provided to Santiva Chronicle
Sanibel FlyFishers (SFF) hosted their Second Annual Fly Fishing Film Tour (F3T) on Feb. 25 at the Sanibel Community House. This year’s event was a fundraiser for the SFF/FGCU Water School Scholarship Fund and Captains for Clean Water. F3T gathers the best of world-class fly fishing films to provide an opportunity for fly fishing folk and nature enthusiasts to enjoy fellowship and a fun evening of entertainment focused on fly fishing, nature and conservation.
This year’s films included a touching tribute to Lefty Kreh, a legend in Fly Fishing, who was an innovator in saltwater fly fishing. The film was narrated by Florida fishing legend Flip Pallot. Over 250 fly fishing and outdoor enthusiasts of all ages attended to view the films, have a meal, and bid on over $15,000 of fly fishing gear, original artwork, guided trips and dining experiences.
Founded in 2002 by local Fly Fishing legend Norm Zeigler, Sanibel FlyFishers has grown to over 100 active members and a community of over 300 through Facebook and other social media. We are made up of a dedicated group of active fishermen and women, fishing guides, fly shop owners, and others who are on water in SW Florida almost every day.
The broadest objective of Sanibel FlyFishers is to promote the sport of fly fishing. To promote a nature-related sport in today’s world, it is essential to maintain healthy natural resources. Indeed, most early conservation efforts were initiated by hunters and fisherfolk. In practice the mission of SFF is to promote community-based conservation.
Community-based conservation efforts that begin in local communities have effects that ripple outward for larger change. Conservation mandates changes in the behavior of people and a need to foster the next generation of natural resource stewards. We have chosen to focus our efforts on the latter – to help create the next generation of the keepers of our natural environment.
SFF has partnered with the FGCU Water School to create the Sanibel FlyFishers Scholarship Fund. Each year, we will provide funding for an FGCU Water School student who is either a senior or a graduate student, from Lee, Collier, or Charlotte counties, and is conducting research on local water issues.
June Stine, from FGCU, was on hand to receive the first $5000 check to FGCU from SFF President Pete Squibb. As a special surprise, it was announced that an anonymous SFF member and his wife would match all donations at the event designated for the Scholarship Fund on a 3 to 1 basis up to an additional $50,000.
Further, anyone donating to the fund through March 7 will be included in the match.
To make a donation, send a check made out to Sanibel FlyFishers (memo: Scholarship) to Sanibel FlyFishers, PO Box 595, Sanibel, FL 33957. Sanibel FlyFishers is a 501(c)3 Florida Non-Profit. All donations are tax-deductible.
To find out more about the event, or Sanibel FlyFishers, visit Facebook: facebook.com/sanibelflyfishers, or contact us at sanibelff@gmail.com.
Leave a Comment