| New local non-profit organization seeks to conserve, protect, and restore West Virginia trout waters, cultivate new anglers, and engage local communities.
Spencer, WV - A new sportsman's non-profit, the Sal font Chapter of Trout Unlimited has been established for trout anglers in central West Virginia and is based in Spencer.
The name "Sal font" is a tribute to the official West Virginia State Fish - the native brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) - the only salmonid native to the eastern USA.
The new TU chapter is hosting a fundraiser at Charles Fork Lake in Spencer April 26, focusing on bluegill. A cleanup of the lake is planned as a part of the Department of Environmental Protection's WV Make It Shine Statewide Cleanup and part of a larger national effort, Keep America Beautiful Great American Cleanup that is expected to involve close to 3 million people.
"We strongly believe we can engage our core mission of protecting, restoring, and reconnecting our native trout streams in Central West Virginia while at the same time giving back to our local communities and growing an interest in angling," said Philip Smith, President of the Sal font Chapter, "most of our members grew up in this area and learned to fish by catching panfish with a nightcrawler. We want to celebrate that tradition and bridge the connection of fishing's basics to a larger conservation mission."
Prizes will be awarded in both children's and adult's divisions for most bluegill, largest bluegill, and largest fish of any type. Entry fee is $5 for children under 13 and $10 for those over age 13. Tournament rules state that all children are required to be accompanied by an adult and valid fishing licenses are required for anyone over age 15 as per state regulations. Boats are permitted, but SFTU officials ask that digital cameras be used to verify any fish caught when out of sight of the dam area. All live fish must be released at the tournament site.
The Spencer Cub Scout Pack 437 will also be participating in the service project as the scouts clean up litter and learn about fishing. Area youth are encouraged to participate, learn about fishing, conservation, scouting, and how to make their hobbies more fun when you give back to your community and resources as a part of your hobbies.
TU volunteers will be on site to demonstrate fly fishing, but all legal forms of fishing are permitted and encouraged. The tournament will begin at exactly 10:00 am and finish at noon. Participants are encouraged to arrive early for registration and learn about what TU is doing locally to restore watersheds and grow the sport of fishing.
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