Ken Hoehlein poses with a largemouth bass he pulled out of Sebasticook Lake in Newport.

The eight-week course, which begins March 17 in Ellsworth and March 19 in Bangor, will cover the multiple facets of the sport through classroom lecture, videos, demonstrations and guest speakers, including biologists from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

Classes will be held each Tuesday beginning March 17 at Ellsworth High School and each Thursday beginning March 19 at Bangor High School. Each class runs from 6:30 to 9 p.m.

The course is offered through adult education centers in Ellsworth and Bangor. For information about Ellsworth classes, call Ellsworth Adult Education at 667-6499. To register for classes in Bangor, call 992-5523.

A resident of Trenton, Hoehlein is president of the Bangor Bass Club. He said bass fishing is the fastest growing type of fishing in Maine, adding that statistics from Inland Fisheries and Wildlife indicate that an overwhelming majority of fishing licenses sold last year were to people wanting to fish for bass.

Hoehlein said the course would appeal to novices and those who want to enhance their bass-fishing experience.

“Maine is the best-kept secret in the country regarding bass fishing,” he said. “When spring comes around, the fishing here is unbelievable.”