A fishing seminar for the new and old

Veteran angler and tournament competitor Brian Stoll will conduct fishing seminars — one for beginners, one for advanced anglers — next month at Kirkwood Community College.

Stoll, who manages the website and Facebook page for the Iowa Bass Federation Nation, said the beginners' session will teach inexperienced anglers how to catch fish. The advanced session, he said, will teach attendees 'how to catch more and bigger fish.'

Stoll said he developed the beginner course materials with parents planning to introduce their children to the sport in mind.

'Over the years I have met a lot of parents who wanted to take their kids fishing but felt they didn't know enough about it to be good teachers,' he said.

In addition to covering tackle, equipment, bait and lure basics, Stoll said he will provide beginners with instruction on knot tying and rigging techniques.

Stoll said he also plans to give beginners some pointers on fish location at different times of the year and some insights into 'places within an hour of Cedar Rapids where they will have a good chance to catch some fish.'

Though Stoll is teaching the Kirkwood course for the first time, he said he has introduced many youngsters to the sport, both through his association with the Iowa Bass Federation Nation, which he serves as secretary, and as a recreational angler.

One of the young anglers he tutored, Jason Hewitt of Cedar Rapids, went on to win back-to-back Iowa Bass Federation Nation state championships, he said.

In the advanced class, catching bass and pike, his specialties, will get the most attention, said Stoll, a member of the Northeast Iowa Bass Anglers, a federation club that holds its tournaments on the Mississippi River.

Advanced techniques to be covered include map reading, boat position and control and lure angles.

Stoll said he would go into greater depth on bass movements and locations throughout the year and advise anglers on 'taking their fishing to the next level.'

The tuition for each seminar is $29. The two-hour seminar for beginners runs from 7 to 9 p.m. on July 11, and the advanced class runs from 7 to 9 p.m. July 18. To register, go to https://kirkwood.augusoft.net