As members of the Ohio University Anglers Organization kicks off the new school year, they hope to “catch” the interest of potential new members. As it is one of OU’s newer organizations, the club’s executive board is hopeful to spread the word.
Nick Palashoff, a sophomore studying business management and analytics, serves as president for OU Anglers Organization. For Palashoff, the lure of fishing lies in that first bite and enjoying what Mother Nature has to offer.
“I guess what really makes me like fishing is being part of nature,” Palashoff said. “It’s kind of a hard thing to describe, but when you hook into a fish it’s like an adrenaline rush and it’s such a great feeling seeing the fish.”
Palashoff’s goal is to share his love of fishing with new and current members, as well as enjoy their time outdoors.
“I think the biggest thing that I want to accomplish through the club is I really want to teach new people that have little to no experience fishing,” Palashoff said. “Getting them with a rod in their hand and giving them that feeling of catching their first fish, that means the world to me. That's why it’s pretty important for me to run it is so I can teach people how to fish and maybe share the same feeling, and hopefully they enjoy it as much as I do.”
Jalen Tolbert, a sophomore studying communication studies, said he had never heard of the club. Although he has no concrete plans to join the organization, he thinks the premise sounds interesting.
“I went on a couple of fishing trips this summer, and with there being a club on campus, that does seem like something that piques my interest,” Tolbert said.
Jeric Herstine, a sophomore studying film, is currently serving as the vice president for the organization. Herstine, who was a member last year, said the club was very small and comprised mostly freshmen and sophomores. The leaders previously were mostly graduate students who had graduated, leaving the club in the hands of members with little to no experience.
Despite smaller numbers, the way Herstine joined the club was unconventional. Due to the 2021 Involvement Fair being rained out, Herstine was only able to interact with very limited organizations. Jason, Angler president last year, had on his full fishing gear and was practically immune to the torrential downpour that deterred many of other clubs from staying.
Herstine prefers to spend his time outdoors engaging in activities like hiking, having spent much of his childhood on his grandparents’ spacious farm. Although fishing is not necessarily his favorite thing to do, Herstine believes the best part of the club is being able to spend time outside with his friends.
“That’s the great thing about the club,” Hersitne said. “It’s fishing, but it’s also just hanging out outside.”
A big hallmark of the club that Herstine definitely wants to bring back this year is the all-member camping trip•. Last year, the organization hosted a three-day campout in AEP Recreation Land. The area was located in McConnelsville, Ohio, about an hour north of OU.
Camping in AEP Recreation Lands is free of charge, making it the ideal location for a college organization. With no service and picturesque scenery, Herstine said it was the optimal location for members to become closer and enjoy spending time together.
“It’s pretty awesome,” Herstine said. “That was fun — I just enjoyed the people in the club to be honest. We couldn’t use our phones, I couldn’t really call anyone. It was pretty awesome just kind of talking to everyone.”
Herstine has many goals for the upcoming school year, most notably aiming to meet outside every meeting and having more diversity in the club in terms of gender.
“All the leaders of the club this year kind of decided we think it would be better if we met outside somewhere, either officially or just to hang outside and talk,” Herstine said. “So I am looking forward to that.”
Another goal the organization has is a little lofty, but Herstine is hopeful to see it come into fruition.
“If we have enough people in it, apparently in past years they did a spring break trip,” Herstine said. “They went to Florida to fish. Last year we didn’t have enough people to fund it. We might go to Florida over spring break – if not, then just another camping trip in the spring.”
Palashoff on the other hand wants to see more people more connected with nature and be given an opportunity to relax and enjoy the landscape of southeast Ohio.
“The biggest thing is I want to get more people connected – especially through the outdoor world,” Palashoff said. “I think that’s something that keeps getting pushed away and people don’t really hang out outdoors as much. I think that’s a pretty important part of being a human being, is being one with nature.”
