Emerson Fishing Club takes action — Pascack Press & Northern Valley Press

BY KAREN ROBERTS
FOR PASCACK PRESS

EMERSON – School may be out, but fishing is in. At least for the Emerson Fishing Club. These middle school students recently visited the Oradell Reservoir to try their luck at catching a big fish.

“I love fishing,” says seventh-grader Dylan Miskovitz. It was his first time pursuing his passion at the reservoir, and he says it’s even better than video games.

“My grandpa was a very keen fisherman and I went camping with him once and caught my very first fish in a small cove. From then on I loved it. During quarantine my friends were fishing and I thought why don’t I join in and I just loved it even more.”

Veolia welcomed the young anglers and provided them with fishing rods and lessons – along with some tips on the best fishing spots at Veolia’s reservoirs.

This is the first year of the club, which was formed when educators and parents joined forces to support the program. “I was fortunate to get the fishing club here at Emerson,” says club advisor Bill Bliss. “We’ve been trying to start a fishing club for the last five years.”

The students practice setting bait, casting their fishing rods and patiently waiting for a bite. The group recently visited Oradell Reservoir twice as part of Veolia’s Watershed Education Program.

“This is the first time we’ve hosted this fishing club and it’s been a huge success,” says Andrea Potto, who coordinates student programs at Veolia. “It’s so important that students can experience the ecosystem, enjoy nature and actually spend time on the water.”

The club attracted students like Logan Manning, who caught a largemouth bass. “I go fishing a lot with my parents and my cousins,” he says. “Ever since I was six years old. I wanted to do it with my friends as part of this club.”

“The club is open to anyone,” says Bliss. “We have a few kids who haven’t fished much and a few who are very dedicated. They’re all pretty good. You don’t have to be particularly good at fishing to enjoy it. You just have to be outside.”

On a recent day, students caught seven fish, including largemouth bass, perch and catfish. They took home fish-shaped Veolia backpacks and special memories. Advisor Bliss sees such field trips as a win-win situation for the students.

“They can enjoy nature, develop respect for the environment and learn about the importance of the watershed,” he says. “On the other hand, they get a good social experience outside of the digital world.”

Potto adds: “I would definitely encourage more schools to come and host a fishing event with us.”

To arrange your own school visit, contact Andrea Potto at [email protected]. For more photos from this event, see the July 1, 2024 PDF edition of Pascack Press.

Karen Roberts is a communications specialist in Veolia North America’s New Jersey operations.