Jun 11
As I type, Mission Lodge is buzzing. Forks are clanking, students are laughing. Someone just asked, "where are you from again?"(New Stuyahok, he answered). It smells like pizza, and I'm slurping down a Coke knowing we have a night of activities ahead - and the long days of June in Alaska will allow for them.
We loaded the float plane shortly after 8:00 am. Sharolynn and David, two students from the Bristol Bay River Academy, were scheduled to spend for the entire day with myself and a guide fishing a small creek deep in the heart of Katmai National Park.
Students broke into two groups to learn essential knots and how to tie the flies they’ll need for the week. While this can be tedious work, the urgency was clear: if their leaders aren’t prepared and flies aren’t tied, they won’t have anything to use for fishing.
“You’re here because you have key knowledge that will make you excellent sport fishing guides on your home waters,” they were told. But they were also forewarned: being well-versed in many components of guiding and the industry are needed before making that a reality.
As the instructors finish up lesson plans, students are en route to the Academy. Before we get started, here's an overview of a few Academy stats and figures.
Want to know what we're up to at the Bristol Bay River & Guide Academy? Here is what a typical day looks like.
Congratulations Bristol Bay River Academy Class of 2014! These students wowed all the instructors with their dedication and positive attitudes. We can't wait to see the great things they'll all do with their new skills!
Here are just two highlights from Client Day, though really we could go on for pages and pages of all the successes from today!
On day four, students put their heads down and did some serious preparation. Client day is looming and they have lots of preparation to do to ensure they’re ready to guide a stranger for a day fishing on the Newhalen.
It was a little bit difficult to convince the kids to agree to a 7:00am breakfast... until we told them there was a fly-out planned for the day.
Bristol Bay Fly Fishing & Guide Academy 