WCTU NEWS
Contact: Becky Jensen

Communications Coordinator

425.654.0115
becky@troutunlimitedwashington.org

Yakima Fly Fisher’s Associate Hosts Event For Youth Organized by Jeffry Barbee
http://ow.ly/AfItD

On Sunday April, 27 the Yakima Fly Fishers' Association hosted a youth event to teach the basics of fly casting and fly tying. The event was led by Jeffry Barbee, youth member of our club and a “graduate” of TU and FFF's Fly Fishing Academy. Jeffry organized the event to complete the requirements of his senior project at Naches High School.

The project was conducted within the framework of the Yakima Greenway Foundation's Kidding Around program. Kidding Around is a summer activity program for kids in the Yakima area. The mission of Kiddin' Around is to promote a healthy and active lifestyle for all youth, with an emphasis on fighting childhood obesity. Last year nearly 8000 youth participated in one or more the programs' many events.

Eleven students participated in our event. The boys and girls were rotated between learning basic fly casting and fly tying. Each student tied a Wooley Bugger. After casting and tying practice the students moved to Yakima Greenway's Reflection Pond to apply their new skills. The event was held the day after Yakima's Annual Kid's Fish In, so the Pond was still heavily stocked with trout. Every student eventually caught a fish on the fly that he or she tied! The project was a huge success and will likely become an annual project for our club.

Article Submitted By Tim Gavin, Yakima Chapter Treasurer