Successful Second Session!
The FUDR team of guides, mentors and volunteers completed another fun and successful week of fly fishing camp with a great group of kids on the Upper Delaware River.
In partnership with the French Woods Sports and Arts Center sleepaway camp, we hosted 11 kids, including 4 from the local UDR and Upstate NY area, for an incredible week.
Thank you to our generous donors and sponsors for supporting our camp and mission. Their contributions to our scholarship fund helped enable many of our campers to attend camp this year.
And a very special thank you to all our guides and mentors for the expertise and passion they bring to camp every day. Together we are passing on a passion for fly fishing and conservation to the next generation.
Day 1: Gear Assembly and Casting Lessons on the Camp Training Pond
Camp day 1 started with a meet and greet so the mentors and campers could get to know each other.
After introductions, there was a short classroom session as an intro to fly fishing gear and terminology.
Then they were given their own Orvis fly rod, reel and line combo that they keep at the end of camp. After learning about their gear, names of the parts, and how to put it together, they learned the basics of casting and practiced on the lawn. They finished the session casting flies and catching bass on the camp ponds.
Day 2: East Branch Field Trip
Tuesday was the first of four field trips. Campers spent the morning at East Branch Outfitters seining for bugs, learning to tie knots, and learning how to present a fly to a fish in the river. The lead mentor of the day, Ben Rinker, has a master’s degree in Aquatic Biology and helps the campers identify the bugs that they collect. All insects are released as we teach the kids the importance of preserving our resources.
Day 3: Wednesday was Fly Tying Day.
Fly tying day is held at French Woods. Our team of guides and mentors included Hyun Kounne a world traveling angler and casting instructor. Hyun is very involved in promoting women’s fly fishing and the kids loved her!
With enough guides and mentors for 1:1 teaching, campers learned how to tie a streamer, nymphs, and dries in one session. A lot to learn in a few hours, but they did great and got to use them the next day at the Beaverkill River.
Day 4: Beaverkill Field Trip
The kids were greeted by perfect fishing weather for their day on a long, hallowed stretch of the Upper Beaverkill River at Beaverkill Trout Club, one of the oldest fishing clubs in the country.
The conditions were warm and challenging, but plenty of fish were caught and hooked. The kids fished a beat in the morning, then after a nice lunch they switched beats. Brown and Rainbow Trout were caught on nymphs, streamers (which they tied), and even dry flies!
The Beaverkill field trip is always the highlight of camp and once again it did not disappoint.
Day 5: Float Trip
After a big day of wade fishing on the Beaverkill, the kids got to experience a morning of fishing from a drift boat. Our float trip took us down the Main Stem of the Delaware River from Long Eddy Beach, in Long Eddy, NY to Soaring Eagle Campground on the PA side of the river. A big thank you to the owners of these private properties for hosting us in such great fishing spots! FUDR Canfield Fly Fishing Camp is a community effort. With everyone’s help it continues to grow and get even better each year.
Campers spent the morning casting poppers and streamers for smallmouth bass. There might have even been a little swimming involved, with our French Woods lifeguards present of course. Besides the fishing, this float trip brought us through the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System governed by the US National Park Service. Campers got to see some cool wildlife including our national bird the Bald Eagle. Eight guides gave their time, boats, and experience to make this float a success. A great time was had by all!
Day 6: Main Stem Delaware Field Trip
The kids finished off a great week at Indian Springs Fly Fishing Club, a private camp in Lordville on the Main Stem of The Delaware. After a casting tune up, the kids geared up and spent some time wade fishing in the river. A few fish were hooked, but got away, and the kids learned that having fun and going through the process is most important. The day ended with a nice barbeque and graduation ceremony, which had us all smiling and a bit sad to say goodbye...until next time.
