Have you ever dreamed of learning to fly fish and then taking it to the next level and actually making a career out of it? If you’re between 15 and 22 years of age and live in Bristol Bay, listen up. Trout Unlimited Alaska, together with partner organizations, is sponsoring the second annual Bristol Bay Fly Fishing and Guide Academy in the Yu’pik Eskimo village of Ekwok this summer. The goal is to train interested Bristol Bay-area youth in the art of fly fishing and to prepare them for future careers as guides in the sport fishing industry which pumps an estimated $80 million into the Alaska economy every year.
June 15 is the deadline to apply. There’s more information at www.savebristolbay.org. For an application, visit www.bbflyfishingacademy.org.
Recreational fishing in the Bristol Bay region of Southwest Alaska is big business. Anglers from around the world travel to Bristol Bay every summer to enjoy world-class opportunities to catch king, sockeye and silver salmon, trophy rainbow trout, Dolly Varden, Arctic char and Arctic grayling, among other species. Although the industry provides hundreds of seasonal jobs, local residents, particularly Alaska Natives, have traditionally played a small part in this lucrative and sustainable industry. Most of the jobs go to seasonal workers from the Lower 48.
Trout Unlimited Alaska (TU-AK) wants to see that change. Recognizing that Bristol Bay is a region of high unemployment with staggering costs, TU-AK wants to encourage residents to get involved in the sport fishing and outdoor recreation industry by providing opportunities for local young people to learn important skills.
In addition to TU-AK, support for the 2010 academy comes from the Nushagak-Mulchatna/Wood-Tikchik Land Trust, Bristol Bay Native Corporation, The Nature Conservancy, the Bureau of Land Management, and the University of Alaska Bristol Bay Campus. Gear manufacturer Redington is providing rods, reels and lines to the academy. Umpqua Feather Merchants is donating the fly tying materials. Thanks to all our sponsors.
