SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - What's the appeal of fly-fishing? The quiet contemplation that a few hours on the river, with nothing but the splashing of trout to disturb your thoughts, allows? The primitive and exhilarating battle between human and fish? Or is it the great outdoors and the chance to get back to nature?

Donny Boake holds up the perfect insect to imitate for fly fishing – a big juicy dragon fly larva. - Charlotte Hilling/NNSL photo

Well no, it's none of those things. It's bugs.

The Fly Kid Foundation held an introductory seminar at the library on Saturday afternoon, with about six kids and their folks heading in for some expert instruction.

Nine-year-old Kienan Ashton got to attend the seminal as part of a belated birthday present. While he couldn't put his finger on what exactly it was about fly-fishing that attracted him, his Mom Christina Vernon had some ideas.

"I think he's interested in learning about the bugs," she said.

Kienan said he has never caught a fish but despite that he feels none of the Old World pressures to bring home the goods once he's been through the course.

"Well we can kind of just go across the street to the fish plant to get the fish," he said.

Donny Boake, however, is an avid fly fisherman, and while he denies being an expert, his mom Susie Boake said, "I'd say he's pretty close."

Donny's favourite fishing spot is Baker Creek, and the largest fish he has caught is a five-pound pike.

To those who feel television breeds inactivity, Donny may well be an exception.

"One day I was watching a show on the Fishing Channel and decided that I wanted to try fly-fishing," he said. "I went down to Edmonton and just bought a rod."

Since then, Donny has immersed himself in the sport and has up till now been trying and failing to get his folks up to par.

"We have rods and he's trying to teach us, but it's not working very well, so I need help," said Susie. "I think this is more for me than him."

It so happens that Fly Kids Foundation board member, Mayor Gord Van Tighem, also got into the sport as a young man and introduced it to his father.

"He got a fly rod when he retired - that really got him going," he said.

Van Tighem, who has competed in the Canadian fly-fishing championships, said fly fishing is a great way to keep kids on the right track.

"It's a good healthy way for kids to get into the outdoors," he said.

Saturday's seminar was a basic introduction to the sport and on Nov. 14 there will be a more extensive program held at the Multiplex.