GREAT NEWS FOR 2010!

THE BIG HORN RIVER ALLIANCE AND FEDERATION OF FLY FISHERS WILL BE SPONSORING

BIG HORN YOUTH ADVENTURE 2010

A great opportunity for young people to expand their knowledge of fly fishing is on the horizon. The Big Horn River Youth Adventure is currently taking applications for the 2010 program at Fort Smith, MT on the banks of the world famous Big Horn River. Twelve young fly fishers will be selected by the Big Horn River Alliance for a four day fly tying and fly fishing adventure. All meals, lodging, airport shuttles and guides will be provided free of charge. Air transportation to Billings or transportation directly to Fort Smith must be secured by the participant’s parents, guardian or fly fishing club.

Read: Evan's Reflections from the River

The dates for the Bighorn Youth Adventure will be June 24 through 27, 2010 with a travel day before and after. All clubs and councils are more than welcome to encourage applications from young fly fishers that are 14 to 18 years of age. Both boys and girls are welcome to apply. We are expanding the program to include more evening activities such as a ‘You-row-it Carp Tourney’, Casting Games, Fly Tying Games and other activities. For more information contact:

Frank Johnson,
11 Spring Creek Lane
Sheridan, Wyoming 82801
Phone 307-672-5164 or cell 307-752- 7083
Email: bghrnhkl@wavecom.net or youthadventure2010@gmail.com

APPLICANT REQUIREMENTS: Any youth, male or female, ages 14 thru 18. All applicants must know: ‘KIND OF’ KNOW HOW TO FLY FISH AND ‘KIND OF’ KNOW HOW TO TIE FLIES. We are seeking youngsters who want to experience the joy of a ‘big time’ fly fishing adventure and are willing to return home to mentor other young people and encourage others to take part in the great activity of fly fishing.

During their stay at Fort Smith, the Big Horn River Alliance will provide at NO COST all of the meals beginning with lunch June 23rd (travel day) thru breakfast June 28th (travel day).

Lodging will be provided at NO COST by several of the local lodges (double occupancy) in and around Fort Smith.

Guiding will be provided by Mature, licensed, professional guides who have logged thousands of days on the Big Horn. There will be a total of 24 guide days at NO COST to the kids.

We take our hats off to the Fort Smith angling community for their generous donations!

The days will be busy as the young fly fishers will be picked up each morning at 7:00 am and taken to breakfast at a lodge or restaurant and at 8:00 or 8:30 they will begin their daily fly tying session which will last from two to three hours. The youths will be taught to tie the flies they will be fishing with that day. The fly tying sessions will be conducted by Frank Johnson (Buz Buszek Award 1984) with the help of several other experienced professional fly tiers and teachers. Frank has been tying professionally for fifty years and teaching for forty.

The guides will meet the participants at 10:00 to 11:00 and head to the river for fishing. Lunches will be served on the river. The guides will usually stay out on the river until sometime from 5:00pm and 6:00pm depending on how the fishing is or when dinner is scheduled. The young people will be with a different guide each day to experience each guide’s individual guiding and fishing techniques.

After dinner each evening, there will be other activities planned such as: Casting games, Fly tying games, and “You row it Carp Tourney” on Big Horn Lake.

On the evening of June 27th, we will have a special deluxe dinner and an Achievement/Awards Ceremony. We do not consider fly fishing a contest so there will be no “Big Fish” award but there may be a “most improved angler” award etc. All the participants will get an award. This will be a fun time! We will be asking suppliers and manufactures for help to provide some special gifts!

Anyone who is interested in competing for the chance to attend must fill out an application form. The form asks for general information including names and addresses of both parents and applicants, questions regarding angler experience, health and diet questions, and more. There are also three essay questions at the conclusion of the application. The twelve youths asked to attend will be selected by the Bighorn River Alliance based upon their experience and the quality of their essay question answers.

For more information please refer to the FFF ClubWire or October 2009 for our final report on the 2009 Youth Adventure and comments by the 2009 participants and their parents. We did get five star reviews! If you cannot access the Club Wire, please contact Frank at the email addresses below to receive a copy. Please ask for “Final Report 2009”.

For more information and pictures go to our web site www.bighornriveralliance.org and click on Youth Adventure. Call Frank Johnson with questions or to obtain an application at 307-672-5164 or 307-752-7083 or email bghrnhkl@wavecom.net or youthadventure2010@gmail.com .