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
         
Logo

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.

The Worley Bugger Fly Company Staff

 
 

DIRECTIONS TO THE ELLENSBURG

FROM SEATTLE:
Take I-90 east  and exit off of 109 Canyon Road.

FROM SPOKANE-YAKIMA

Traveling west on I 90 take exit 109

View Google Map

CLEAN UP DAY ITINERARY

DATE:

OCTOBER 15th-2016

TIME/LOCATION 

9:00 AM @ THE WBFC PRO SHOP IN ELLENSBURG

 

 BARBEQUE/LOCATION:

4:30 pm @ THE WBFC PRO SHOP IN ELLENSBURG

 

 RAFFLE TIME:

AFTER BBQ

QUESTIONS? CONTACT US

509-962-2033

REGISTER FOR THE CLEAN UP

PLEASE SEND US A EMAIL IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND.

THIS HELPS US ESTIMATE AND COORDINATE THE DAY MUCH BETTER AND KEEP THE CLEAN UP AN ORGANIZED EVENT.

EMAIL WBFC