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The Middle School Plug Masters
The Middle School Plug Masters
A wooden plug is more than a fishing lure. It’s a piece of art. And just like conventional artists, the people who build them are both revered and criticized. Snoop around on any striper-fishing message board and you’ll find anglers and collectors arguing over which builders make the best-swimming plugs. Which do better paint jobs. And which have the best methods for through-wiring their lures. Certain builders that produce only a handful of baits a year can expect up to $100 for one of their beauties, and lines to get them at local tackle shows can stretch a mile.
I once tried my hand at turning, sanding, wiring, and airbrushing wooden plugs. I gave up after the second one – it just took too much dedication. But when I asked Danielle Kraemer if making them was difficult, she smiled and gave a shrug as she flipped on the lathe. “Not really,” she said. “It’s pretty easy. I’m actually just starting on my second lure.”
Danielle is one of about 160 seventh-graders at Bordentown Regional Middle School in New Jersey taking teacher Greg Poole’s industrial design class. All of these kids are turning plugs. And some of their creations rival those of professional builders in both quality and design.
Photo by Joe Cermele
Additional Info
The seventh-graders at Bordentown Regional Middle School in New Jersey are turning out some serious striper plugs in shop class. It's a project dreamt up by New Jersey teacher and angler Greg Poole, and with a little help from a master plug-maker and a group of kids genuinely interested in learning the craft, the result is some impressive poppers and Danny swimmers that any surfcaster worth his salt would agree will catch. This is their story.
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Photo Gallery Comments (32)
I wish my Art II class did projects like this! Good job Mr. Poole for incorporating your love for the outdoors into your curriculum. I believe if more teachers thought like you do, there would be many more hunters and fishers in the US today.
Sweet I wish we did somthin like this in our school that would be soooo much fun
That is AWESOME!!!! I've been turning my own lures for a few years. There is nothing like making your own lure and then hooking a fish with it.
Wonderful story JC, its always great to see kids of all ages getting involved in any aspect of the outdoors. Plug building in reality combines fishing with science & math, but also promotes art & craftsmanship as well. In addition, this class & new found knowledge will also encourage these kids to spend their time out of school constructively creating new designs, field testing their hard work & being rewarded for their efforts.What more could one want for the youth of today?
Bloody good show Mr. Poole!
I wish my middle school would have done this! great job!
Poole is the man. Watching the kids work on the plugs is amazing, especially for a guy like me who has no ability for that whatsoever.
You ask the principal about bass he goes, its pronounce "base" and its a musical instrument. Man we need more fishing at my school!
Mr. Poole great job. Since Mr. White is retired maybe he would like to be hired full time?!
I wish i had a shop class like that... heck i wish i had a shop class. It is good that in a world where technology is becoming the main focus point that some still maintain the need to focus on things such as craftsmanship.
This is the kind of teacher you want working with your kids. He's got them creating something that not only will they be proud of, but that they can take outside and apply to a fabulous past time - fishing. Good work Mr. Poole.
Pretty cool! Great article. Hopefully they won't sell them on on-line forums for $50 a pop :)
Pretty cool! Great article. Hopefully they won't sell them on on-line forums for $50 a pop :)
I wonder if Mr. White plans to sell the plugs he makes....
In photo 17 you probably should have blurred out the phone number, name and address on the package. I'm sure that kid's parents would appreciate it. This is "the internet" after all.
That's the address of the school itself on the packages, so that part is fine. I'd definitely agree about blurring out any names or phone #'s though.
Great job by these kids
Joe- Great story that hits home with me. Back at my middle school, we had after class activities, which parents were invited to teach for a semester or more if they wanted. My dad decided to teach a class in lure making and fly tying. It was a huge hit with me and a number of my friends. I loved it as you can imagine.
Guys, regarding the phone numbers on those packages, give us and Mr. Poole a little more credit than that. The addresses are the school's and the numbers are all fictitious. We wouldn't put a kid's phone number on the internet.
First of all, a big THANK YOU to Joe for such a wonderfully written article and some fantastic photos. You obvioulsy have a gift for writing and also for capturing the true essesnce of the story. I am the principal at the middle school and could not be more proud of the students and Mr. Poole for what they have accomplished. As a few of the people have already commented, Mr. Poole has designed a great cross-curricular project that is directly related to real life and fosters creativity and artistic ability, while teaching a number of skills. Finally, the comment about the phone number was a good one, but please be sure it is definitely not a student's number. Thanks again to Field and Stream for the time and effort they have given to our students. Another big CONGRATS to Mr. Poole and all his students!
Thanks Joe
"Guys, regarding the phone numbers on those packages, give us and Mr. Poole a little more credit than that. The addresses are the school's and the numbers are all fictitious. We wouldn't put a kid's phone number on the internet."
Please give Mr. White a bit of credit for his crafts-person-ship. How much for just one of those great plugs?
As both a teacher at BRMS and a parent whose children attend there, I can tell you that Mr. Poole's class is one that the students all look forward to taking! Greg has a way with students that enables them to not only learn the required material, but apply the concepts to practical real-life situations and LOVE TO COME TO CLASS! He is beloved by every one of his students and is one of the teachers that former students make sure they stop in to see whenever they visit! We consider him "our treasure" and an inspiration to his colleagues! We are blessed to have him working with our students!
Mr. Poole is awesome, Not only a very cool guy, but great for kids! teaching them how to use their hands is a life skill they won't forget. Bordentown is lucky to have him.
I am a student who is in Mr. Poole's class. You should know, this project was so much fun. Mr. Poole had us do so much with this project. We even got the oppertunity to learn about the fish we are aiming to catch. Overall, this project was great. 3 thumbs up Mr. Poole!!!
Great article--so glad our school district encourages and supports teachers and student to teach and learn in so many various ways. It's great to see a project that helps students lean about so many things, using visual, auditory, and tactile methods---and having fun doing it! Thank-you BRSD and Mr. Poole
this teacher is doing what all other teachers should do he embraced other kids backgrounds and give them something to do that they could be proud of. all art classes should do this. Get-R-Done!!!
Where was this idea when i was in school, frigging sweet!
Awesome story! It really is awesome to see great teachers inspiring students.
That would have been my bast subject in school
I wish we could do this at our school, it would be a good lesson in wood wroking and fish.
I wish my school did something like this it's an amazing story, and more schools should do stuff like this and maybe have science classes incorporate more outdoor activities to.
Great Article. As a parent of a student in Mr Poole classes, I want to first say I am proud to have my son in the Bordentown School system. Second of all, growing up and going through the school system with Mr Poole, he was the right man for this job. His patients and dedication to these kids are out standing.
As for the plugs my son made, he was so excited to show us what he had accomplished. He learned a great deal of how to make the plugs, what types there are, and even about the eco sytem.
He cant wait to go out and used his plug. I just gotta make sure I tie the best fishing knot so we dont lose this plug. If not Im jumping in after it.
Mr White Thank you for taking the time and teaching these kids an art and taking pride in something.
Again Mr Poole a job well done and Thank you.
Great way to get extra credit points to your teacher Danielle!!!!!!!!
Excellent pictures..........
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I wish my middle school would have done this! great job!
Joe- Great story that hits home with me. Back at my middle school, we had after class activities, which parents were invited to teach for a semester or more if they wanted. My dad decided to teach a class in lure making and fly tying. It was a huge hit with me and a number of my friends. I loved it as you can imagine.
First of all, a big THANK YOU to Joe for such a wonderfully written article and some fantastic photos. You obvioulsy have a gift for writing and also for capturing the true essesnce of the story. I am the principal at the middle school and could not be more proud of the students and Mr. Poole for what they have accomplished. As a few of the people have already commented, Mr. Poole has designed a great cross-curricular project that is directly related to real life and fosters creativity and artistic ability, while teaching a number of skills. Finally, the comment about the phone number was a good one, but please be sure it is definitely not a student's number. Thanks again to Field and Stream for the time and effort they have given to our students. Another big CONGRATS to Mr. Poole and all his students!
I am a student who is in Mr. Poole's class. You should know, this project was so much fun. Mr. Poole had us do so much with this project. We even got the oppertunity to learn about the fish we are aiming to catch. Overall, this project was great. 3 thumbs up Mr. Poole!!!
this teacher is doing what all other teachers should do he embraced other kids backgrounds and give them something to do that they could be proud of. all art classes should do this. Get-R-Done!!!
Wonderful story JC, its always great to see kids of all ages getting involved in any aspect of the outdoors. Plug building in reality combines fishing with science & math, but also promotes art & craftsmanship as well. In addition, this class & new found knowledge will also encourage these kids to spend their time out of school constructively creating new designs, field testing their hard work & being rewarded for their efforts.What more could one want for the youth of today?
Bloody good show Mr. Poole!
Mr. Poole great job. Since Mr. White is retired maybe he would like to be hired full time?!
That's the address of the school itself on the packages, so that part is fine. I'd definitely agree about blurring out any names or phone #'s though.
Great job by these kids
Guys, regarding the phone numbers on those packages, give us and Mr. Poole a little more credit than that. The addresses are the school's and the numbers are all fictitious. We wouldn't put a kid's phone number on the internet.
Please give Mr. White a bit of credit for his crafts-person-ship. How much for just one of those great plugs?
Great Article. As a parent of a student in Mr Poole classes, I want to first say I am proud to have my son in the Bordentown School system. Second of all, growing up and going through the school system with Mr Poole, he was the right man for this job. His patients and dedication to these kids are out standing.
As for the plugs my son made, he was so excited to show us what he had accomplished. He learned a great deal of how to make the plugs, what types there are, and even about the eco sytem.
He cant wait to go out and used his plug. I just gotta make sure I tie the best fishing knot so we dont lose this plug. If not Im jumping in after it.
Mr White Thank you for taking the time and teaching these kids an art and taking pride in something.
Again Mr Poole a job well done and Thank you.
I wish my Art II class did projects like this! Good job Mr. Poole for incorporating your love for the outdoors into your curriculum. I believe if more teachers thought like you do, there would be many more hunters and fishers in the US today.
Sweet I wish we did somthin like this in our school that would be soooo much fun
That is AWESOME!!!! I've been turning my own lures for a few years. There is nothing like making your own lure and then hooking a fish with it.
Poole is the man. Watching the kids work on the plugs is amazing, especially for a guy like me who has no ability for that whatsoever.
You ask the principal about bass he goes, its pronounce "base" and its a musical instrument. Man we need more fishing at my school!
I wish i had a shop class like that... heck i wish i had a shop class. It is good that in a world where technology is becoming the main focus point that some still maintain the need to focus on things such as craftsmanship.
This is the kind of teacher you want working with your kids. He's got them creating something that not only will they be proud of, but that they can take outside and apply to a fabulous past time - fishing. Good work Mr. Poole.
Pretty cool! Great article. Hopefully they won't sell them on on-line forums for $50 a pop :)
Pretty cool! Great article. Hopefully they won't sell them on on-line forums for $50 a pop :)
I wonder if Mr. White plans to sell the plugs he makes....
In photo 17 you probably should have blurred out the phone number, name and address on the package. I'm sure that kid's parents would appreciate it. This is "the internet" after all.
Thanks Joe
"Guys, regarding the phone numbers on those packages, give us and Mr. Poole a little more credit than that. The addresses are the school's and the numbers are all fictitious. We wouldn't put a kid's phone number on the internet."
As both a teacher at BRMS and a parent whose children attend there, I can tell you that Mr. Poole's class is one that the students all look forward to taking! Greg has a way with students that enables them to not only learn the required material, but apply the concepts to practical real-life situations and LOVE TO COME TO CLASS! He is beloved by every one of his students and is one of the teachers that former students make sure they stop in to see whenever they visit! We consider him "our treasure" and an inspiration to his colleagues! We are blessed to have him working with our students!
Mr. Poole is awesome, Not only a very cool guy, but great for kids! teaching them how to use their hands is a life skill they won't forget. Bordentown is lucky to have him.
Great article--so glad our school district encourages and supports teachers and student to teach and learn in so many various ways. It's great to see a project that helps students lean about so many things, using visual, auditory, and tactile methods---and having fun doing it! Thank-you BRSD and Mr. Poole
Where was this idea when i was in school, frigging sweet!
Awesome story! It really is awesome to see great teachers inspiring students.
That would have been my bast subject in school
I wish we could do this at our school, it would be a good lesson in wood wroking and fish.
I wish my school did something like this it's an amazing story, and more schools should do stuff like this and maybe have science classes incorporate more outdoor activities to.
Great way to get extra credit points to your teacher Danielle!!!!!!!!
Excellent pictures..........
Post a Comment