Programs & Education

Catch a Fish － CAF is a program intended to introduce new people to the sport of flyfishing. Our goal is to provide basic, hands-on instruction to people who have never flyfished before or beginners who need to build their skills and confidence. HSFC conducts these classes for free at a local, private pond and provides ALL the gear and equipment needed. We’d love to see more club members participate in this program. If you have a spouse, partner, family member or friend who is interested in flyfishing but doesn’t know where to start, tell them about this program!  Ages 10 and up. Tom Connolly is the coordinator and can be reached at info@hsfc.us 

Reel Kids － Since 2007, HSFC has partnered with the Northern Nevada Children's Cancer Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to facilitating support services for childhood cancer families, to offer the REEL KIDS program. This retreat offers a full day of fly fishing and fellowship for kids who are in treatment for or recovering from cancer, along with their parents and siblings (this works for the whole family).  Reel Kids is held at the Deer Run Ranch in Beckwourth, CA (Plumas County) and since 2007 has served over 250 families.  Northern Nevada children, ages 9-17, are eligible to participate in this program. Please contact HSFC at info@hsfc.us for details. 

Reel Vets － Reel Vets is a free fly fishing program for eligible veterans in the Reno, Nevada area. The High Sierra Fly Casters organize the program in collaboration with the Reno Vet Center and the Nevada Department of Wildlife. Private donors fund the program. Eligible veterans can sign up for the program through the Reno Vet Center.

Trout in the Classroom － Trout in the Classroom (TIC) is a nation-wide educational program that allows students and teachers to experience the life-cycle of a trout. TIC is tied to the standards for 4th and 5th grades, although it currently takes place in classrooms ranging from 3rd grade to high school throughout Nevada. Trout in the Classroom is designed to teach students about the science, art, recreation and other values of fish and aquatic life through classroom observation and hands-on activities. In cooperation with the Nevada Department of Wildlife, the River Wranglers and others, HSFC supports local teachers participating in the Nevada TIC program to help them ensure their students have a great egg-to-release experience.

The program takes place over a six to eight week period. Participating classrooms are provided with a tank, chiller and other materials needed to grow trout from egg to fingerling. Eggs are delivered on Egg Day and for the next six weeks students care for the trout and watch their development. Teachers integrate information about the life-cycle of trout, our fisheries and conservation of our watersheds into their lessons. On release day the students take a field trip to a local pond or river to release their trout. Education activities are integrated into this field trip.

During the program, hands-on classroom and field activities are provided by River Wranglers with the assistance of NDOW and HSFC. HSFC also provides additional lessons such as the Vivid Dancer Damselfly, Lahontan Cutthroat Trout, and Trout Food that complement the TIC lessons. These activities are designed to reinforce classroom lessons.

HSFC sponsors this program in Douglas County and some Alpine County schools. We provide material and volunteer support, without which this program would not be the huge success it is. We also want to thank the Nature Conservancy’s River Fork Ranch for supporting this program by allowing us to use the Ranch for release day activities.

Educators in our service area who are interested in this program are encouraged to contact us at info@hsfc.us to learn more about the program and our services.

These programs are free to all participants and are made possible by our great network of partners and supporters and, of course, our volunteers.

Youth and Family Outdoor Events - Throughout the year you will find us at a number of events where we provide flyfishing learning opportunities for kids and their families. Events include:

• Youth Wildlife Conservation Experience (The Sheep Show) - Reno

• NV Outdoor Experience (Wild Sheep Foundation) - Carson City

• Douglas County Kids' Fishing Derby - Gardnerville

We thank organizations, such as the Sagebrush Chapter of Trout Unlimited, and our private donors for providing funds to sustain and grow youth programs.