Welcome to the great Canadian outdoors.

What is Fishing With Nerds?

About 10 years ago I returned to the University of Waterloo to complete a long overdue degree.  One day I had planned to go fishing but couldn't get any of my friends to break from work.  So I jumped on Reddit and invited a random student to come with me.  A young fellow from India offered to join me.  I don't remember his name if I even knew it at the time, we spoke little as he didn't have strong English, but I vividly remember how much fun he had - as did I.

Since then I've made this more 'official'.  I now routinely plan all sorts of trips from single day fishing trips to multi-day camping trips way up north in the bush, and invite any UWaterloo student that wants to come along.  Over the years I've taken hundreds of students out for their first time experiencing Canada's natural activities.  Whenever I want to go fishing, hunting or camping, I just head over to Reddit or Discord, post a date and ask 'who's coming' and I get more students than I can possibly handle.  In 2023 I did over 30 trips and 2024 is looking to be the same!  At least now I don't have to say I'm going fishing, my excuse is that I'm volunteering and showing younger folks all of these outdoor activities.  Sounds better, and hey, I'm still fishing.

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How do I join a trip?

When I'm planning a trip, I post either on the University of Waterloo sub on Reddit, or on this Discord server.  

Trips are first come, first serve, and I always have more people wanting to come than we can fit - so if you see me post a trip, don't delay in responding. No experience or equipment necessary, newbs aren't just welcome - you're the point!

Costs, official status, etc.

Fishing with nerds isn't a club.  It's unofficial, and unaffiliated.  It's basically just me going fishing, and inviting along some other folks that want to come along.  Introducing UWaterloo students to the great outdoors is just what I do to volunteer in my community.

I want everyone to come along, so we do this as inexpensively as possible.  Single day fishing trips are at no cost - just hop in the truck with me and lets go fishing.  I handle all the equipment, fishing boat, transportation, food, bait, fishing rods, etc.  Longer multi-day camping trips that can be a bit more costly to run for 10-20 people; those we do on an exact cost sharing basis.  We figure out the total costs of gas, food, etc, and split it equally. I still handle organising transportation, food (all halal when necessary) and equipment on these longer trips, I just don't absorb all the costs.  Nobody makes any money from these trips, and we want it either free, or as cheap as possible. 

All trips are open to everyone. No experience necessary. All backgrounds and religions welcome.  LGBTQ+ folks always welcome.  We're here to have experiences, enjoy the outdoors, create camaraderie, listen to my Dad jokes, and sometimes catch the odd fish.

Since I started this I've completed my undergrad (BMath, with a minor in actuarial science) as well as a masters degree (Masters, Math Teaching).  Now graduated, I still continue to run as many Fishing With Nerds events as I can handle each year.

What's Fishing With Nerds mean?

You folks are the nerds.  I'm fishing....with nerds.  No, we're not using Nerds candy as bait.