A lifetime of fishing can provide a lifetime of lessons. And all fishermen (and women) have to start somewhere.
That has become the mission in life of Nathan Thomas, founder of the Texarkana Arkansas School District Fishing Club. Entering into its sixth year, the club permits students to learn the skill of fishing as well as do a little community service.
"Our community service piece is a tournament we put together and the whole community is invited to join us," said Thomas.
"Going to these tournaments the club participates in is expensive and the community helps out with that. This is our way of giving back to them."
Thomas, 40, has been participating in fishing since he was a kid.
"I fished with my Dad (George Thomas) as well as my grandparents," he said. "We moved around, often fishing in local ponds and the occasional lake. All that time and those memories stick with me to this day."
Thomas started the fishing club going on six years ago to pass that experience onto other kids who may not have had a chance to get that experience before.
"The tournaments are an experience even for experienced anglers," he said. "We go to a few sites, but Bobby Ferguson Park (at the Four States Fairgrounds) is our most common location. It is also the site of our derby."
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission stocks the pond there.
"The motto of our club is 'Hooked on fishing, not on drugs'," he said. "Kids out there are exposed to drugs and alcohol; fishing keeps many of them out of trouble."
The TASD fishing club has even discovered some real talented anglers in their ranks.
"We have a few champion anglers, developing some real skill," he said.
The main purpose for the program, however, is to give the students something positive in their lives.
"Our program has helped steer kids from some rough things," he said. "But it is most effective when parents are also involved. In fact, that is critical. This is an enjoyable hobby, good clean fun, as much fun as they will have doing anything. But building the family bond is essential to this."
Right now, the fishing club has five students doing the tournaments.
"Right now, things are limited due to the unusual circumstances of this year," he said. "But it will come back. We will have the derby in the spring."