LOCAL SCHOOL KIDS SAVE BLACKBERRY CREEK

“ The Leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling Together; and a little child shall lead them.”

Bible, Isahiah

This months fly fishing column is dedicated to Joel Blanco and his classmates who successfully called attention to polluted Blackberry Creek that runs right next to their school grounds, by taking the case to the Berkeley California City Council asking that the creek situation be investigated. This young man with the help of classmates who wrote letters and organized a group effort that included producing a video tape, ought to be highly commended for his out of the ordinary passion in getting his school creek cleaned up properly. The local waters were contaminated with both bacteria associated with raw sewage and other refuse such as dog feces were being routinely discharged into the creek.. Jon Bindloss Thousand Oaks Elementary Science Teacher said he had to use gloves in his first attempts at gathering bug larvae for class work or collecting any samples from the polluted creek, “ It was a hassle, we look forward to being able to use the creek for science. “

A few weeks ago Mayor Tom Bates came to Thousand Oaks Elementary to tell Joel and 150 other students that the city had fixed many of the pollution issues such as raw sewage and was confident the creek was well on its way to clean health. Joel who is a fifth grader was thrilled and said,” I feel great - it makes me feel like we did something.” City crews have begun removing old signs and refuse as this little urban creek is saved and restored because of a young man named Joel and his classmates. I want to salute Joel and his classmates and the staff at Thousand Oaks Elementary for their above and beyond dedication to one day seeing and smelling their creek fresh and sparkling. This is such a wonderful story and a grand example of what I have been saying in this monthly fly column for many years. This story was published in the San Francisco Chronicle March 31, 2004 and was written by Patrick Hoge, who can be reached at [email protected] .

Local school kids with the help of concerned educated adults can and now by Joel Blanco’s example have begun to make a difference in both determination and implementation of clean water projects that actually work and benefit all of us, all the insects, all the birds, all the fish, and of course all the people. If anyone reading this column becomes inspired to take a much harder, closer look at their own local rivers, streams, oceans, perhaps Joel’s inspired deed may become a world wide symbol of clean water pro-action! Thank you Joel and your classmates and teachers, I toast you and have been humbled and touched by your actions. Because of the rare and positive example set by young Joel, I have decided to name an annual pro-action award that will include a feature in this monthly column the “ Blanco Clean Water Cup “ will be presented to a deserving candidate, group, entity each spring in honor of the now clean running Black-berry Creek Project. Joel Blanco and his classmates have set a new standard that can be easily followed by kids, students, caring adults around the world.

I will begin researching next years possible winner immediately, it will be a pleasure to recognize the same go the extra mile attitude that seems to be epidemic at Thousand Oaks Elementary Berkeley California. Of course this exceptional tale of the innocent leading the blind took place in Berkeley, a place where boys and girls dreams can still come true... “ We are the dreamers of dreams, wandering by lone sea-breakers, and sitting by desolate streams.”

Arthur O’Shaughnessy, 1844-1881

My own fly fishing adventures this season will include; Alaskan trip early July that will feature a completely new King Salmon technique using surface popping flies. This incredible new method of King Salmon catch and release was perfected by John Wilson of the famed remote Alaskan fly fisher homestead 100 miles east of Anchorage Alaska, Lake Marie. This trip will be a feature article to be published late June in both this monthly fly column and in Big Game Journal,http://bgf-journal.com, a serious fishing chronicler that published my feature on Cindy Garrison African Fly Fishing guide a few years ago. Early in this new season I will be heading to Yosemite Park and the head waters of the mighty Merced River, I have spent many early spring mornings walking and throwing 18/22 Mosquito’s and loving the majestic sheer cliffs, many trips to upper California and the rivers and streams near the Oregon Border, Digger Creek will be a must stop and throw venue, Jim Tompkins “ Duke of Digger Creek “ sent me these great just caught big trout photos. This young lady joined the serious fly fisher club with this 19-inch Eagle Lake strain bow looking very fat and fit! Jim say’s his perfect trout habitat located an hour from Redding California has been experiencing several hatches a day and the resident semi wild trout that were born and raised on the property are known as terrific fighters. I urge anyone who loves big fighting bows in perfect wild mountain water habitat so pretty its one of a kind...Contact Jim at www.diggercreekranch.com .

A gentle reminder to all my fly fishing brothers and sisters getting ready for the April opener for streams and rivers, please take the time to remember your wading boots, boat bottoms need to be completely cleaned after use in any waters. The main mode of transportation for all foreign water invaders such as snails, weeds, mollusks and many yet to be found intruders rely on careless outdoorsmen who never bother to clean their boat bottoms, gear after each trip. The maddening Fall River Mills levee break caused by fast growing foreign weeds is a good textbook case of what can happen! Here in California Putah Creek once a trout fisher hot spot has now been invaded by foreign snails and is still under a state of siege! Perhaps we can all be more considerate of the waters we fly fish in this year, why not try to not let your freshly caught fish stay out of the water no more then ten seconds tops, have your camera ready and near by before you land any fish. If you can manage to take your photo while the fish is still just under the surface that is even better and gives the exhausted fish a stronger chance to survive.

I have been saying a prayer for all of our bass fishing brothers or anyone who loves to chase game fish, why not insist on only using barbless hooks when angling? It is so easy to simply use your pliers or clipper and flatten out the barbs on your hooks before use. Why the California Department Fish & Game have not made this barbless issue a new law is beyond my understanding? Hooks with barbs harm more fish by opening wounds often too large to heal quickly, please think again before getting lazy and not flattening the barb on your flies or lures. A well known often repeated fly fishing saying “ Trout wild or not are too precious to be caught once- catch and release is the only way!” a fine angling philosophy...

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“ ADVENTURES OF FLETCHER QUILL “