GREENE – No beautiful weekend should be taken for granted in Upstate New York, especially when a day of outdoors education and fishing are on the line.
Last weekend at Cook Park, located in the Town of Greene, more than 30 families ventured out to participate in the 2nd Reel Weather Youth Fishing Clinic.
Jim Root, a contributor to Weather Underground, lives for bringing the science of weather to the sport of fishing. In his hands-on clinics, Root discusses and explains to children and parents alike how weather conditions such as barometric pressure, wind and sun affect what the fish are doing below the water’s surface and how to catch them.
Being a weather junkie, Root travels with a personal weather station that he utilizes on site to monitor conditions and explain how the environment influences fish behavior, but first he began by stressing the importance of keeping parks and waters clean to the group.
“I wanted everyone to understand how vital it is that we protect our environment so that we can continue to enjoy this great sport for many years,” Root said.
While some anglers were more experienced than others, none of them lacked any enthusiasm.
“Once children understand that the lakes and rivers and streams are bedrooms and homes to aquatic wildlife, it is easier to establish motivation to keep those areas clean and free of pollution,” Root said.
After that, Root got right into fish behavior and weather conditions.
With his personal weather station set up and running, Root gave very basic information to the entire group about how bass relate to the various weather conditions like sunlight, wind, rain, barometric pressure, and temperature.
“Once we had covered that and answered some related questions, we broke into two groups based on skill level,” he said.
The older, more experienced group was given more detailed instruction about structure, how to locate fish, how to provoke them into biting when they don't appear to be hungry, and how they migrate based on seasonal changes and weather patterns.
“The one thing I heard repeatedly was ‘I never knew that, or that it was so scientific,’” Root said.
Not only were the children getting an education, several parents were instructed on how to use the weather station. “I show them what I look for, what information is most important, how I document it, and what my journal entries look like,” Root said.
Root also explained various ways that they accomplish the same thing and benefit from different types of information they gather without having to invest the same amount of time, and money into equipment – and suggested ways to improve their catches by simply recording conditions when they happen.
“If all you do is keep a small notebook in your tackle box, and jot down some basic notes,” continued Root, “you'll be able to establish patterns that will help you for years to come.
”Keep your kids at the lake, and away from video games. You'll be really glad that you did.”
Root extended his sincerest thanks to the many sponsors that assisted in the clinic's success by providing free food, gear and apparel: Weather Underground, Citizens Bank in Greene N.Y., Roma's Pizzeria, Dobyns Rods, Bill Lewis Lures, Shimano Fishing.
Additionally, Cook Park for hosting the event and allowing the group to use the park, Anthony Lorefice for helping out, and to all the parents and family members who took time on their Fourth of July weekend to relax by the water with their kids.
For more information about upcoming events or to keep up-to-date with Jim Root's blog, visit www.wunderground.com/blog/JimRoot.