Jun 10
early all the students had caught at least one fish and were exchanging ideas on what flies worked, or didn't; joking on how important the knots were to landing the fish; sharing with their peers where they found the willing fish and of course, embellishing things just a little bit...(they are after all fish stories).
Are you considering applying for the Academy, but not sure if it's right for you? Check out what Academy grad, Kvichak, had to say about the Academy and where it has taken him!
Attention, Graduates! Bristol Bay lodges are still looking for qualified, responsible and friendly guides for the 2015 Season.
We are excited to announce the dates & location for the 2015 Academy.
Our students learn professional development, fly fishing, river ecology, conservation, leadership & guiding skills at NO cost to the student. Please consider donating or spread the work about this campaign to make the Academy possible again in 2015. Thank you!
Click here to donate:
https://www.crowdrise.com/bristolbayriveracademy/fundraiser/alaskaguidelist
In its 6th year, the Bristol Bay River & Guide Academy is the only local training opportunity available for Bristol Bay young people interested in pursuing jobs in the recreation and tourism industry.
The week-long river-side course will teach you the basics of fly-fishing, river etiquette, conservation and fisheries management with local biologists. You’ll also learn what it takes to be a guide and at the end of the Academy successful applicants are well on their way to securing jobs in Bristol Bay’s lucrative sport fishing industry. Through field trips and special guests you’ll learn techniques on sharing stories about life in Bristol Bay with people from all over the world.
We hope you can join us this August!
What: Bristol Bay River & Guide Academy
When: August 12-18th, 2014
Where: Red Quill Lodge in Iliamna
How to Apply: Fill out this application (Flyer_BBRA.2014) and return it to nwilliams @ tu [dot] org or by mail to 3105 Lakeshore Drive #102B Anchorage, AK 99517 by July 1st.
This program is open to Bristol Bay residents or BBNC shareholders between the ages of 15-24.
We would like to officially congratulate this year’s students! Thanks to all of the supporters, volunteers, pilots, guides and our host Mission Lodge for the great week.
Check out this great video of what the Bristol Bay River Academy is all about!
The Academy has received some national press coverage on Indian Country Today. Read the story here.
The chef calls that breakfast is ready and the students aren’t clamoring for food as they were the first day. Where are they? A quick inventory and they are huddled around the fly tying table amongst a gaggle of feathers, chenille and their newly acquired vices. There’s some serious discussion happening on which fly they are working on is most smolt like and whether its going to appeal to a king or a chum. 
The 13 students, from communities all over the bristol Bay region, have gathered for a week of on-water fun at Bristol Bay’s Mission Lodge. While here they learn from local experts how to fly fish, what its like to be a guide, river conservation principles and how they can be amassadors for their region. Ideally a couple of the students, like year’s past, take their new skills and pursue jobs in Bristol Bay’s world class sport fishing economy.
This week they’ve already mastered the basic skills of fly fishing, talked with community elders about local stories and place names, discussed and put to practice essential customer service skills, and discussed how to safely guide people in the field.
Now its time to find some fish. We are gearing up and heading out this afternoon to see if we can find a few willing fish that are interested in the smorgasbord of flies created early this morning.
