For Soroco, Colorado, physical education teacher David Bruner, taking a group of teenagers fishing is about more than just making a great catch and getting out of school. It’s about developing the skills to become a lifelong fisherman.

“Fishing has sort of become a lost sport,” he says. “It’s one of those lifetime sports that I’m really into supporting. I want to teach the kids that once you learn it, fishing is something you can do until the day you die.”

Bruner, who implemented a fishing program at Soroco Middle School and Soroco High School last year, received a boost this month when he found out he had been awarded a $3,500 Future Fisherman’s Foundation Physical Education grant to purchase equipment to enhance the fledgling program.

Like a kid in a candy store, Bruner has hit the ground running and already has purchased 12 fly rods and reels, 30 spin casting rods and reels, 10 tackle boxes with all the fixins, and three outdoor safety kits.

Implementing a fishing program was an important part of enhancing the school’s physical education program, which includes a unique curriculum of disc golf, mountain biking, golfing, skiing, lacrosse, shuffleboard and badminton.

“We’ve got one of the best programs in the state,” he said.