Senior Joscelyn Cervantes: "I've learned a lot. I came into the club not really knowing how to do pretty much anything except hold a fishing rod. So I learned how to cast, tie knots, how to be patient."
English teacher Mike Spencer started the club back in 2011. They meet once a week during their lunch period -- planning fishing trips and tournaments. "As a teacher, you have an opportunity to share passions with kids, sometimes in the classroom but more importantly outside the classroom."
Club membership requires good grades and good citizenship, motivating the young men and women to do well in the classroom. Club president John Her explained, "I wasn't really into school, but once he started the Bass Club, I got really into school, started coming every day, try to do my best." Club member Savannah added, "Motivates me to do better. I wanna be the 4.0 student in the fishing club."
The club also takes community service very seriously, often combining fishing trips with trash pickup, logging hundreds of volunteer hours.
And earlier this month, club hosted the inaugural Rotary Club of Fresno's Student-Angler Federation Central California open at Pine Flat Lake earlier this month. Nearly three dozen students participated, representing nine campuses. They hope fishing clubs catch on at other schools.
For more information, visit the club's Facebook page.
