FUDR Canfield Camp Week 1 2021 - It’s a Wrap!
The FUDR team of guides, mentors and volunteers just 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 3 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.
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 started with a meet and greet so the mentors and campers could get to know a little bit about each other. Then they were the introduced to their own fly rod, reel and line combo that they get to keep at the end of the 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 and sunfish on the camp ponds.
Day 2: Entomology, Stream Biology, Knot Tying and Fly Casting on the East Branch
Tuesday is the first of four field trips. They 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 Fly Tying
Wednesday was Fly Tying Day. Our team of Guides and Mentors were joined by Bruce Concors, a veteran UDR angler and student of numerous legendary Catskill fly-tyers.
The kids learned how to tie Hares Ears, Woolly Buggers, and a dry fly which they planned to use the following day on the Beaverkill River.
Day 4 Beaverkill Field Trip
The kids were greeted to perfect fishing weather for their day on a long, hallowed stretch of the Upper Beaverkill River at one of the oldest fishing clubs in the country.
After a heat wave they had a nice cool, cloudy day with rain showers, and this had the fish active. Almost every camper hooked or landed a trout, some multiple trout! 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!
There was plenty of action on the Beaverkill River including an audience of deer and a bald eagle that left its calling card feather behind.
The Beaverkill River field trip is always the highlight of camp and this year it did not disappoint.
Time for Lunch!
On our full day field trips, the crew breaks together for a delicious and much needed cookout lunch.
Special thanks to our hosts and volunteers who make lunch possible at their coveted private fishing spots!
Day 5 West Branch Angler Field Trip
Warm water and weather conditions rerouted our second field trip to the West Branch Angler where the kids were able to practice their skills fishing for largemouth bass on the resort’s private ponds. After a few hours of fishing the campers spent some time in the Resort’s fly shop. They really enjoyed checking out all the flies and equipment. They finished up the session by catching a few more bass before heading back to camp for lunch and afternoon activities.
Day 6 Mainstem Delaware River Field Trip
The kids finished off a great week at a private camp in Lordville on the Mainstem 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 more important than catching. 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.
As the sun set on Session 1, we said goodbye to our new friends who are now FUDR/Canfield Camp graduates, ready to hit the river!
We look forward to hosting the next group for our second session August 8-15, 2021.
There are still a few spots left! Register now at FUDRCanfieldCamp.com.
Email us at info@fudr.org for more information.
