Smolt School

A summer fishing series for youth ages 10-14

Smolt are young salmon who begin the journey from stream to sea. Welcome to the Smolt School, an introduction to the art of angling for kids!

We’ll spend the summer on an awesome adventure, chasing after invaluable learning and cherished memories which swim below the water’s surface. Just like any big project, we will carefully build our skills and knowledge from the ground up, first conquering the tricky fundamentals that make fishing work before journeying out to see what special magic is concealed just out of sight below the sparkling water.

Taught with special attention to our responsibilities as anglers, the Smolt School equips young participants with the skills and information to begin a lifetime of successful and adventurous fishing, dedicated stewardship and fish conservation. This program is for young fishers with little to no experience, though those who have fished before are also welcome.
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• Explore fishing from a scientific, artistic and naturalistic perspective
• Gain confidence fishing with different gear and practices, and develop your own, personal style
• Learn about different fishing strategies, nearby locations, local fish and their preferred prey
• Pursue a dozen species of fantastical sport fish across the ancient and mythical freshwater ecosystems of the region
• Learn how to protect fish from issues that threaten them

Equipment: Fishing is a gear-heavy practice and sport. This program will provide some amount of gear for shared use during the program, but bringing your own gear is highly encouraged. We will provide a full equipment checklist during registration. 

When: 10 Fridays from 6/2-9/8

• ​6/2-7/14: 1-6 PM 
• 7/28-8/18: 7AM-12PM
• 8/25-9/8: 1-6 PM

Where: ​Varied locations across western Massachusetts (brooks in Amherst, lakes in Belchertown, rivers
in Charlemont, tributaries in Sterling and many places in between)

Ages: 10-14

Price: $390-780 sliding scale