Two Student Organizations
In this Issue: I am out of the office today, so I am sharing information on two student organizations that are either new or trying to recruit new members for future growth: Club Fishing and Women’s Ice Hockey.
Club Fishing
Earlier in the semester, I sat down for a Q&A with Alex Rothe (’25) who is President of Club Fishing and the Bass fishing team to talk about this student organization. [Full disclosure, my late P’92 dad was an avid fisherman, so I was happy to learn more about Club Fishing.]
Where do you fish?
- We generally fish at Belews Lake, a reservoir located in Forsyth county roughly 30 minutes away from the Wake Forest campus. It was built by Duke Energy to cool its coal power plant in the area and as a result it is very warm providing ample fishing year around.
Do students who want to join Club Fishing need their own pole/reels/lures?
- No, we provide all tackle, rods, and reels.
Do students need to know how to fish already, or can they join as a newbie?
- No. We will teach students how to fish: from how to hold a rod and cast it, to more complicated things such as fishing knots, and even different types of reels.
Do you have to have a car to join the organization?
- While it certainly helps, no you do not. You can borrow a car from Wake Forest following a short driving test and from that you may hitch the boat trailers.
Tell me a little bit about your boats.
- We have 2 boats: a trident and a tracker boat. Both are outfitted with fish finders, GPS, trolling motors, live wells, and one even has power poles. They are all up to NC standards and regulations with safety gear, first aid kits, and more. We also have 4 kayaks and are looking to buy a Jon Boat to fish some of the backwaters here in NC.
Do you have to know how to drive a boat to join Club Fishing?
- While it is incredibly helpful to have an NC boating license, it isn’t the end of the world. WF Fishing Team will sponsor a class to receive a lifetime nationwide boating license through Safe Boater Training.
What kind of time is involved in a general bass fishing event? Like, is it an all-day affair, half day, just a couple of hours, etc.?
- Generally a bass fishing tournament is a 2-3 day event, but there are single day smaller events which are generally in the morning and early afternoon. We must highlight that this club is not exclusively for competitive fishing, it is just something we’d love to introduce to members.
How often do you fish? Is this an every weekend thing? Only some weekends? Do you ever go on weekdays?
- Fishing is by nature a relaxing escape from stress. As a result, we fish whenever we have time, most often Sundays in the fall and Saturdays and Sundays in the spring. If we have no classes or extra time in some afternoons, we will certainly go out on weekdays.
How many people can fish at one time (across all boats and kayaks)?
- On the boats and kayaks it is reasonable to say that 10 people could be fishing at one time. The boats can each fit 3 people comfortably and the 3 kayaks are single seaters. This does not mean this is the max though; you can always fish from land around most lakes in NC.
What do you do with the fish you catch? Is this catch and release? Or do you keep/cook them?
- We practice catch and release to help preserve the fisheries and keep the habitats pure. NC has one of the best Wildlife Management programs in the country. As a result, we seek to replicate their efforts in our treatment of fisheries. WF Fishing Team members share that same conservation/preservation mindset as we explore local waterways and share the outdoor experience as a team.
Is Club Fishing open to all students? All class years? Grad/professional students?
- The club is open to everyone in the undergraduate community, although we are looking to begin including graduate students in the future.
How can interested students get involved? Who do they talk to? Is there a website, etc.
- If your student wants to join the club, they can email rothas21@wfu.edu or scan this QR code:
Women’s Ice Hockey
This next organization has just been formed, so students can really get in on the ground floor, so to speak.
Students have started the first Wake Women’s Ice Hockey team, and I am told they have their first practice today! Even so, it is not too late for more students to join them.
They have an Instagram account (Wakewomenspuck) and an interest form, or you can also email leclee21wfu.edu for more information. Their interest form states “We are hoping to have a team together by next Fall (2025). Our goal for this year is to generate interest in the team and have low-commitment practices/scrimmages.”
If there is a young woman in your family who might enjoy Women’s Ice Hockey, refer them here.
Particularly for our P’28s whose students may still be looking for student connections and organizations to join (but really for all students!) maybe Club Fishing or Women’s Ice Hockey could be viable options to meet people and enjoy these sports. But if these are not the right fit, encourage your Deac to browse The Link’s student organizations page – there are something like 200 organizations, so there is likely a match for everyone!