Big win for fly fisherman

Gérard Bilodeau (left) and Patrick Vincent, Regional Director of Fisheries Management (right), congratulate Mr. Claude Bernard (centre) as he receives a 2011 National Recreational Fisheries Award.

Keith Ashfield, Canada’s Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, has announced that Claude Bernard is a winner of a 2011 National Recreational Fisheries Award.

“As Mr Bernard is committed to ensuring that recreational fisheries are preserved, so is our Government,” said Minister Ashfield. “We are proud to honour the efforts of such dedicated volunteers who make such an important contribution to this tradition.”

Bernard has made a rich and lasting contribution to recreational fishing and its legacy for all Canadians by introducing many students to fly fishing and fly tying, often devoting his lunch breaks to educate others.

He was also the driving force behind the creation of the culturally important Canadian Fly Fishing Museum in Waterloo and co-founded the Québec-Maritimes Fly Fishing Forum which attracts more than 2,000 participants annually. 

In addition, he has contributed his knowledge and passion to the creation and maintenance of streams suitable for fly fishing, such as the development of spawning beds, fish passages and other work on the North Yamaska River. He is currently leading development of a manual for the Pêche en herbe programme for young sport fishers; a programme that introduces 9-12 year-olds to recreational fishing.

Canada’s National Recreational Fisheries Awards were created in 1989 to recognise outstanding contributions by individuals and organisations in areas such as recreational community leadership, restoring and enhancing fisheries and fish habitat or promoting conservation and sustainable recreational fishing.

LINK (Via: Fisheries and Oceans Canada)

Source: Midcurrent via Fishneweu