Just to set the record straight on some previous posts, the BSA Fishing merit badge is definitely still offered. There is actually a brand new Fly Fishing merit badge that is just now becoming available. Just to let everyone know (not to throw gas on a fire that seems to be smoldering out).
The Boy Scouts do not have to allow gay leaders. The Supreme Court of the United States of America said we don't. And NO, the United Way DID NOT cut off all of our funding. We still offer Rifle Shooting merit badge, and Shotgun Shooting merit badge in spite of the tragedy at Columbine High School. We still hold Duty to God as number one of the three main points of our Scout Oath. Duty to country is second. If the rainbow coalition could not force us to accept openly gay leaders, please know that PETA does not stand a beggar's chance of getting rid of the Fishing merit badge. God Bless the Boy Scouts of America!

Jon Bagnall
Assistant Scoutmaster and
Fishing Merit Badge Counselor
Troop 67, Mesquite TX

RIGHT ON JON!......THAT'S YOUR NEW HANDLE HEHE. [RIGHTONJON]

I'm cautiously optimistic that it will stay that way although I still feel that the govt is telling the boy scouts to "read their lips".

Mark McManaway
www.localanglers.com

Jon

Glad to hear it. I remain convinced that a Scout troop, properly run, is one of the best groups a young man could become involved in. Kids need to be outdoors, to learn how to be a part of the environment, not simply "spectators"

Hang in there and keep us posted on your troop's outdoors adventures.

Jon-Thanks for the update on BSA. Been longtime since I wore the scouting outfit and agree with your comments. =ROSS=

[Spent alot of years in the boy scouts and have alot of memories there and still use things i learned ther to this day go BSA

As a former Eagle Scout I am glad to see this kind of post! Thanks for standing for what you/we believe in! I can tell you that the fishing merit badge was one of the first that I earned in my scouting days. Long live scouting!

Jon,

Thanks for being a part of a great national organization that has kept our heritage alive in our newer generations for a long time. Keep up the good work.

If you ever need a boat to take some of those boys out on, let me know and I will make time.

Bert

There is so much more to Boy Scouts than just camping and fishing. I would even go as far as to say that those activities are secondary. Boy Scouts is more about teaching leadership, and service to others. The activities in Boy Scouting are not only geared toward teaching a new skill, but also building confidence in self. Most Camporee's (multi unit campouts) have team based competitions. There is as much about becoming involved in your local community as there is about outdoors. Let's see if I can remember it:

A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.

On my honor, I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country. To help other people at all times. To keep my self physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.

Do a good turn daily.

Be Prepared.

As an American, I will do my best to:
Be clean in my outdoor manners.
Be careful with fire.
Be considerate in the outdoors.
Be conservation minded.

This is just a tiny tip of what Boy Scouting teaches our youth. There are a lot of good programs out there, and Scouting is one of the best.

Isaiah 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

God Bless the Boys Scouts

Hey Scooby...There is no such thing as a former Eagle Scout..You are always a Eagle Scout after you earn that honor. Thats coming from someone that is one also. When I moved from Pennsylvania to Texas I opened a box with all my patchs and it brought back alot of memories that I hope to never forget. I'm glad to see the BSA is offering Fly Fishing. I think fishing was one of my 1st merit badges to get also.

GOD Bless the BSA and fishing! BSA is and will with HIS help always be one the FINEST!!!! organizations for young men that there is!!!!!!!!

I am proud to say that I am also an Eagle Scout. The fishing merit badge was one of the first merit badges that I ever earned. I got it my first summer in boy scouts at summer camp. We were at Camp Pioneer in Mena, Arkansas. I remember that we had to catch three different species of fish. I caught a tiny largemouth and two different species of sunfish. I wish that the flyfishing badge was offered a few years ago so that I could have learned how to fly fish. Guess my brother will have to earn it this summer and then teach me.

Ok, well I guess you got me on the semantics! I agree once an Eagle Scout, always an Eagle Scout! I am just not actively invovled any more, but I still use a lot of things that I learned in scouting in every day life. I believe that if there were more kids involved in scouting today our crime rate would drop like a rock, as well as a lot of other things that happen in our society today!

I'm an Eagle Scout. My two cousins are as well. We spent serveral summers on camp staff at Urland in Woodville. Some of the best times of my life. I feel the skills and "life lessons" learned during my BSA experience have made me a more well-rounded person.

It's a great organization! Get your kids involved and get involved yourself.

I have been fly fishing one time in my entire life. It was during a trip to Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, NM. We were at Fish Camp and we tied our own flies. Then they tought us how to fly fish. I got the hang of casting but didn't catch anything. We had to fish about a 1/2 mile stretch of a small stream. There are probably 500 scouts a day that fish this stream all summer long. That may have explained the lack of fish.