ILLINOISDEPARTMENTOF NATURAL RESOURCES

J.B. Pritzker,
Governor|illinois.gov

Seasonal Fishing Instructors Kickstart a Lifetime of Fishing

by Jonathan Schlesinger |  February 3, 2025 |  Aquatic Organisms, Recreation
On a bright sunny day four children and two adults stand on the edge of a lake. The two adults help the children with fishing rods and reels.Chiefs Badge

Photo by Illinois Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Division.

In a short-mowed grassy area a group of adults pose for a photo while holding up fishing rods and reels. In the background is a tree-filled shoreline of a pond or lake.
Photo by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Division.

Do you remember the first time you went fishing? Who took you? Where did you go? Do you remember the feeling of your fishing rod coming alive or seeing your fish break through the water’s surface? Perhaps you remember how proud you felt to hold up your fish for a waiting camera? For many of us, catching that first fish is an essential childhood experience. The luckiest among us are able to share this indelible moment with a family member or friend – someone who taught us how to bait the hook, push through challenges, and celebrate our angling achievements on those sunny summer afternoons.

Of course, not everyone is privileged to have a fishing mentor. Since 1985, the Illinois Urban and Community Fishing Program has tried to bridge this gap by teaching Illinois residents of all ages and abilities the basics of fishing and providing safe and fun fishing experiences, especially for beginners.

A class of young children pause on a concrete walk way near the edge of a lake. Teachers stand on the left and right of the group and a speaker in the center talks to the children. In the background is a shoreline with trees against a hazy sky.
Photo by Jonathan Schlesinger.

Conservation Education Representatives, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ (IDNR) corps of seasonal fishing instructors, play a valuable role in bringing the Urban and Community Fishing program to more than 70,000 people each year. Affectionately known as CERs, these dedicated IDNR seasonal employees work diligently in the summer months to extend the program’s reach across the state. From facilitating drop-in fishing clinics at state parks to supporting fishing programming at the State Fair to leading clinics with senior groups, CERs strive to instill a love of conservation and passion for fishing with Illinoisians from all walks of life.

What does it take to be a successful CER? Here are the top ten things that I learned from speaking with some of the state’s most experienced CERs.

  • You don’t need to be a serious angler to be a great CER. Having a passion for fishing is helpful, but it’s not essential. CERs receive comprehensive instructor training at the beginning of the season so that they can teach others the basics, including how to use a spincasting reel, tie knots, identify fish and present to anglers of all ages.
  • Many, but not all, CERs are teachers. While the nature of the job makes it perennially attractive to teachers, one doesn’t need to be a teacher to become a CER. According to Frank Sladek, former CER and current Program Coordinator for Northern Illinois, “Our CERs come from all walks of life. While we welcome anglers to apply, we love to have youth coaches, educators, college students and public servants in our ranks.”
  • Water is optional? While catching a real fish is always the goal, it’s not always possible for groups to travel to a water body for an Urban Fishing Program. Chicago CERs, for example, sometimes conduct “dry” clinics at basketball courts, gyms, and tennis courts – wherever their partner group can meet. These dry clinics include conservation-themed presentations and casting practice with plastic backyard bass. Catching a plastic bass isn’t as good as the real thing, but it’s proven to be very popular with youth and a great way for those new to a spincasting reel to develop casting accuracy.
  • People skills are critical. CERs must be able to work in an outdoor setting with individuals from a variety of backgrounds and abilities. According to Frank Sladek, core CER skills are “passion, people skills and patience. Knowing your audience and how to read a group is important, while showing genuine enthusiasm and a cool head around the students is key to safe, fun programs.”
  • CER experiences vary widely across the state. CERs are assigned to one of four regional Urban and Community Fishing Program Coordinators (see map to learn more). Depending on the region, this could include working at a large fishing derby, nature festival, the State Fair, a state park, or a fishing clinic on the shore of Lake Michigan or the Mississippi River. Understandably, many CERs treasure the opportunity to work in so many places throughout their region. According to Haley Henderson, a longtime CER in central Illinois, one of things that has kept her coming back to the job is “getting opportunities to visit beautiful parks throughout Illinois.”
  • CERs have fun teaching the public about the diversity of fish in Illinois. CERs are ambassadors for the state’s amazing array of fish and often underappreciated local fishing opportunities. Frank Sladek described one such experience working in Chicago: “I would always bring a rod rigged with corn to catch carp for my students. One summer, I hooked a huge carp. After a tense fight, I landed the giant. I was unhooking it and my fellow CER said, ‘You’ve attracted a crowd, better pose for your photo.’ I looked up and saw swan boats filled with foreign tourists, cameras in hand. I turned around, hoisted this massive carp above my head and yelled. The crowd went wild. That was my Michael Jordan moment!”
  • CERs primarily work June through August. CERs typically begin work in early June, to coincide with the start of summer vacation and the beginning of summer camp programs. The work is often 9 to 5, but CERs sometimes work evenings or weekends to be available at large fishing derbies and festivals.
  • CERS are not just making fishers of men and women. According to Ethan Stephenson, a longtime CER in southern Illinois: “The fishing is secondary – you are teaching life skills, perseverance, patience, teamwork, stewardship and the concept of leaving no trace. You are teaching more than fishing. You are teaching them a love for the outdoors and how to be a good citizen.”
  • The CER job is rewarding! While being paid to teach people of all ages how to fish is enticing, it’s much more than a summer job. According to Frank Sladek, “Being a CER is a great way to spend your summer and allows you to interact with people who have never fished before. Seeing students catch their first fish is a magical thing and never fails to put a smile on your face. It is rewarding work and a great way to learn more about the state’s aquatic resources.”
  • YOU can be a CER this summer! The IDNR encourages those interested in the CER position to apply and to share this opportunity with someone who might be interested. Summer 2025 CER openings are typically posted in January on work4Illinois.gov. To learn more about the Illinois Urban and Community Fishing Program, visit Fishing in Illinois-urban fishing.

Jonathan Schlesinger is the Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ Urban and Community Fishing Program Coordinator for Chicago. Schlesinger is eager to grow the number of anglers in the city of Chicago, including kids, those who come to fishing later in life, and to work with partners who are making the fishing community more inclusive.

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