A UFC Hall of Famer has exchanged his mean right hook for a fishing hook at the lake. Rashad Evans is mentoring young kids about the wonders of getting outside and casting that line. On Saturday, he and others gathered at Standing Bear Lake for the fun. “You know, when I was fighting, I would fish from time to time. It was a perfect escape to kind of take my mind off of big fights I have coming up. A way of meditating I can say,” said Evans. There is something about the calm, cool waters, and a gentle breeze, that makes fishing a pure delight. Or an exercise in patience. “I tried different kinds of spots, but I didn’t really catch any fish,” said Bradley, who is a young fisher. “It’s such a relaxing thing just being out in nature and just being able to just have fun and speak to people, you know,” said Evans. Whether it is father and son or a group effort, learning how to fish teaches you about how to live. And it gives kids more to do than just video games. “When a kid catches a fish for the very first time, I mean that’s a once in a lifetime experience. And we get to share that with so many children, there’s just nothing like it,” said Ronnie Suverkrubbe, the president of Reel Mentors.The organization hosting the event, Reel Mentors, started in Florida just before COVID-19 hit. Scheels donated all the rods, which the kids get to keep. “I like holding the fish mostly. I think that’s it, really,” said Bradley.And even if the fun in fishing isn’t there yet, the lessons it can teach are priceless. “We’re pulled away by technology so much. A lot of things suffer with that, communication suffers. One of the best things that happens when we’re fishing with these kids is they start talking, they start opening up,” said Evans.
A UFC Hall of Famer has exchanged his mean right hook for a fishing hook at the lake.
Rashad Evans is mentoring young kids about the wonders of getting outside and casting that line. On Saturday, he and others gathered at Standing Bear Lake for the fun.
“You know, when I was fighting, I would fish from time to time. It was a perfect escape to kind of take my mind off of big fights I have coming up. A way of meditating I can say,” said Evans.
There is something about the calm, cool waters, and a gentle breeze, that makes fishing a pure delight. Or an exercise in patience.
“I tried different kinds of spots, but I didn’t really catch any fish,” said Bradley, who is a young fisher.
“It’s such a relaxing thing just being out in nature and just being able to just have fun and speak to people, you know,” said Evans.
Whether it is father and son or a group effort, learning how to fish teaches you about how to live. And it gives kids more to do than just video games.
“When a kid catches a fish for the very first time, I mean that’s a once in a lifetime experience. And we get to share that with so many children, there’s just nothing like it,” said Ronnie Suverkrubbe, the president of Reel Mentors.
The organization hosting the event, Reel Mentors, started in Florida just before COVID-19 hit. Scheels donated all the rods, which the kids get to keep.
“I like holding the fish mostly. I think that’s it, really,” said Bradley.
And even if the fun in fishing isn’t there yet, the lessons it can teach are priceless.
“We’re pulled away by technology so much. A lot of things suffer with that, communication suffers. One of the best things that happens when we’re fishing with these kids is they start talking, they start opening up,” said Evans.