Coventry man spends every Sunday teaching kids how to fish

COVENTRY, R.I. (WJAR) — A Coventry man spends every single Sunday from the second week of April through October teaching kids and adults how to fish.

Nearly eight years ago, John Graichen started a program ‘Keeping Kids Fishing’ after a couple of local ones asked him for help.

From there, he put out a call offering to teach others and help in any way possible.

Sunday mornings from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., he sets up his fishing stand off of Arnold Road near Tiogue Lake.

“I set up a table, set up my fishing poles, get my bait,” said Graichen. “I provide everything they need, hooks, bobbers, sinkers, worms.”

Graichen, who has enjoyed fishing since the age of 4, said in recent years his efforts have really taken off.

So much so that he not only offers to help people set up their poles and fish, but he gives them to them to keep too.

“The first year we gave away 35 fishing poles, the following year 70, then it was into the hundreds,” said Graichen. “As of yesterday we have donated 3,392 fishing poles and tackle.”

Graichen said initially his thought was to help kids of single moms, or kids with parents who might be too busy to fish.

He said he realizes that sometimes fishing, and all that it entails, can be a lot.

“A lot of the time it’s a single parent family, the dad may not be there or they just don’t have the time to teach the kids,” he said. “With this, I let them know sometimes it’s not about the fish but just seeing them have a good time.”

Graichen volunteers his services.

He does accept Venmo donations and uses that money to help push his now non-profit forward.

“I have kids that come back every week. It gets them off the computers, off their tablets, and off the streets,” he said.

Graichen said watching the kids reel in a fish is rewarding.

Over the years, he’s partnered with different groups and organizations and is always open to helping anyone cast a line.

“I’ve taught children as young as two to seventy years old,” he said. “It means like I feel like I’m doing a halfway decent thing. I have severe neuro Lyme Disease. It causes severe manic depressive disorder and anxiety and when you see a kid catch a fish, it takes it all away. I haven’t had to take medication in six years.”