What are the Mammoth Middle and High School Fly Fishing Associations?
The Mammoth Middle and High School Fly Fishing Associations consist of public education students from ages 12 to 18 that explore tying flies along with fly fishing the waters of the Inyo National Forest and Los Angeles Department of Water and Power in the California Eastern Sierra.
H explaining to students where trout live
The associations are extra-curricular clubs, complimentary to educational classroom science standards. Student members learn about science related to the fly fishing world, everything from aquatics to zebra midges. Members drop flies in numerous, spectacular waters around the region: Hot Creek, Owens River, Crowley Lake, Bridgeport Reservoir, East Walker, etc.
After the success of the High School club in its debut year of the 2006 season, the club was extended in 2007 to the Middle School. Both sites typically have about twelve student anglers. Many are fly fishing for the first time. Experienced anglers and some of the previous year's members come back for more action! The associations gather from March to June of each year.
Brendan and Hopwood with a brown
How can students join?
Mammoth Middle and High School students that are interested in learning about fly fishing can speak with Mr. Leonard. Club registration is open for any interested students that are currently academically eligible. All of the associations' members are excited about the science and art of the fly fishing world.
How much does club membership cost?
Club membership is completely free-of-charge for its student members! The club relies entirely upon donations to continue its good work towards the education of fly fishing for the children of Mammoth Lakes, California.
What fly fishing activities and types of learning do student anglers experience?
Three Middle Schoolers stalk the browns
The students tie flies, study the waters, and catch trout. Fly tying and casting clinics are joint classes; however, excursions for the High School and Middle School clubs are generally separate from each other. Excursions are under the guidance of local educator Chris Leonard with the generous support of local volunteer guides that help with the educational process of fly fishing.
From March to June, members can expect to go on over a dozen outings to local waters, enough to equip themselves with a working knowledge of how to fly fish and improve on their own during the summer months. Experienced student-members help to foster the learning for new recruits. The kids go to rivers, creeks, and lakes. They look under the rocks in order to match the hatch, read the waters, and hopefully catch and release some trout.
Group at Hot Creek Ranch
Students also explore local places of scientific interest like SNARL (Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Laboratory), Hot Creek Hatchery, and Tim Alpers Owens River Ranch. Students give back to the waters and nature by participating in creek clean ups. The links below provide further information and detailed reports of specific excursions, along with dates of clinics and excursions. We have current fly fishing reports from March to June from Mammoth Lake's youngest anglers found here and at the Mammoth Times!
Hopwood and Jeremy
How can I help support the clubs?
The club receives assistance from local outfitters and local guides. We also receive support from Federation of Fly Fishers Southwest Council, Caltrout, and Trout Unlimited. The clubs are grateful to receive whatever other assistance we might receive. Many of the students do not have the economic means to own their own equipment.
We will take any of your used, reconditioned, broken (but fixable), demo, 2nd-hand, or new equipment. We'll take anything: rods, reels, line, tippet, waders, nets, flies, float tubes, books, literature, vests, clothing, accessories, your time, or your financial support.
Everything goes directly to the kids! Students that do not own their own equipment are rewarded with a rod and reel set-up to keep for the summer, based upon the amount of support that we receive, in relation to grade performance. (i.e. Students with the higher grade point averages will be rewarded based upon the amount of gear that is donated.)
With enough support, every kid will be equipped to embark upon the summer waters on their own, with newly found knowledge and donated equipment.
Why are the fly fishing associations important?
Armando and Ethan tying flys
The clubs emphasize the education and learning of conservation, ecology, the environment, science, and fly fishing. We partake in creek clean ups as well as raise trout in the TIC (Trout in the Classroom) program. Today's learners are tomorrow's leaders in the world of fly fishing, simultaneously turning over into the success of their everyday lives.
As an educator, Chris Leonard keeps on top of the kids to make sure that their grades are above satisfactory, if not excellent already. Many kids have developed better study habits so that they have more time to fly fish.
Fly fishing is a safe and socially acceptable addiction that is healthy and educational.
Contact information?
Correspondence or donations of gear or money can be sent to:
MHS Fly Fishing Association
365 Sierra Park Road
P.O. Box 3149
Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546-3149
Lenny with Chad's 11 inch brown
Yvon and Joe with Lauren's 14 inch rainbow
If we receive a donation of equipment or funds in the amount of $200 or more, we'll gladly put your company's name on the back of our official tee-shirts, above the list of "Proud Supporters of Fly Fishing Education (for) June and Mammoth Lakes." Donations must be received by June 1, for this year's screen-printing of tee-shirts. Donations received after that date will be updated on the tee-shirts printed the following June.
Chris Leonard can be contacted at 818-288-3271 (cell) or 760-934-8541 Ext. 425 (work), or
Can I get an official tee-shirt and support the kids?
Neal Covert with official club T-Shirt
The brown trout on Neal's official club tee-shirt is as real as the one in his hands.
Purchase an official Mammoth Middle or High School Fly Fishing Association tee-shirt for $19 and support the local educational clubs.
Shirts can be found at Bridgeport Reservoir, Hot Creek Ranch, Rock Creek Lake Resort, Performance Anglers, and Crowley Lake Fish Camp.
Support fly fishing education, and wear your own club shirt with pride!!!
Can this type of club be started at another school?
Certainly. The Federation of Fly Fishers supports all fly fishing education programs. Contact Chris Leonard for more information about how you can start your own fly fishing association for a middle or high school. Chris Leonard is also Youth Executive Vice President for the Federation of Fly Fishers Southwest Council.
Continue the cycle and protect our waters by investing in our future, today's youth.