Fishing: Try it, you might like it!

It’s summertime and the fish are biting! Don’t know how to fish? Not to worry! The Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ (IDNR) Urban and Community Fishing Program corps of seasonal fishing instructors are in full force this summer and ready to help. These Conservation Education Representatives (CERs) teach more than 70,000 people how to fish each year.  

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing one very dedicated CER. Dee Toombs has been helping people fish for more than 30 years. Toombs started fishing with her parents at age 5. She reminisced, “I tried it, liked it, had fun, and didn’t want to stop. Now I’m ‘hooked’ and it’s one of my favorite hobbies.” But as an adult, Toombs didn’t just keep fishing on her own, fun as that is. She decided to take her expertise and pay it forward.

When I asked how she got started with the Urban Fishing program she replied, “I was fishing at Jones Park in East St. Louis and saw young people fishing and struggling to catch fish. They couldn’t untangle lines or tie a knot. I had a flashback of me being at that age and being frustrated trying to fish. So, I stopped fishing and helped them.” That was in 1995.

She continued, “A CER was busy nearby helping other kids and asked me if I would I like to help and assist. I came back to volunteer the next day, the next week, the next year, and 15 years later! In 2011, I was asked if I would like to be a CER, I applied and I’ve been a CER with IDNR ever since.”

While based in East St. Louis, Toombs shared that she’s had clinics in Granite City (Horseshoe Lake State Park), Wood River (Belk Lake) and Bethalto (Warren Levis Lake). When I asked if she has a favorite spot for teaching others how to fish, Toombs gave a classic educator’s answer: “I don’t have a favorite place to teach people how to fish. I enjoy teaching wherever there’s water! The special thing about teaching is when they do as instructed and then catch that first fish!”

Toombs’ fishing students are usually young, typically ages 5-15, but she has fun teaching all ages. “The most rewarding part of being a CER is when I teach or instruct people to fish that never knew how before. It’s the greatest feeling of joy when I see a smile on a 6-year-old’s face or on a 50-year-old man who never got the chance to fish with his dad, uncle, brother or grandfather.” She added, “The best is when they enjoy it and come back again and again. Years later they’re grown up and come and say ‘Ms. Dee, remember me? You taught me how to fish. This is my child. They fish with me now.’ It makes me feel good to know that I planted a seed, and I see the harvest years later!”

Like the other CERs, her busiest time is usually in the summer from June to August. Toombs typically teaches 1,800-2,500 people a year, and that doesn’t include numbers from the big fish derbies she assists with throughout the summer. Events like the annual Two Rivers Family Fishing Fair held at Pere Marquette State Park in Grafton. This was the 37th year of the fishing fair, which is typically held the first Saturday in June. Mark your calendar for next year! There are no admission or parking fees, and no fishing license or gear is needed to participate. The fishing fair features a variety of outdoor activities including a catch-and-release bluegill pond, the popular One-Cast station where everyone wins a prize, a bow-fishing station, and every child who completes at least seven stations receives a prize and a chance to catch trout from the pond.

While humble about all the work that she does, Toombs was quick to point out that she has had some special people who have helped out and volunteered over the years. Some retired, others are now deceased, but some still show up to guide others on how to fish. She gave a special shout out to Arthur Dean, Willie (the oldest volunteer) who was still helping out at 89 before he passed and James Perry (JP) also now deceased, James Stacker (Bo) who retired but still helps, as well as Mark Rencher, Andre Owens, Otis Woodard, Esau Toombs III, Barkley (who served as Dee’s Jr. instructor) and Porchia Toombs Davis.

When asked if she has any fun stories she’d want to share about a memorable fishing event or special day teaching people to fish, she had a quick reply. “I have tons of stories I could share! One time a boy caught a catfish and reeled it in. He got it out of the water and was about to throw the line behind him but accidentally hit the release button and swung the fish into a tree!”

“Another boy was fishing and when his bobber went down, he tried to reel it in and said, ‘I think I’m hung up.’ So he laid the pole on the ground and walked away. A couple minutes later the pole was going over the wall where he was fishing and into the lake! He said, ‘Something stole my pole!’ Another kid said, ‘Instead of fly fishing, it’s flying poles.’ We laughed forever!”

Clearly, learning to fish with Toombs is loads of fun, so I asked her how people can learn about her events. She shared that people often learn about the programs by word of mouth in addition to the typical route of flyers that are passed out, posted flyers at businesses and via the newspaper or social media. She added that one event she has in August or September each year is a big fishing derby for children ages 5-15.

For those interested in this year’s derby, it will be at Horseshoe Lake State Park. While it is a free event, Toombs noted that people need to pre-register. Awards, trophies, poles, bikes, food, backpacks and more are given to the participants. If you know someone who would like to go, the details are:
Fishing Derby
Horseshoe Lake State Park, Ron’s Bait & Tackle
September 19, 2026
Register at: (618) 931-2501

As we wrapped up the interview, Toombs concluded, “Fishing is fun, relaxing, peaceful. You can fish alone or with others. If you learn to fish, you should never be hungry.”

Her motto is: “Fishing: try it, you might like it! Then you’re hooked on fishing and not on drugs.”