KAYSVILLE — Putting a worm on a hook recently bothered some of the youngsters fishing at Utah State University Botanical Center's pond, but they definitely profited from the old adage about teaching a man to fish.

The pond in Kaysville features a 4-H traditional fishing class, which ended Tuesday. It included six weeks of learning about water quality, environmental education, baiting hooks, casting, recognizing types of fish and holding a fishing pole properly. Students (ages 7-11) also identified bugs, saw frogs, tadpoles and apparently even turtles.

"Fishing is so popular among kids," said Davis County USU extension agent Jolene Christian. "They can do it on their own." Christian said the popular catch-and-release program filled all available 50 spots, turning 20 more away.

She noted some youths fish the pond with their fathers or other relatives because "it's a prideful thing to show others" what they do. When an 8-year-old girl caught the first fish of the camp, "her brother was really excited for her," she added. Justen Smith, another agent, said the girl happily exclaimed, "I won a fishing pole! I won a fishing pole!"

Most of the youths had never fished before, said Smith, but the camp brought them and their parents together. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources provides the use of fishing poles and gives away maps of all Utah fishing ponds. Fishing equipment was given away as prizes.

"It's a great way to learn about fishing, the outdoors, and it brings families together," said Smith.

When an 8-year-old boy caught a 25-inch channel catfish at the pond, "people got stirred up about it and didn't want to touch the whiskers," Christian said. Smith said the boy was initially excited, but soon fear set in "on how ugly it was."

Other youths just couldn't get past dealing with worms, and while they don't like baiting hooks, they're encouraged to do so anyway. In some cases, class instructors will bait a hook for students. By the time the camp finished, all of the youths had learned how to fish with worms, bobbers and sinkers.

A stocked pond is important to beginning anglers, Christian said.

"The kids don't have a good experience unless they're seeing results" of opportunities to catch fish, she said.

On the last day of camp a picnic included a fish fry. For those who were fished out, though, there were also hot dogs to eat.

Fishing is only part of popular programs offered through 4-H, Christian said. Many programs are suited to almost any interest, including livestock production, photography, public speaking, all-terrain-vehicle operation, gardening, PowerPoint and other technological presentations.

Discounting the rural-only stereotype, she said 4-H courses attract urban and rural children nationwide, while some former rural courses are not as needed.

In the Salt Lake area, fishing has become a combination of rural and urban activities. It may even become part of the Davis County Fair, scheduled for Aug. 17-20.