California Fly Fishers Unlimited (CFFU)
OF SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA
Updated December 16, 2011
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©Copyright 2003 - 2011, California Fly Fishers Unlimited, All Rights Reserved.
FISH IN THE CLASSROOM
CFFU participated with William Land Elementary School April 15, 2011 to release Salmon; with Deterding elementary school to release the Steelhead fry for Spring 2009 on April 3, 2009 and with Woodside elementary school on March 27, 2009. The day also included fly tying & fly casting for the students.
See Report and Photos of Deterding School Spring Release 2009.
See Report and Photos of Woodside School Spring Release 2009.
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Support Fish In The Classroom
SUPPORT CFFU's award winning conservation program!
VOLUNTEERS are needed periodically to deliver Steelhead and Salmon Eggs to area classrooms.
TENTATIVE DATE: Announced as needed.
MEET at the Nimbus Hatchery at 8:30 a.m.
For more information and to volunteer contact at his e-mail John Mott
, or call
916-654-5397.
Watch this website and the CFFU ListServe for updated information and delivery confirmation date.
John Mott
March 26, 2010 Letter from Mr. Pickering and Mr. Vega
"We would like to take this moment to thank CFFU members for making the Fish in the Classroom project successful. This whole project was a wonderful experience for us (teachers, students, and parents). Observing the beginning stages of the life cycle was absolutely miraculous. Students have it well documented in their journals. Students will continue the life cycle experience by writing a story about Steelhead making their way to the ocean and back to complete their life cycle.
Thank you CFFU members (Tim Au-Young, Gary Howard, Morrie Weisbert, Bob Steele, Glenn Yee, Tim Landrus, EJ Coldiron, John Coldiron and Carl Lang) for making time to share your expertise of fly casting, fly tying and fry releasing during our Fry Release Day on Friday, March 26, 2010 at Miller Park. It was great to meet dedicated members in their fishing attire awaiting us at their stations. You turned our Fry Release Day into a memorable event.
Special thanks to John Mott for advising us at each step for the last two months and for connecting us with Tim Au-Young. Special thanks to Tim for reeling in volunteers for our Fry Release Day and for monitoring the fry release station. We hope we can do this again next year."
California Fly Fishers Unlimited (CFFU) gratefully appreciates the steadfast support from Northern California Fly Fishers Federation (NCFFF), our primary financial sponsor for the Fish in the Classroom (FIC) program.
In February 2009, NCFFF awarded CFFU a $3000 grant for FIC. The grant enabled the program to grow and expand. Some accomplishments include:
Ž Purchasing 20 tank chillers at $125 each to replace failing ones and equip 15 new classrooms.
Ž Purchasing and manufacturing enhanced tank insulation boxes for 16 fish tanks resulting increased rearing success in 2010. CFFU Past President Gary Howard provided the skill and energy to manufacture all the boxes in his shop. (see photo)
NCFFF SUPPORTS
FISH IN THE CLASSROOM
By John Mott, Conservation Programs Chair
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2011, 9 A.M.
By John Mott
On February 17, 2011, 25 CFFU volunteers braved cold and rain to meet at Nimbus Fish Hatchery at 9:00 AM. After getting their teacher/school assignments, the volunteers carefully counted out 35 eggs per class into foam cups and placed their precious cargo in specially prepared ice chests for transporting to 48 classrooms throughout Sacramento County and Galt. All deliveries were successful and safe despite difficult driving in inclement weather.
The volunteers did a great job! Many changed plans and displayed much appreciated flexibility to adapt to last minute changes. Members Carl Lang and Brandie Heron were invaluable in making our school folder assignment process go smoothly. Harry Moos made sure refreshments were on hand by delivering and providing coffee and doughnuts for all. Dave Sylstra prepared cheesecloth squares that held the eggs and the fish food packets. Special thanks also to Dave for picking up a school that almost "fell through the cracks." The CFFU volunteer egg delivery people were: Bill Felts, Bob Larne, Bob Steele, Brandie Heron, Art Herron, Brent Vockrodt, Chris Wieland, Dave Sysltra, Dennis May Dick Angus, Harold Ross/Floyd Ross, Harry Moos Jacque Taylor, Jim Simon Ken Waterstreet, Randall Burt Rich Wilson, Richard Dangles Richard Slabaugh, Sam Yee Shari Stocki, Stan Stolt, Tim Landrus, and Tom Worth
This program works because so many people (teachers, CFFU volunteers, DFG personnel) commit themselves. These people used their own resources and "know how," to make the program work and bring this innovative learning adventure to thousands
of school children every year.
Similar programs to our model exist elsewhere, but the CFFU Program is one of the largest. In 2009, FIC reached 3182 students and served 135 classrooms. Typically on egg delivery days, CFFU volunteers drive the specially prepared fish egg cargo to 50 classrooms in 40 schools throughout the greater Sacramento metropolitan area. The next egg delivery will probably be in November.
Once the eggs hatch and the fish have grown, teachers coordinate the release of salmon and steelhead fingerlings by students into the American or Sacramento rivers (salmon in December and steelhead in April). There is often much excitement and occasionally a fly fishing demonstration or other activity presented by CFFU.
Teachers incur no out-of-pocket costs. For example, if equipment breaks CFFU replaces it, if a new teacher wants to be part of the program; CFFU supplies the needed equipment at no cost to the teacher. Details and more information about this creative program are available at the
CFFU website
.
CFFU is grateful for the solid support NCFFF provides the Fish in the Classroom Program and looks forward to continuing this partnership.
PHOTOS, FEBRUARY 17, 2011
April 15, 2011
CFFU ASSISTS WITH SALMON RELEASE
William Land Elementary, April 15, 2011
The students at William Land Elementary School again requested assistance from CFFU to make their fish release a fun and productive day. There were two classes with about 60 students in total walking to Miller Park from their school at 11th Street and V Street with their teachers Pete Vega and Michael Pickering. The students are from combined 2nd and 3rd grade classes. CFFU members demonstrated how to tie a Wooly Bugger fly and assisted the students with fly casting techniques. The Salmon were released into the river and everyone had a good time.
CFFU Members that assisted were:
Tim Au Young, Carl Lang, Brandie Wilson,
Rich Wilson
, Tim Landrus, John Coldiron, Earlene
Coldiron
, Gary Howard and Craig McCulloch attended from CFFU. The students had a fly tying demonstration (wolley buggers), introduction to fly casting lesson, and released the fish
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2011, 9 A.M.
By John Mott
CFFU volunteers came through again and delivered Chinook salmon eggs to 35 classrooms in 25 schools throughout Sacramento , northern San Joaquin , western Placer , and south eastern Yolo County . This takes a great deal of coordination and sustained effort above and beyond the call of duty.
Our delivery would not have been possible without the vehicles, energy and expenses incurred by Dennis May, Betty and Keith Pfeifer, Meloney Welborn, Harry Moos, Tim Landrus, Bill Felts, Dave Ford, Sam Yee, Dick Angus, Floyd Ross, Ken Waterstreet, Dave Sylstra, Beth Ison, Gary Eastman, Randy Burt, Bob Larne and Keith Adachi.
Carl Lang, Brandie Herron and I assembled DFG permits, CFU info sheets, school maps and teacher information into 35 teacher packets that were then sorted into schools the night before. Brandie and Carl also insured a very smooth school assignment process the next morning. I am grateful for their ideas, assistance and patience with our process of preparing teacher packets.
We can all take pride in knowing that because of the CFFU support of this innovative learning adventure, thousands of K-12 students in our community are learning with a representative from the wild-something that is not
electronic or on a screen. Thank you the members and please pat one of our volunteers on the back the next time you see them.
PHOTOS, NOVEMBER 8, 2011
PHOTOS OF FISH RELEASE AT GREER ELEMENTARY, DECEMBER 16, 2011
