Fourteen youth from the Bristol Bay region recently embarked on the 10th annual Bristol Bay Fly Fishing and Guide Academy in hopes of gaining the tools, skills, experience and confidence needed to become a sportfishing guide in Bristol Bay.
In celebration of the tenth annual Academy, the short film, “Hooked: Inspiring Youth, Creating Opportunity” was launched two weeks ago in recognition of past successes of the program and looking to the future.
This is a fly-fishing and guide training program for Bristol Bay-area youth and BBNC shareholders and descendants. The program is offered free to the students. It was hosted by Bear Trail Lodge, in King Salmon, Alaska.
Bristol Bay Fly Fishing and Guide Academy is organized through the Bristol Bay Heritage Land Trust, Bristol Bay Native Corporation, Trout Unlimited’s Alaska Program, with support from UAF- Bristol Bay campus, Bureau of Land Management, Orvis, Bristol Bay Economic Development Corporation, Bristol Bay Native Association and dozens of additional sponsors.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: please see www.bristolbayriveracademy.org
The Bristol Bay Fly Fishing and Guide Academy is a place-based river education course that fosters sustainable outdoor employment opportunities for Bristol Bay young people. Learn more at bristolbayriveracademy.org or on Facebook.
Editor’s note: Having worked at one of these academies myself, I can say it was one of the most rewarding and inspiring angles I have ever chased, and a very worthy endeavor. It’s also, naturally, an important connection to the effort to protect Bristol Bay. Everyone in this industry should be behind this. Thank you to Orvis for taking the lead from the fly side of things.
