Tobiahs Erwin is convinced that the fish in Lake Helen hate him.

“The fish don’t like me. I know there are fish out there. They just hate me, that is all. I caught one and sent it back and it told all its buddies about me,” he said. “I’ve gotten bites but I’ve never caught anything. I lost a hook on this pond because a fish snapped it off.”

Erwin was one of about 15 students from Eisenhower High School who were spending an early Fall morning dipping their lines in the waters of Lake Helen in Elmer Thomas Park in the hopes of hooking a big one.

No, the students weren’t skipping school to go fishing, but were part of a field trip organized by EHS teacher Benito Puente. The students spent the morning fishing, playing on the playground and having lunch before heading back to their lessons.

“Most have never been fishing before or done outdoor stuff. They are getting away from technology. This is an experience they have never had. We are building memories for them,” Puente said, adding he hoped they would now go fishing with a friend or relative or one day take their kids fishing.

Part of creating those memories was getting the full fishing trip experience, including putting the bait on the hook, which included worms and chicken livers. Puente plucked a worm out of the bucket and passed it around for students to hold.

Most students, like Lesly Caraveo, said the worm was slimy.

“Very disgusting,” Damion Surles said of the worm. “It’s slimy. It’s disgusting. It looks awful.”

Surles was the first student to cast his line into the lake and seemed to grow a little impatient when a fish did not immediately jump on his hook.

“Can I find a new fishing spot? This one isn’t good. I hate waiting. Can I have a chair now?” he asked.

What does he like about fishing?

“It’s kind of satisfying. You don’t have to worry about the internet and stuff,” he said.

What does he not like about fishing?

“How long it takes,” he said.

What will he do if he catches a fish?

“Hook it and eat it,” he said.

Surles felt a tug on his line and excitedly reeled it in only to find that a fish had eaten his worm.

“Where’s the fish?” he asked.

“See how the worm is all eaten up? A fish was eating on it,” Puente told him, but Surles refused to look at the worm.

Dominic Daniel also thought he had a fish on his line and became very excited as he strained to reel it in only to find an empty line.

“I thought it was a turtle. It was too strong. When you catch a fish, you feel like a true outdoorsman,” Daniel said.

What would he do if he caught a fish?

“Take a selfie,” he said.

Jay’Lnn Williams was the first student to actually land a fish.

“It was kinda scary,” Williams said of the experience and described the fish as “kind of slimy. It was moving around way too fast. I tried to pull it real fast. I was excited and scared at the same time.”

The excitement of a student actually catching a fish spread among the other students as they realized it really was possible. Once the fish had been shown and passed around to other students, Williams set it free. He was later seen standing on the shore praying that he would catch another fish.

“We will find out,” he said.

Markel Garner also managed to reel in a small bluegill. He, too, let the fish go. Garner was one of the more experienced student fishermen, saying he fishes a lot.

Puente said he grew up around the Tipton area and fished a lot at Lake Frederick. He spent a large part of this summer fishing at the city lakes with his wife.

“Fishing was a part of growing up,” he said. “I just like fishing and the opportunity to go fishing, so I thought I would take the kids. It is extremely relaxing and feels great when you catch one. The excitement level shoots through the roof.”

Since most of the students had never held a fishing pole, Puente said he took them out to the front of EHS where they practiced casting.

“At first, they kind of didn’t know what to say. Once we took them out to practice, they were super excited,” Puente said.

Puente said he found it “super exciting” when a student landed a fish.

“It is like hitting the lottery,” he said.

Erwin was one of those students who wanted to experience that “hitting the lottery” feeling.

“It would feel really happy for me. My goal is to catch three bass today,” Erwin said. “I would set it free. I’m not going to keep a fish out to eat if it is not big enough.”

Even though Erwin did not catch a fish, he still enjoyed the experience.

“It is calm and peaceful. I want to be here forever,” he said as he cast his line into the water.

Erwin may get another opportunity to land the big one.

“I think it will be semi-annual. I might do one in the Spring,” Puente said of another fishing excursion. “School doesn’t always have to be about academics.”