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First catches, first time putting bait on a hook, some joyful anger management, plus ducking rain most of the week, were all part of the city’s Fishing Camp, coordinated by the Parks and Recreation Department.

Last week’s rainy days confined the 9-to-13-year-olds to fishing in the Mackle Park Lake at first, but they had plenty to learn.

Fishing line ties, casting, watching films on fish and fishing etiquette all took place in the Mackle Park building. They even learned Gyotaku, the art of fish printing. They painted fish and pressed them onto t-shirts.

The Mackle Park Lake also wasn’t a disappointment as the rain made fishing active.

On Thursday they got to go out in boats for some backwater and close-in Gulf fishing.

“Overall it was a great learning and fishing experience,” said Bryan Fluech, Collier County Sea Grant agent who taught the program. He was assisted by Joy Hazell, Lee County Sea Grant agent.

In the beginning Fluech went over the basics, including knot tying for putting on hooks. The young fishermen also learned the safety difference of a Circle Hook and J. Hook. The Circle Hook is designed to catch fish in the corner of mouth while a J. Hook provides more of a chance for the fish to swallow deeper and the hook getting caught in the stomach of a fish.

Commonly-used tackle and bait was explained. Casting for safety and conservation was taught and practiced. Everyone was also instructed not to cut the line at the pole if it gets caught on rocks or in mangrove trees. Every effort is to be made to conserve the line and take away any danger to birds or other water residents that might get caught in the tossed-away line.

The youngsters also learned how to bait the hook and how to dehook fish in a safe manner in the catch-and-release program.

“Everyone learned how to break down their rods and reels, rigging the rods themselves,” Fluech said.

“Oh my gosh, take it off!” was heard in the early days of the program. “One girl was terrified of the shrimp — she didn’t want to have to put it on the hook,” Fluech said.

They also learned the type of fish they might catch, with snook being a popular one as well as mangrove snapper. They also learned what size certain fish had to be to keep and seasons for certain fish, like snook.

Sean Henell, 8, was really pleased with the camp as he caught a number of fish. Henell was in the first camp in 2007, but didn’t catch a fish. He landed a sunshine bass for his first catch, then a very nice looking snook. He got his photo taken before he released them.

“I was very excited, but I wasn’t worried about losing them,” he said. “I can’t wait to tell my parents.”

Lauren Camposano, 10, returned this year for the camp. “It really teaches you a lot about fishing,” she said. “I don’t like putting the shrimp on the hook, but I can do it.”

Hector Diaz Jr., 9, who goes out often with his father, admitted to being upset when a snook got away.

“I had a real nice snook and as I brought it up it spit the hook out,” he said. “I was mad. One of the kids told me I had serious anger issues.”

On Thursday, volunteer fishing captains brought boats to be used for backwater and close-in Gulf fishing, leaving out of the Caxambas Park Boat Ramp.

Cedar Bay Yacht Club donated the shrimp and a boat, captained by Myron Wittin. Hector Diaz and Rich Dorris also provided boats and their expertise.

“The emphasis of the camp was on catch and release practices, conservation and safety,” Fluech said. “I think it was accomplished in a very fun way.”