A fisherman for most of his life, Signal Mountain resident Erik Greywitt wants to pass on his knowledge to others, as his father did with him when he was a child.
"It's always been a part of my DNA," said Greywitt, who counts the time he spent fishing with his dad as some of his best memories.
Though he's not able to share what he knows with his own son, who is nonverbal, Greywitt said he wants to connect with children with a desire to learn, and help adults create special fishing moments with their children like the ones he experienced.
He's offering classes, called "Keeping it Reel," at the Mountain Arts Community Center on Signal Mountain beginning Monday, March 5. Intended for all ages and skill levels, classes will be offered once a week, on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, from 5:30-6:30 p.m.
"It's a program that's never been offered on the mountain," said Greywitt, who has been competing in tournaments since shortly after he graduated high school, though he's become more serious over the past four years. In 2016, he won the city title for Chattanooga in a kayak bass fishing tournament.
Students will learn about a variety of fishing styles, from bass boat and kayak angling to gar and fly fishing. Greywitt said he'll start from the beginning, going over the different species of fish and how to set up a rod and reel combo. He'll also cover water temperatures, spawning times and the importance of water vegetation.
"I have a mixed variety of knowledge I want to pass on to someone else," he said.
Some of the classes will be held in a classroom setting at the MACC, while others will be off-site at locations such as the pond at Camp Jordan and at ponds in some of the gated communities on Signal Mountain.
The cost for four sessions is $40 for one person, $60 for two people, $90 for three people, or $130 for four or more people. Parents can take the classes with their children, and adults or children can join a group class as individuals.
While classes begin the first week of March, people can join at any point, as well as continue on beyond the fourth session.
Greywitt said the classes are a great way for middle school students interested in competing at the high school level to learn the sport, which he said is currently one of the fastest-growing sports. Area high schools such as Soddy-Daisy High and Baylor already have teams, and he said Signal Mountain is planning to start one soon.
For more information, contact Greywitt at 313-6268 or egreywitt1@gmail.com. Register online at signalmacc.org.