Conservation Symposium at Canadian National Fly Fishing Championships

Conservation Symposium at Canadian National Fly Fishing Championships & Conservation Symposium

The Canadian Championships got off to a strong start earlier this afternoon with the Conservation Symposium. Three very solid speakers, Jim McLennan, Lorne Fitch and Brad Stelfox anchored this impressive event. More info about the speakers at this link: http://bit.ly/16v1YIo

All photos, Copyright Bow River Shuttles All rights reserved 2013

Conservation Symposium MC Don Pike, Director of Special Events, Trout Unlimited Canada

Gerry Thompson, Co-Chair, Host Committee, Canadian National Fly Fishing Championships & Conservation Symposium welcoming members of the eleven teams who have come together for the event from across the country.

Jim McLennan, McLennan Fly Fishing – “The Bow River: an Angler's Perspective."

Jim’s presentation traced his history with the Bow River, which intersects with the development of the guiding/outfitting industry, the arrival of Trout Unlimited Canada in Alberta, and the growth of the river's reputation internationally.

Lorne Fitch – “Stumps, Sawdust and Sediment: A Legacy of Logging in the Headwaters?"

Lorne discussed the perilous prognosis for native fish in Alberta's headwaters resulting from habitat declines – a consequence historic and current land use. Timber harvest is a major cause of these declines but the effects are cumulative. How can we turn the situation around to rescue native fish species, improve water quality and restore watershed integrity?

Brad Stelfox – “Tracking the Effects of Land Use on Salmonids in the Bow River: Could the Bow River host the National Fly Fishing Championships in 50 years?

Brad explored how landscape activities and land use decisions made today will affect the Bow River fishery we leave to the next generation.