Complete Scout-Led AOL/Junior Fishing Meeting Plan - Teach Them To REALLY Fish!

No more show-up-and-fish!

By the time Scouts are Arrows of Light or Juniors, there’s a good chance they’ve been fishing at a council or unit event where adults planned the time, location, and prepared the gear. That’s a great start, but it’s time to transition from mostly adult-led to mostly Scout-led. The Arrow of Light Fishing Adventure requires just that!

Here’s how I adapted the program activities suggested as AOL Patrol Advisor (and trained Scouting America Angling Educator) when my patrol voted to complete Fishing as an elective. Important note here: Like scouting, all fishing is local. Unless you also live in Texas, you’ll have to substitute the relevant resources and information for your area. But what I used should still give you a good idea of what to include!

It also doesn’t look like there are any national Girl Scout badges or even patches for fishing, but since this Adventure is meant for the equivalent of second-year Juniors, GSUSA leaders of Juniors might find this all the more useful for Girl Scout Troops that want to fish! There are council badges for fishing – maybe yours has one, even though ours doesn’t!

Leader Preparations Beforehand

Scouts with their own gear should know how to use it with confidence, and those who don’t have any will need to borrow. Find out which of your Scouts have gear and which ones don’t.
Screen the potential places to go and species to target and make sure you know what’s going to be a practical place and realistic species to go for at the time of year in question where you are.
Make sure you have the qualified supervision – a Scouting America Angling Educator or Angling Instructor, a state parks certified fishing educator, or someone else with not just fishing knowledge but knowledge on teaching children to fish safely
Have an idea of when the qualified supervision and/or a second leader is available for a weekend fishing trip. No sense in having them decide on a trip that can’t be executed
Bonus: See if you can find extra adults to help assist – the fishing trip will be more fun for the Scouts if they get help quickly when they inevitably hook a tree, log, or need more bait.
In Scouting America: Check to see who’s a Swimmer.

Meeting 1: Know Before You Go/Plan Ahead and Prepare

Supply List:

Let’s Go Fishing Junior Ranger Workbooks, one per Scout
A Leave No Trace Fishing reference card
AOL Fishing Plan worksheets, one per Scout
SAFE sheets, one per Scout
Tackle Box Tune-Up Sheets, one per Scout with their own tackle box
Seasonal Fishing in Texas article print-out
TPWD Neighborhood Fishin‘ locations map for our city
takemefishing.org map printouts showing local fishing spots
TPWD Rainbow Trout Stocking Schedule print-out
TPWD Winter Trout Stocking Program Angling Tips printout
TPWD Fishing Wallet Reference card printouts, 1-2 per Scout
Printout of TPWD Fishing License Packages

Hand out Let’s Go Fishing! Junior Ranger books and pencils to everyone.

Safety First

Go around and share what they are looking forward to the most with the fishing trip. Ask them to jot it down in the booklet.

Safety First!

Hand out S.A.F.E. Checklists and go through them in tandem with the Safety Checklist and Stay Smart Checklist in the Junior Ranger booklet.

Supervision

Youth are supervised by qualified and trustworthy adults who set the example for safety. Possible questions:
- Who is the adult supervising the fishing trip?
- Is the adult knowledgeable about fishing?
- So we’re automatically fishing with not just a buddy, but a qualified adult as well! (Let’s Go Fishing booklet)

Assessment

Is the fishing location safe? (Example of unsafe: wading into deep, quickly flowing water, standing on the edge of a cliff to fish in a pool below)
What type of safety gear is needed?
- Life jacket for non-swimmers – also part of LNT (Use a personal flotation device where required and/or appropriate.)
- Wide-brimmed hat and safety glasses for everyone (to prevent hooks in eyes/head)
- Make absolutely sure to remember first-aid kit

Fitness and Skill

Participants’ Annual Health and Medical Records are reviewed, and leaders have confirmed that prerequisite fitness and skill levels exist for participants to take part safely.
- Does everyone have completed a Scouting America or Girl Scout Annual Health and Medical Record handed in?

Equipment and Environment

Is all our gear in good shape?

Back to the Jr Ranger booklet

Did we cover everything on the Junior Ranger booklet Safety checklist and the stay smart checklist? Not yet! Give a friend or family member the fishing plan, we’ll do after we make the fishing plan in this meeting. But “We know the rules for fishing”, what about that? Where can you find them?

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Outdoor Annual!

It has the complete hunting and fishing regulations in lots and lots of detail – but also quick summaries of what you need to know the most: who needs a fishing license and what are the limits for how many fish you can take.

Give the Scouts the printout of the TPWD Fishing License Packages page and ask them to figure out how many fishing licenses and of what kind we’re going to need.

Also give them the Recreational Fishing Regulations printouts, and explain that this is needed later when we’ve decided what we’re fishing for and need to know what the take limits are.

Ok, so there are the parts of the fishing rules that recreational anglers like us need to know! Now we can check that box in the booklet. And of course we’re not relying on cell phones, because you’re not bringing any!

Make a Fishing Plan Step 1: What’s Around to Fish Here this Time of Year?

What fish do you already know live here?

Do you know when they are easiest to fish? Fish have seasons! They bite differently depending on temperature – so the first step of a successful fishing trip is to know what you have the best chance of catching. Give them the Seasonal Fishing in Texas: What to Catch Each Season article.

I happen to know that there is another fish that’s perfect to go after in winter here – rainbow trout. They’re not native, but they’re stocked in certain ponds by TPWD, like these here.

Give them the Neighborhood Fishin’ map printouts and the Winter Trout Stocking Program Angling Tips printout.

They die in summer because it’s too hot here, but because we’ll be going while they can survive here rainbow trout are also an option.

Make a Fishing Plan Step 2: Where Do Those Fish Live?

So now that we have a list of fish that we have the best chance of catching, let’s learn more about fish so we can figure out where we should go catch them.

Fish like to live in different kinds of places! Take a look at page 2 of the booklet. Who knows the parts of a fish? (Label the parts)

We have channel catfish here in Texas – who knows where they like to hang out? [muddy creeks or under logs]

We also have bluegill – where do they stand in the water? [lake edges]

What about flounders? They’re saltwater fish. [sandy bottoms]

And pike? I used to fish pike with my dad at our summer house. For them, you want to cast as close to reed and cattail stands as you can without hooking the cattails, because they like to hide in between reeds or in seagrass stands, where their patterning is camouflage.

Look at page 5 of the booklet. Mark where we are on the map, and then look at the kinds of fishing on the right side. What kind of fishing do you do to catch catfish? [lake fishing]

Deep water crappie? [lake fishing]

Striped bass (below dams)? [lake fishing, river fishing]

Rainbow Trout? [lake fishing, ice fishing, river fishing]

Make a Fishing Plan Step 3: What Specific Body of Water Should We Go To?

Hand out Fishing Plan worksheets to everyone, then give them the takemefishing.org map printouts and ask the patrol leader to guide the patrol in deciding where we should go (and which fish(es) they want to target).

I have of course looked up the answer: out of the fishes that bite well in winter, the nearby options are as follows:

Catfish – anywhere

Deep water crappie – Diversion Lake 45 min away

Striped Bass (below dams) – no dams nearby

Rainbow trout: Stocked (schedule drops in mid-Nov) in Miller’s Pond and Southside Lions Park (also catfish stocked)

Fill out page 7 (Junior Role Model) and the Fishing Plan

Now we have enough information to make a plan! Turn to page 7 of the booklet – where will we fish? Write it in the booklet.

What kind of fish are you personally be going after, catfish or rainbow trout? Write it down.

Look up the bag limits on them – how many can you keep, and do they have to be a certain size? [5, no]

And who needs a license? [the adults]

What fish in Texas are catch and release ONLY? [Goliath and Nassau Grouper, prohibited shark species]

We already know these sites are open for us to visit and fish based on how we found them, so we’re good there; next is what kinds of bait, lures, and sinkers we should use. Let’s switch to the Fishing Plan.

For the fish that you personally decided to target at {LOCATION}, where in the water do they like to stand? Give them the answers from the Texas Freshwater Fish Identification Pocket Guide for catfish and the below for rainbow trout:

Rainbows like to stand fairly free in lakes, but follow water temperature. Their ideal water temperature is 53F, and they stay low or surface depending on where the water is the most comfortable for them. They are the most active at dawn and dusk, and seeing them take insects off the surface is a sure sign that they will bite.

The most recommended way to fish for rainbows is to bottom still angling with power bait. The power bait floats, so the distance from the sinker to the bait is how high you’re fishing in the water.

You can also bobber angle from the top for them, in which case worms, shrimp, and corn are good.

If you prefer to be more active, you can spin cast for them with a small lure. However, we don’t fish with treble hooks in Scouts, so lures aren’t allowed. We’ll stick to still angling.

If they have more questions about the conditions, use https://freshwaterfishingadvice.com/water-temperatures-rainbow-trout/ and https://freshwaterfishingadvice.com/catfish-water-temperature/.

Make a Fishing Plan Step 4: What Date and Time?

Dusk or dawn?

Homework:

Hand out Take-home Tackle Box Tune-Up for those with gear

Meeting 2 - Ready the Gear

Supply List

Tackle box
Fishing license
Rod
Reel
Fishing line
Barbless hooks
Bobbers
Sinkers
Swivels
Bait
Needle nose pliers
Scissors
First aid kit
De-hooker
Trash bag
Tackle Box Tune-Up worksheet
Sharpened pencils, one per Scout
Printer
Fishing line, a least one spool
Small washers, two per Scout
Scissors, enough to share

Each Scout with gear should bring their own:
- Completed Tackle Box Tune-Up worksheet from Requirement 4
- Tackle box
- Fishing license
- Rod
- Reel
- Fishing line
- Barbless hooks
- Bobbers
- Sinkers
- Swivels
- Bait
- Needle nose pliers
- Scissors
- De-hooker
- Trash bag

Before the meeting

Put together a sample tackle box to show the Scouts that don’t have their own and to gently point out what those who have one might be missing
Set up the meeting space with the sample tackle box in a place visible to all Scouts.
Collect needed supplies. Cut fishing line into 1-foot pieces, enough for each Scout to have line to tie two knots.
Become familiar with fishing knots by reading the Scout Life article “8 Fishing Knots to Know.”
Practice tying an improved clinch knot, a Palomar knot, a Surgeon’s knot, and a Turle knot so you can demonstrate.
Set up meeting space for Scouts to have room to tie their knots.
Remind parents and legal guardians that Scouts are to bring their fishing gear to the next den meeting.
Set up the meeting space for Scouts to have room to show their fishing gear.

Tackle Box Tune-Up

Share with Scouts that a tackle box is a great place to store the items needed for a fishing trip.
Let Scouts look through the items in the tackle box and ask questions.
- Fishing line- the main thing everything else is attached to.
- Fishing license- if we are stopped by a game warden, we need to have proof we are allowed to fish.
- Barbless hooks- these hooks don’t hurt the fish as much and are easier to remove.
- Bobbers- this allows us to see when a fish has taken a bite, because it will dip under the water as the fish tries to swim away.
- Sinkers- to put the hook lower into the water.
- Swivels- to help change out bait and hooks easier.
- Bait-food for the fish.
- Needle nose pliers- to help remove hooks, bend hooks and clamp sinkers.
- Scissors- to cut fishing line.
- First aid kit- in case you get hurt.
- De-hooker- to help remove a hook if a fish has swallowed it.
- Trash bag- to collect any trash or fishing line you find or need to throw away.
Explain that Cub Scouts need to check equipment off the list as they prepare for their fishing trip. Remind Cub Scouts that if they do not have their own equipment, they can borrow equipment from a family member or friend.

Take a look at page 6 in the booklet and label the parts of the gear. Which parts are the ones you change depending on what you’re fishing for?

What kind of a fishing setup are you personally going to use to fish for your selected fish at dusk/dawn? Facilitate conversation. Who’s going to bring what bait?

Learn Fishing Knots

Explain to Scouts they will be learning how to tie two fishing knots. Explain that the small washers will represent the eye of the hook for this practice.
Pass out fishing line and washers to Cub Scouts.
Demonstrate how to tie an improved clinch knot:
- Run the end of the line through the eye of the washer, double the line back, and make six twists around the standing part (the long part of the line).
- Run the end of the line through the small loop where the line joins the eye of the washer and then back through the large loop you just formed.
- Partially close the knot and moisten it a little with water before securing it tightly against the eye of the washer. Cut off the short (tag) end of the line.
Have Scouts practice tying an improved clinch knot.
Demonstrate how to tie a Palomar knot:
- Double the line to make a 4- to 6-inch loop, then pass the end of the loop through the eye of the washer.
- Tie a loose overhand knot in the doubled line.
- Pass the washer through the loop and pull on the doubled line to tighten the knot, guiding the loop over the top of the eye of the washer.
- Cut off the short (tag) end of the line.
Have Scouts practice tying a Palomar knot.
Demonstrate how to tie a Surgeon’s knot:
- Lay the line and leader on top of one another, overlapping each other by several inches, and form a simple loop.
- Pass both the tag end and the entire leader through the loop.
- Pass both the tag end and the entire leader through the loop a second time.
- Moisten knot and pull all four ends tight. Cut off the short (tag) end of the line.
Have Scout practice tying a surgeon’s knot.
Demonstrate how to tie a Turle knot:
- Pass the line through the eye of the washer and make a loop.
- Make a smaller loop and wrap the end around it twice.
- Hold the bigger loop and pull the end to tighten.
- Take the bigger loop around the washer.
- Pull the standing part (the long part of the line) to tighten the knot.
- Cut off the short (tag) end of the line.
Have Scouts practice tying a Turle knot.
Ask Scouts which knot they would like to use on their fishing trip.

Ready Your Personal Gear

Ask Scouts to spread out around the meeting space with their fishing gear.
Tell Scouts that you will be reading the gear list from the Tackle Box Tune-Up worksheet. They need those items to be prepared for the upcoming fishing trip. As you call out the item, the Scouts are to hold it up.
Discuss any additional items the den or Scouts need to bring to be prepared for their fishing trip.
Review the following:
- Is their fishing gear the proper size for the fish that they will be targeting?
- Is their fishing gear clean and in good working order?
- Is their fishing gear properly threaded and attached to their reel and hook or lure?
- Are your hooks clean?

At the Water - Scouting America Rules

Scouting America Annual Health and Medical Record or Girl Scout Health Record on each participant (youth and adult)
Life jackets for Non-Swimmers, if fishing from a dock or a wall (Scouting America) or for everyone (if in Girl Scouts)
Fishing poles, one per Cub Scout
One wide-brimmed hat per Cub
Safety glasses or sunglasses (or eyeglasses) for each Cub
Tackle box which includes:
- Fishing line
- Fishing license if required
- Barbless hooks
- Bobbers
- Sinkers
- Swivels
- Artificial bait
- Needle nose pliers
- Scissors
- De-hooker
Fishing net
Bait or tackle based on the fish you will be fishing for
Den first aid kit
Scout Ten Essentials

Supervision:

Adults should bait the hooks and remove fish from hooks. Watch the YouTube video Baiting A Hook With A Worm (duration 1 minute 50 seconds) and How to Remove the Hook From the Fish: Catch and Release (duration 1 minute 37 seconds.)
When not fishing, the pole should always be held upright to prevent poking another scout or adult
Use the buddy system
Give plenty of room to others who are fishing nearby
Bring the sample tackle box

Assessment

Inspect the site that you will fish prior to the outing. Check for any areas that could pose a danger to the Cubs such as steep banks, rocks, etc.
Never fish where people are swimming.

Fitness and Skill

Avoid back- or side-casting with a fixed-line pole.
Have the scout yell “Fish On!” and clear the immediate area as the scout is bringing in the fish.
When caught, fish should be brought in by just lifting the tip of the pole upright slowly and then securing the fish.

Equipment and Environment

Fish only on still waters (ponds or lakes). If fishing from a dock or wall, non-swimmers should wear a life jacket.

Get Ready

Choose a “home base” and put down your gear. Before getting rods out, talk about reading the water. Ask them to turn to page 8 of the Junior Ranger booklet and fill it out. Then tell them to get their poles ready. Help them as needed.

Go Fish!

Scouts that have baited gear ready and a buddy may go fish! Designate an adult to be ready to help whoever yells “FISH ON!” reel in their catch.

Bored Scouts can do page 9 in the booklet to pass the time. Ask them to complete pages 11 and 12 for another Scout in the pack, or a friend not in Scouts.

The Scouts need to spend at least an hour fishing for the adventure.

Pack Up

After all the gear is packed up, do a police line and do page 10 in the booklet as a retrospective.