|
 |
| |
Second Annual First Cast MSA Rewards Mentors and Apprentices
MSA is pleased to report a total of fifteen eager
mentors and apprentices graduated from this the 2nd Annual First Cast MSA weekend held July 23 &
24, 2011. The program took on a particular strong contingent recruited by New Brunswick's Dewey Gillespie, an esteemed
man of the river and well known for his tireless efforts to encourage local youth to appreciate and enjoy the wonders of the
Miramichi River watershed.
The Saturday morning portion was hosted once again by our partners at the Atlantic Salmon Museum in Doaktown
showing a Power Point presentation prepared by MSA's Jenny Reid, and delivered by the Museum's Bev Gaston.
Following this was a tour of this wonderful facility that regales in the cause of salmon conservation.
Our common goal is to lend a thorough understanding of our beloved Miramichi to eager newcomers which leads to their
taking ownership of our resource and to acquire a concern about its future. The afternoon saw all of the mentor-apprentice
pairs given the opportunity to learn and practice actual casting while wading in the home pool on the museum grounds. Each
attendee first tried the Wulff Fly-O yarn rod tools, followed by personal instruction from Vince Swazey while casting in the
river. Additional follow-up attention from our reliable corps of volunteers was provided in our "bull pen" on the
adjoining grassy grounds.
The following day allowed for fishing from a member's camp on the Miramichi at Gray Rapids. Ages of the apprentices
ranged from 10 to 34, with mentors ranging in age from 19 thru 76, including an entire family of husband, wife, daughter,
and young son. The full opportunity to experience river etiquette and to enjoy just how easy it is to become
absorbed into the Miramichi environment while fly fishing was encouraged by our reliable cadre of volunteers. Particular kudos
go to Dr. Jim McQuaid from Miramichi for his outstanding efforts to keep the program both well attended and well organized.
Fellow MSA member Hillary Howes provided sharp assistance to all of our attendees in and out of the river, along with Vince,
Jim, Dewey, and myself. A great lunch in camp provided, compliments of Denise
Valeri.
All graduates of First Cast MSA are rewarded with a one year membership into our MSA ranks. We are particularly pleased to announce that we
plan to continue to partner with the Atlantic Salmon Museum as well as Dewey Gillespie in our future First
Cast MSA endeavors. While we know that Dewey is eager to expand invitations to more and more locals, we always shall
welcome and urge fellow MSA member attendees to consider becoming a mentor and introduce their own new blood to our sport.
As always, we work to encourage the return of all graduates as often as possible to the river, as it naturally strengthens
their mentor-apprentice relationships while experiencing first-hand what being on the river is all about. An enhanced presence
of conservation-minded fly fishers on the Miramichi works to preserve our intentions to protect the Atlantic Salmon species.
Most notably too is the over arching emphasis throughut First Cast MSA, which is to stress how 90% of the experience
to fly fish for Atlantic salmon on the Miramichi has little to do with the actual catching of fish, and plenty to do with
how to appreciate our environment as we learn to protect the Atlantic Salmon within the Miramichi River system.
|
|
|