'' Strawser said.
``If we can get kids interested in fishing, it's a lot better than a lot of things they could be involved in.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
Edenton National Fish Hatchery's new walk provides access to
Pembroke Creek.
Color staff photo DREW C. WILSON/
Kenneth Jackson of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service cheers on
10-year-old Shae Ferebee's practice casts Friday at the Edenton
National Fish Hatchery.
ANGLING ACCESS
On Friday, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service cut the ribbon for
a newly constructed fishing pier that will provide access to
Pembroke Creek for people with disabilities.
The 15-acre area also will give nature lovers a look at some of
the native wildlife indigenous to wetlands to wetland areas.
``We deal with fish, and we like fish, but we're getting into
areas of education other than fish,'' said Elliott Atstupenas,
manager of the Edenton National Fish Hatchery and Aquarium.
The $40,000 facility overlooks Pembroke Creek. Noreen K. Clough,
the new regional director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, was
on hand for the ceremony.
``Our hatcheries, are, believe it or not, some of the most
popular attractions we have,'' Clough said. ``This is a great thing
because it provides accessibility to the outdoors.''
by CNB