The SAREP Youth Fly Fishing Program has begun its 14th season of free fly tying/fly fishing classes, held Mondays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Fredonia Middle School Cafeteria. Field trips will be occur shortly afterwards. Classes are free and open to children and community members. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
The group will continue to meet every Monday until early summer. Classes will not be held when there school is not in session at Fredonia Central School.
In 1998, Alberto Rey and Mike Conley attended sportfishing and aquatic resource educational programming through the Cornell Cooperative. The seminars provided training for teachers and future instructors who would provide educational conservation experiences to children. Shortly afterwards, S.A.R.E.P. Youth Fly Fishing Program was founded after a grant was received from Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency. The program has continued to grow over the years as enrollment has steadily increased and as the program has provided new services to the community. New mentors and instructors now include John Straight, Jim Wilcox and Jon Storm.
Article Photos
Submitted Photo
Learn fly tying and fly fishing at free classes held in Fredonia. Pictured is participant Diego Rey with a salmon.
S.A.R.E.P. Youth Flyfishing Program is an educational program that provides children with information and experiences related to aquatic resources, conservation, ethics and fly fishing. Fly fishing has a long history of integrating these elements into the core of the sport. The ethics of the program promotes "catch and release" as well as respect for fellow fisherman and the land on which one fishes. It is the program's goal to protect the species and the land for future generations. The program closely ties together the importance of understanding nature with the rewarding act of fly fishing.
S.A.R.E.P. Youth Fly fishing Program is a not-for-profit volunteer organization that relies on the generosity of the fly fishing industry and of public and private donors. S.A.R.E.P. Youth Fly Fishing Program provides workshops to an average of 350 children a year.
For more information on the program, contact Alberto Rey at 679-7002 or email him at alberto@albertorey.com.
