While some sports require fierce coordination and focus to score points and maneuver around the court, there are other sports that require you to listen to your surroundings and work on your technique with patience.
On Oct. 5, Winthrop students in the PESH 176 class went to the Chattanooga River at Sumter National Park in South Carolina to fly fish. The class used this trip as an opportunity not only to put the skills they had learned in the outdoor class to work, but also to relieve themselves of the stress that comes from the woes of academic life. Winthrop outdoor education administration professor Griffen Williams had previous experience from his time at graduate school in Georgia College and was eager to show Winthrop students a new outdoor skill with fly fishing.
“I feel like this trip is a great experience for anyone from Winthrop whether or not you like to fish, it allows students to see a corner of their state that few are able to. Additionally there is something very special about stepping into a river in a wilderness location, slowing down and just focusing on what is directly in front of you,” Williams said.
Junior sport and fitness facility management major Leanna Walton signed up to help with her minor in outdoor leadership. This gave her the opportunity to learn the differences between fly fishing and regular fishing.
“I learned a lot about fishing through this class. The biggest thing I learned in the class was where to look for fish and how to listen and engage in your surroundings in order to choose what fly and spot is best for fishing,” Walton said.
The trip was held as a part of the Basic Instruction Program in the Physical Education and Sport/Human Performance department, teaching students every week to prepare for the trip.
“Students meet for a standard class period each week to learn basic fly casting, fly selection, fishing techniques and water reading,” Williams said.
With being a first experience for students, like Walton, they learned how fly fishing requires you to be more strategic in using an artificial fly to lure in fish, which can be a tough yet rewarding experience.
“I would not say the fly fishing is necessarily more difficult, but more involved. You handle the line and manipulate it more. You use flies instead of bait, too,” Walton said.
Preparing for the trip not only involved learning how to fly fish, it also required students to learn how to prepare for outdoor trips and what to bring in terms of things like navigation gear.
“The instructor gave us specific guidelines on what to wear, bring, and handed us a physical copy of directions. Since the spot we were headed for the trip doesn’t have cell phone reception, we needed a sure way on how to get there,” Walton said.
One of the benefits for participants was spending time outdoors, which can not only relieve stress but can allow students to think clearly and appreciate the sights they might usually take for granted.
“I think that time outside in nature is important to all people, especially college students. Whether it is a backpacking trip, fishing trip or a walk around the lake, time spent outdoors has a multitude of mental and physical health benefits,” Williams said. “I believe one of the biggest benefits is stress relief for students, just stepping into the river for a few minutes away from our normal day can help you relax and reset for the day.”
Winthrop University has plenty of more trip opportunities coming up in the semester in the Physical Education Department, all which can lead to adventures that will make your college experience a more memorable one.
“If you have the opportunity to take a PESH course at Winthrop that takes a trip, you should,” Walton said. “Every trip I’ve been on with a PESH class has been an amazing experience. Also, if you like these kinds of trips and experiences, you should check out a club that’s getting started up again called Winthrop Outdoor Adventure Club (WOAC).”
Photo: Kevin Seabrook/ The Johnsonian
