I joined the Lancaster County (Pa.) Hawg Hunters back in the late 1980's. Back in the day, I owned a fiberglass ProCraft tri-hull bass boat with a 70 Hp Johnson. It wasn't the best for river fishing, but it got the job done.
Mike Burton, my good friend and fellow teacher at Penn Manor School District, introduced me to the Hawg Hunter bass club. It consisted of a great bunch of anglers who enjoyed bass fishing, hleping one another become better anglers, and gathering as a group. Over the years, the club changed drastically towards cut-throat competition and I decide to leave. With most of the competitive members gone, the club seems to have returned to the type of club I once knew and enjoyed.
The one great thing we accomplished during those years was the formation of the Lancaster County Junior Hawg Hunters. Prior to the Juniors, we used to hold a once a year fishing derby and picnic. Many of the members brought their own children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews to participate. It wasn't really designed to include the general public.
As a middle school counselor for 24 years, I had access to many children between the ages of 12 and 14 years old. The middle school and high school had a weekly "club period" which is how I started the Junior Bass Fishing Club. Mike had a complimentary club at the high school that made bass lures. Our clubs were always filled with future anglers.
At the middle school level, we would watch videos of the Bassmaster television programs and any other fishing related videos I could lay my hands on. These young people were eager for knowledge on improving their fishing skills so that the could better relate with their fathers, mothers, grandparents, and other caring adults. Two of our club's favorite videos were filmed by Glen Lau... "Bigmouth" and "Bigmouth Forever". What great instructional videos.
As the years past and more and more children passed through our club, Ray Caldwell's son, Adam, became a member. Ray was an active member of the Lancaster County Hawg Hunters. Together, we took the school club and moved the meetings to the evening so that we could include all kids interesting in bass fishing. The club was very active in the BASS and was one of the first chartered clubs in the USA.
One major difference between the school club and the evening club was that we actually took the kids on the water to fish several times a year. We also had adults and companies help sponsor the club. The sponsors would donate many lures, hats, etc. to the club for the kids use. Some of our favorite local sponsors were Susquehanna Fishing Tackle and the District 3 of the Pa. BASS Federation (Now called the Federation Nation).
Today, I am no longer an active participant with the Hawg Hunters, but I still take an interest in their youth club. For example, I took a bunch of spinnerbaits (old and new) to the access to hand out to all the kids. They love just about anything you give them. What they don't use, they sell at fishing flea markets over the summer to raise club money... Cool idea!
The Lancaster County Junior Hawg Hunters had a club tournament on Lake Aldred of the Susquehanna River. As you know, that is my home waters. I just had to be there when they came back tot he ramp. I took some new and used spinnerbaits down to the access to handout to the kids... Christmas in September!
Here are some pics from today:
Upper Lake Aldred with Safe Harbor Dam in the background...
Mike with his two Junior Hawg Hunters...
Second club boat in the background...
Boats arriving back at the ramp with adult member/boat owner and Junior Hawg Hunters...
Eight Junior Hawg Hunters fished today. One Junior had five legal size bass and took first place... Great job!
If you know any youngsters, girls and boys, ages 11-18 yrs. old who would have an interest in fishing with the Lancaster County Hawg Hunters, let me know and I'll pass the word on to the adult club.
Dad
