Giving My Time To The Cliff Frazier Memorial / Tahoe Truckee Fly Fishers Youth Trout Camp

As a Tahoe Truckee Fly Fisher member I was honored to be a part of the Cliff Frazier Memorial that was held June 22nd through the 24th. The Memorial is an opportunity for local youth to gain experience, and learn the art of fly fishing. Getting our youth involved is critical for the future of our sport, and understanding the dynamics of protecting wild trout.

Day one of the three day course was conducted at the Tahoe Donner club house with an introduction to the parameters of fly fishing, followed by casting instruction with proper technique. Day two of the event was held at the San Francisco Fly Casting Club, they rolled out the red carpet by allowing us to use their facilities, and access to their private stretch of water along the Glenshire reach. Because of warming water temps and extremely low water levels we switched gears and did the guided fishing in the morning. Our kids were so ready to get their feet wet you could feel the passion in their eyes!

Day two was successful for all of our participants, more than catching, the theme was learning effective drifts with dry / dropper rigs, and solid nymphing presentations.

Also on day two, I was the lead instructor with the entomology program in explaining to our little guests on the finer points of what trout eat, both aquatic, and terrestrial. Kids go crazy for bugs, and why I get so excited watching them learn the real science of fly fishing in regards to the flora and fauna.

On day three, all of us guides figured out that the resident rainbows wanted something stripped through the water column. I put my dude Cameron on a 12 pound tippet with a black bugger with copper flash, and all hell broke loose! It was insane.

It was nonstop action while stripping the big ugly black stuff, our two dudes who ended up fishless on day two walked away with being the champs the last day with catch rates of 10 & 13 each, with rainbows ranging from 15 to 18 inches. Learning fly tying followed the afternoon session, making the course go full circle. Thanks to all for having me as a guest guide, I hope I can be there next year. Special thanks to the Tahoe Truckee Fly Fishers for organizing this special event, There are too many names to list, but you know who you are  - Everyone involved did an awesome job! This was by far my highlight of the summer so far as I love to pass down my knowledge of fly fishing to the youth of our world!