Conservation

Fly Fishing Merit Badge
Boy Scout merit badges give scouts the opportunity to investigate approximately 120 different areas of knowledge and skills. The merit badge program plays a major role in the scouting advancement program and participation can begin as soon as a scout registers with a troop. Each scout can explore topics from American Business to Woodworking as he has interest. The only limitations are his ambition and availability of adult merit badge counselors to offer instruction. (Backcountry Outfitters takes pride in providing certified merit badge counselors). The Fly Fishing Merit Badge is one that will insure not only that a scout can be a good fly fisher, but can understand what true conservation is as well.

Fly Fishing Merit Badge Boy Scout Merit Badges

Requirements for the Fly Fishing Merit Badge:

  • Explain to your counselor the injuries that could occur while fly-fishing and the proper treatment, including cuts, scratches, puncture wounds, insect bites, and hypothermia, dehydration, and heat reactions. Explain how to remove a hook that has lodged in your arm. Name and explain five safety practices you should always follow while fly-fishing.
  • Discuss how to match a fly rod, line, and leader to get a balanced system. Discuss several types of fly lines, and explain how and when each would be used. Review with your counselor how to care for this equipment.
  • Demonstrate how to tie proper knots to prepare a fly rod for fishing:
    • Tie a backing to a fly reel spool using the arbor backing knot.
    • Attach backing to fly line using the nail knot.
    • Attach a leader to fly line using the needle knot, nail knot, or loop-to-loop connection.
    • Add a tippet to a leader using a double surgeon’s loop or blood knot.
    • Tie a fly onto the terminal end of the leader using the improved clinch knot.
  • Explain how each of the following types of flies are used: dry flies, wet flies, nymphs, streamers, bass bugs, and poppers. What does each imitate? Tie at least two types of the flies mentioned in this requirement.
  • Demonstrate the ability to cast a fly consistently and accurately using overhead and roll cast techniques.
  • Go to a suitable fishing location and make observations on the types of insects fish may be eating. Look for flying insects and some that may be on or beneath the water’s surface. Look under rocks. Explain the importance of matching the hatch.
  • Explain the importance of practicing “Leave No Trace” and how it positively affects fly-fishing resources.
  • Obtain a copy of the regulations affecting game fishing where you live. Explain why they were adopted and what you accomplish by following them.
  • Explain what good outdoor sportsmanlike behavior is and how it relates to fishermen. Tell how the “Outdoor Code of the Boy Scouts of America” relates to a fishing enthusiast, including the aspects of littering, trespassing, courteous behavior, and obeying fishing regulations.
  • Using the fly-fishing techniques you have learned, catch two different kinds of fish and identify them. Release at least one of them unharmed. Clean and cook the other fish.

TROUT UNLIMITED – First Cast Program

First Cast is TU’s new nationwide initiative to introduce youth to coldwater conservation through angling. The program is the result of a ground-breaking partnership between TU and the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF), working on the premise that many of our most dedicated conservationists are also avid anglers.
TU believes that fly fishing is an ideal vehicle for encouraging youth to participate in coldwater stewardship. In order to be a successful fly fisher, the young angler must develop an in-depth understanding of the aquatic habitat. This leads to a feeling of “ownership” of the resource and a concern for its future. As part of TU’s efforts to identify and train the next generation of coldwater stewards, youth fly fishing education has become an integral part of our overall youth education agenda.
The First Cast program includes three integral components:
First Cast is based on a proven fly fishing education curriculum written by Phil Genova. This flexible curriculum divides the skills of fly fishing into units and lessons and includes step-by step recommendations for organizing classes, events, field trips and community projects. You can download the TU First Cast Manual and Curriculum for information on how to start a program. These documents work in conjunction with Phil Genova’s book, First Cast: Teaching Kids to Fly Fish, which can be purchased at major bookstores across the nation.
First Cast is TU’s new nationwide initiative to introduce youth to coldwater conservation through angling. The program is the result of a ground-breaking partnership between TU and the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF), working on the premise that many of our most dedicated conservationists are also avid anglers.
TU believes that fly fishing is an ideal vehicle for encouraging youth to participate in coldwater stewardship. In order to be a successful fly fisher, the young angler must develop an in-depth understanding of the aquatic habitat. This leads to a feeling of “ownership” of the resource and a concern for its future. As part of TU’s efforts to identify and train the next generation of coldwater stewards, youth fly fishing education has become an integral part of our overall youth education agenda.
The First Cast program includes three integral components:
Educational package:  First Cast is based on a proven fly fishing education curriculum written by Phil Genova. This flexible curriculum divides the skills of fly fishing into units and lessons and includes step-by step recommendations for organizing classes, events, field trips and community projects. You can download the TU First Cast Manual and Curriculum for information on how to start a program. These documents work in conjunction with Phil Genova’s book, First Cast: Teaching Kids to Fly Fish, which can be purchased at major bookstores across the nation.
Equipment:  The initiative offers low-cost, high-quality tackle, educational materials and books from Cortland Line Company that have been specifically designed or chosen for education programs. If you are a TU member, you can download the order form to purchase equipment.
Expertise:  TU members can provide sponsorship and direct instructional support to schools and organizations in communities across the country. A full-time staff member of the TU national office is available to provide technical assistance to TU chapters and work with other affiliated organizations.
Please contact Sally Armstrong, Volunteer Operations Organizer, (sarmstrong@tu.org or 703-284-9420) if you have questions about the First Cast curriculum. If you have trouble downloading the First Cast Manual, Curriculum, and Coldwater Conservation Education Guide, a hard-copy can be provided to you for a charge of $15 to cover printing, binding and shipping.
Nt: The initiative offers low-cost, high-quality tackle, educational materials and books from Cortland Line Company that have been specifically designed or chosen for education programs. If you are a TU member, you can download the order form to purchase equipment.
Expertise: TU members can provide sponsorship and direct instructional support to schools and organizations in communities across the country. A full-time staff member of the TU national office is available to provide technical assistance to TU chapters and work with other affiliated organizations.
Please contact Sally Armstrong, Volunteer Operations Organizer, (sarmstrong@tu.org or 703-284-9420) if you have questions about the First Cast curriculum. If you have trouble downloading the First Cast Manual, Curriculum, and Coldwater Conservation Education Guide, a hard-copy can be provided to you for a charge of $15 to cover printing, binding and shipping.
For more related conservation issues and conservation in North America go to www.tu.org.
History of Fisheries Experiment Station
Fish disease was a serious problem in Utah aquaculture for many years. There were no regulations restricting transportation of diseased stocks. Improved transportation and shipping began to facilitate more and more intrastate, interstate and international shipment of life fish and eggs along with the diseases. What were numerous local problems rapidly become both domestic and international problems. Artificial diets were not adequate and fish culture methods were poorly defined. There were very few government and no commercial laboratories and pathologists involved in fish disease research and control or in development of diets and culture method in the fifties and sixties.
The old Utah Department of Fish and Game saw a need for quality assurance and fish disease control in the late fifties. They conceptualized, built and staffed the Experimental Hatchery in Cache Valley in 1961. The facility was later renamed the Fisheries Experiment Station (FES). It has grown substantially over the last thirty years.
This program, since its inception in the early 1960s has been involved in many activities which have served indirectly in fish disease control, aquaculture, fish quality assurance, fish health management and fisheries management. It has had an active research and development role since its beginning. It was involved in intense diet/feed testing for many years. It was involved in development of characterized, fish health approved brood stocks. It has provided extensive training for DWR employees. Fish health assessment has been monitored through use of the Health/Condition Profile developed at the Station and in use in nearly all aspects of the fishery management scenario in Utah. It has been taught to thirty-two different states and numerous federal agencies. The program is well known and affiliated with the international fish health community.
In 1994, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources was removed from regulation of fish health after a long and extensive involvement in fish health management and disease control and an extensive resource to manage. In 1998 its regulatory responsibility and authority was restored, relative to public aquaculture, private ponds, free-ranging stocks and institutional aquaculture.
The program was split into Research, Fish Health and Fish Culture in 1986. All three of these operate under the direction of the Fish        Pathologist/Director.
Whirling disease in Utah
Whirling Disease is a condition affecting trout and salmon caused by a microscopic parasite known as Myxobolus cerebralis. The parasite attacks the cartilage tissue of a fish’s head and spine. If sufficiently infected, young fish may develop symptoms such as whirling behavior, a black tail or even death. If they survive, fish may develop head deformities or twisted spines.
IllustrationScientists believe there are other harmful effects such as making fish more susceptible to predation, less able to feed, to survive environmental disturbances or to reproduce. Recently, fisheries researchers have initiated long-term whirling disease impact studies, but no definitive conclusions have been made. However, population collapses in famous rainbow trout rivers such as the Madison and Colorado have caused experts to reassess the parasite’s impact.
The parasite goes through a complex life cycle that includes tiny aquatic worms which are found in most waters. These host worms, which become infected, release a fragile stage of the parasite that must infect a trout within a few days or perish. Infected trout develop very persistent spores which can survive in moist environments for years. When an infected fish dies and decomposes, the spores are released into the environment and can survive transit through a predator’s digestive tract or could be transferred on muddy boots or other equipment.
Among species found in Utah, rainbow trout are the most susceptible, followed by Kokanee salmon, golden, cutthroat, brook, brown trout and Splake. Recent discoveries show whitefish may be infected as well. Lake trout may be infected under laboratory conditions and other game fish species such as bass, bluegill, perch or walleye do not get whirling disease.
Please note that the parasite DOES NOT infect human beings.

More on whirling disease

Fish health
The Fish Health division (a.k.a. Technical Services) plays an active extension role in both fish health issues for state culture facilities and wild fish in Utah. The program includes a full-service fish pathology program including virology, bacteriology, parasitology and histopathology capabilities.

  • Inspection services are provided to ensure state hatcheries and wild broodstock sources are specific pathogen free and meet the requirements of the Fish Health Policy Board for legal transport of fish/fish eggs within the state of Utah. All samples collected in this process are tested at the Fisheries Experiment Station laboratories. Those facilities which are pathogen free according to rules set forth by the Fish Health Board are given fish health approval. Current fish health approval list
  • The fish disease diagnostic service identifies specific fish disease problems in state hatcheries, institutional aquaculture and wild fish and provides help in the management and treatment of such problems.
  • Ongoing surveys help track the unfortunate presence of the whirling disease parasite and other pathogens across the state and help document their impact of wild fish.

Spawning syndrome in Utah brown trout
Occasionally, anglers in the Provo, Ogden, Blacksmith Fork and other rivers notice numbers of sick or dying brown trout. This condition usually affects large, mature fish and is most often noticed in the autumn during periods of low, clear water when the fish are spawning and more aggressive than normal.
Anglers usually notice fish with large red open sores, or skin covered with a white cottony substance which is a fungus. Typically, less than 10 percent of the fish in the stream are affected, but their dramatic appearance in clear water often alarms anglers.
This condition is commonly called “spawning syndrome,” although it can occur at other times of the year. It is thought to be caused by the stress and aggression of spawning behavior or other unknown stressors, at a time of year when flows are low and fish are more crowded than usual. Fight wounds and abrasions from spawning can lead to secondary bacterial infections and/or fungal infections. Open sores can lead to loss of fluids and electrolytes in fish, causing death in some individuals.