When parents Jay Ham and Chris Scott realized how much time children spent indoors, they created a curriculum for fly-fishing to teach students about South Carolina’s natural resources.
Ham and Scott developed a program called CastAway. It’s an eight-week course they hope to implement in other schools in the state.
All Saints’ Episcopal Day School agreed to host the pilot program; Ham and Scott both have children at the school.
“We both have small children, small kids, and we see how they’re attached to video games, sitting inside, with the TV and the computer. We both grew up outdoors, and it was a way for us to hopefully get the children involved in the outdoors,” Ham said.
The course teaches children the basics of fly-fishing, including learning how to cast their rod, attach artificial fly bait and how to reel in a fish.
CastAway also hosted local speakers to speak about biology and enjoying nature.
Ham said fly-fishing can provide a good outlet for just about anybody.
“Instead of a child who maybe doesn’t want to play a team sport, maybe this is another opportunity for them to get outside, to be active. Fly-fishing is an active sport; it takes a lot of coordination, a lot of practice, a lot of skill,” Ham said.
Stone Godbold, a fifth-grader who participated in the program, said he has fished since he was little, but he’d glad he knows a little more about fly-fishing.
“It was just sort of thrilling, because it was my first time fly-fishing, and it was pretty cool because I hadn’t ever done it before,” he said.
He caught a few bass and brim and hoped to have a fish fry.
“It was probably the biggest brim I’ve ever seen,” Godbold said.
Ham said he has long-term plans for each of his students.
“It’s not something they’re going to finish the eight-week class and expect to be expert casters, and we tell them they’re going to need to get outside and practice,” he said. “Fly fishing is really not about how big the fish is, or how many fish you caught.”
Ham said there are many opportunities to fly-fish in the Pee Dee, whether it’s in lakes, rivers or farm ponds.
“I would recommend it, because I think it’s fun to come out here with your friends and be out here fishing,” Godbold said.
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