As a
professional guide service, outfitter, and fly shop, Worley Bugger
Fly Co. is aware of the added daily pressures that affect the fish,
the river and the river's environment over the length of the fly
fishing season. We feel a responsibility to this magnificent
resource and consider ourselves fortunate year after year to
introduce others to Washington State's, Yakima River.
Since 2001, the
staff of WBFC has coordinated and organized the "Yakima River Clean Up Day.
Since that time, with the help of 100's of volunteers from across
the state of Washington, together we have
amassed well over 30,000 pounds of trash and other waste from the
banks, stream beds and boat launch areas of the Yakima. In 2008, as
the recession began and the downturn in the economy hit, many people
here in our community were affected, especially children. That hit
close to home when raising children of our own and imagining them
going without the proper food and nutrition they need.
So in 2009, we
established a food drive for the local FISH Food bank and with help
of the local and extended fly fishing community, we have been able
to raise thousands of pounds of food for them each year. Thank you
everyone for your generous contributions. We know it has made
a difference in our community.
On March 12th,
2013 the fly fishing world truly lost one of the great, true
artesians of our magnificent sport. Tim Irish, the Yakima River’s
prodigal son and the first ever fly fishermen to guide the waters of
the river passed away. Tim left the world the way he walked in it,
quietly. Because of Tim’s work within the fly fishing community and
his love of the river, this day is now and forever more referred to
as the “Tim Irish Memorial Yakima River Clean Up & Food Drive".
To honor a man that gave so much of himself and never asked for
anything in return.
Tim’s efforts
to bring about change in the early 1990’s has had a long lasting effect
on the Yakima River and all of the creatures that call the river
home. His
campaign throughout the 90’s changed the river forever as the state
listened to good old common sense and adopted the Selective Gear
fishery rules and stopped planting bogus hatchery
rainbows in the river forever. Since then, the Yakima has flourished
into a true “Blue Ribbon stream”. For over 25 years now, wild fish
have been thriving and naturally reproducing in the Yakima River
water shed and the fly fishing industry in Ellensburg has thrived
because of it. That is quite a legacy to leave behind and to be
remembered for. If you hadn't ever had the privilege of
knowing or talking with him, Tim Irish was and always will be the “first” Yakima
River Fly Fishing Guide and forever wears that badge of honor.
- IN MEMORY -
JULY 10th, 1952-MARCH 12th, 2013
This year, the
Clean Up Event will be held on OCTOBER 15th, 2016. We
will be meeting at 9:00 am at the Worley Bugger Fly Co. pro shop in
Ellensburg.
We
will also be collecting any "Non" perishable food items that you may
want to contribute for the day. For every food item that you bring
you will receive "one" raffle ticket that will be placed in a
drawing to be held later in the day. A host of fly fishing
manufacturers, fly fishing clubs and other individuals have generously
donated fly fishing goods and soft goods to encourage your support
of the food drive. The prize raffle will be held at the barbeque towards the end of the day.
Participants
providing boats will be designated to a section of the river for the
day. If you have a particular section you would like to float, just
let us know. We like to stagger boats throughout the river, so we
insure a good clean up. Trash bags will be provided but feel free to bring your own if
you like.
We
do our best to fill all available boat space, however seats fill
quickly or are already spoken for by others. We can not
guarantee that you will get in a boat for the day. There are
plenty of river banks and boat launches that need a good cleaning.
Make sure to bring your fishing gear as well. Fishing & fun is
part of the day!
Waste
Management of Ellensburg will once again provide a construction size
dumpster for us and will be in charge of removing the garbage the following
day. We do ask that you please return all of your garbage to the proper disposal
site. Batteries, oil, gasoline or
any other substance found throughout the day that may be considered
a hazardous material is to be left along the dumpster for proper
disposal.
Thank you to Waste
Management for their help in making the day a success and providing
the means to remove the waste from the Yakima River.
Because of the complexity of the event and the number of people participating, we ask that if you do plan to volunteer your time and efforts for the day, please pre-register. You may do
so in the registration box below or by calling the fly shop in Ellensburg. By keeping the clean up event
as organized as possible, we are able to coordinate the day so it runs smoothly and efficiently. Fly Shop Registration:
509-962-2033
Once
again this year, the Worley Bugger Fly Company is proud to also be holding a Non-Perishable Food Drive
for the Ellensburg FISH food bank.
Participants in the Food Drive will receive "ONE" raffle ticket for each non-perishable food drive item
that is donated in the morning, afternoon or at the barbeque. The
more food items you bring the better your chances are of winning
some "killer" swag! So dig deep friends. It's going to a great
cause.
A separate raffle will be held for a "GRAND
PRIZE" drawing with the food drive donations.
DONATIONS TO THE TIM IRISH YAKIMA RIVER CLEAN UP & FOOD
DRIVE ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED EVER YEAR FROM OUR FLY
FISHING MANUFACTURES & SUPPLIERS. ANGLERS SUPPORT
THE COMPANIES THAT SUPPORT OUR CAUSE!. IF YOU WOULD LIKE
TO DONATE TO THE CLEAN UP EVENT & FOOD DRIVE, PLEASE CONTACT THE PRO SHOP.
509-962-2033.
"CLEAN UP DONATORS"
Mr. Tim Gavin-Yakima Fly Fishers Club
The George Grant Chapter-TU
GARY
SANDSTORM-
FLY
FISHING REPRESENTATIVE
JON
COVICH-
FLY
FISHING REPRESENTATIVE
DAN
MARSHALL-
FLY
FISHING REPRESENTATIVE
GEORGE
HOLTHE-
FLY
FISHING REPRESENTATIVE
We hope that you will
join us in the Clean Up and Food Drive this year.
Thank you for helping make our river and our community better!
Together we can make a difference.
