Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures Gives Back to the Communities and Fisheries Anglers Care About

The Yellow Dog Community and Conservation Foundation (YDCCF) was established in October 2016 by Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures to support the local fisheries, ecosystems and communities where Yellow Dog customers travel and where great angling is found. During this inaugural year, YDCCF has leveraged nearly $45,000 for grass-roots projects in Alaska, the Bahamas, Belize, Cook Islands, Cuba, Florida, Idaho, Mexico and Montana.

The Board of YDCCF met on October 26, 2017 and approved four new grant awards to projects in Alaska, Bahamas, Belize and Florida. These newest grants include funding to support the Ocean Academy in Caye Caulker, Belize, the Crooked Island Redevelopment Fund in the Bahamas, the Bristol Bay Fly Fishing and Guide Academy, and the Guides Trust Foundation in the Florida Keys.

In addition YDCCF recently facilitated funding for Bonefish E2’s Way in the remote Cook Islands, a film detailing the community of Punta Allen Mexico, and the Redside Foundation in Idaho.   On hearing of their grant award Joni Miller, Co-Founder and Project Director of Ocean Academy, commented “We are so pleased to partner with Yellow Dog Community and Conservation Foundation and appreciate their support to help the youth of Caye Caulker to engage a new generation of environmentalists and professionals”.

Also in 2017, YDCCF launched a partnership program with a number of the lodges that Yellow Dog works with and represents. This “matching funds” program allows YDCCF to leverage even more resources for projects across the globe. These partner lodges are donating funds for every Yellow Dog client on qualifying trips: amounts that are then matched by Yellow Dog and donated back to YDCCF.

Giving back is the right thing to do and YDCCF puts our money where our mouth is. “The Yellow Dog model has always included philanthropy”, says Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures Co-Founder Jim Klug, “and now through YDCCF together we can support more relevant projects and leverage more money in the communities where we work and fish, and protect the places that we love – both now and into the future.” For more information about YDCCF, their grants, and how to apply, please visit www.ydccf.org For the full report of grants awarded please see below.

Yellow Dog Community and Conservation Foundation

Grant Awards

October 26, 2017

Ocean Academy Caye Caulker, Belize October 2017 YDCCF provided a grant to Ocean Academy to assist the school in four critical areas: improve infrastructure; purchase equipment for environmental workshops; help obtain a tour operator license for the student entrepreneur programs; and scholarships. Bristol Bay Fly

Fishing and Guide Academy Bristol Bay, Alaska October 2017 YDCCF supports the Bristol Bay Fly Fishing & Guide Academy to educate, engage and inspire Bristol Bay young adults to become local leaders in salmon stewardship and prepared for jobs based on healthy salmon in their home rivers.

Crooked Island Redevelopment Fund Crooked Island, Bahamas October 2017 YDCCF provided a grant to rebuild the fishermen's harbor gazebo at Landrail Point, Crooked Island, Bahamas which was completely destroyed by hurricane Joaquin. The reconstructed gazebo is the gathering area for flats fishermen.

Guides Trust Foundation Florida Keys, Florida October 2017 In response to the impacts of Hurricane Harvey and Irma and the massive effects of these storms on US and Caribbean coastal communities, YDCCF created the

YDCCF Hurricane Relief Fund. Contributions have been combined with those of other like-minded people and industry partners to support the Guides Trust Foundation and directly to helping guides and their families most impacted in the Florida Keys. Pass through Grants

Bonefish E2’s Way E2 is located in the remote Cook Islands in the South Pacific. Their fishing operation focuses on Giant Trevally’s and large bonefish, among other species. They have few resources and the current boats they use are not meant for fly fishing. It is difficult to bring fish in or to release them properly. YDCCF helped to facilitate the building of a flats boat for E2.

The gift of the boat will help the company to build their business and attract more anglers. And, more importantly improve the ability for the guides to handle fish appropriately and create a more enjoyable experience for their anglers. This project fits within the YDCCF mission because helps to create a more sustainable operation, improve angler experience, increase economic opportunity, improve treatment of fish, and provide multiple education opportunities.

Redside Foundation The Redside Foundation supports the health and strength of Idaho's guiding community through physical and mental health resources, education and professional development support, and community building. YDCCF facilitated a grant to the Redside Foundation in honor of the Tightlines Guide staff.