5 Rivers Program wins grant

Trout Unlimited’s 5 Rivers college program is honored to have been selected by the American Fly Fishing Trade Association (AFFTA) as one of the inaugural recipients of an $8,050 AFFTA Fisheries Fund grant.  The Fisheries Fund was established in 2014 to promote the sport and industry of fly fishing, with a particular emphasis placed upon education and conservation. 

“This grant will really let us gain some momentum within the TU 5 Rivers program,” stated Franklin Tate, Director of TU’s Headwaters Youth Program.  “We’re at a point where having AFFTA’s support will help us reach out to new colleges and universities and expand the number of young fly fishers we are working with on campuses across the country.”  

TU 5 Rivers fosters the next generation of fly fishers through the establishment and coordination of college and university fly fishing clubs.  These clubs teach fly fishing and fly tying to club members and promote conservation ethics through volunteer opportunities with local TU chapters.  TU 5 Rivers is active on upwards of 40 campuses across the country, and this number is expected to more than triple in the next two years to 150.  Ushering thousands of educated young men and women into the sport of fly fishing will greatly benefit the industry and help support TU’s conservation work for years to come.

“Kudos to AFFTA for coming up with the idea behind the Fisheries Fund,” Tate remarked.  “It’s amazing when an organization is as forward looking as they are and invests in the next generation.  We are very excited to partner with them.”

More information about TU 5 Rivers can be found at www.tu.org/5Rivers