By Nathan Zabel
Education Manager
Fishing in the Pacific Northwest is a key part of our local recreation, food supply, and economy, and recreational fishing alone leads to an estimated $1.5 billion spent annually. But if you are new to the area or didn’t grow up around those that fish, how do you get started in participating in this popular pastime? That’s where NSEA comes in! Not only are we bringing back Fishtival, an annual fly-fishing education event, we are also piloting a two-week Fishing Camp for 6-8 graders.
Fishtival is July 9, 10 am-1 pm, at Vanderyacht Park in Ferndale and is all about gaining an introduction to fly fishing, including the basics of casting, fly tying, and how to navigate licensing and regulations. As part of our Nooksack River Stewards Program, we will also have interactive games and activities centered on the macroinvertebrates that those flies are imitating and how to be responsible stewards while recreating in and around rivers and streams! This event is free and open to everyone, and funding for this opportunity was provided by the Haggen Foundation’s Building Brighter Futures Together campaign. Thank you to all the shoppers who participated in this campaign. More information about Fishtival and other community events this summer can be found on the button at the bottom of this page.
In addition to Fishtival, this summer NSEA is launching Fishing Camp! This summer camp runs from 9:00am – 3:00pm for two weeks, Monday – Friday, from June 27 – July 8 for campers who are going into 6-8 grade in the fall. Fishing camp will be a blend of science and outdoor recreation as campers participate in activities such as fly tying, fly casting, fish identification, water quality testing, stewardship projects, and of course time on the water fishing in our local waterways. Campers will discover the importance of salmon in our region, along with responsible environmental stewardship actions they can take in their lives to promote healthy salmon populations in their future. Thanks to community partners including Confluence Fly Shop, 4th Corner Fly Fishers, and Whatcom Land Trust, campers will be connected with local professionals in the conservation and fishing fields and be geared up for a lifetime of fishing. For more information on Fishing Camp and to register, click the button below.