In 2014, Costa spearheaded the TU Costa 5 Rivers Program to create fishing clubs on college campuses across the country to engage with the next generation of anglers. Today, there are 75 clubs with more than 2,500 members nationwide.
TU Costa 5 Rivers Vision: To create the most empowered, educated, and engaged generation of conservation-minded college fly anglers in history.
TU Costa 5 Rivers Values: Conservation, education, stewardship, community, fun, respect, inclusivity, growth, engagement, and leadership.
Flylords: Would you tell me a bit about yourselves and how you got involved with 5 Rivers?
Parker Cahill: My name is Parker Cahill, I am a Colorado native and have been fly fishing all around the state since I was 12 years old. I am currently attending Colorado State University and am set to graduate in May 2023 with a Landscape Architecture degree. I joined the CSU FFC my freshman year and just recently got more involved with 5 Rivers. The rendezvous was my first big experience with 5 Rivers. It has been an awesome platform to connect with all sorts of fishy people.
Sofia Vakhutinsky: I’m a senior at the University of Colorado Boulder studying Economics and Geography. I’m originally from Boston and only started fly fishing a year and a half ago. After joining the CU Fly Fishing Club I fell in love with fly fishing, and got involved with all things 5 rivers through the club.
Flylords: What is your position at your club? How have you seen the club evolve?
Sofia: I am currently the Vice President of the club. From my relatively little experience, I would say the club was already well established, however, I think the club has become a lot more organized and inclusive as we have started to host more beginner-friendly events and trips.
Flylords: Tell us about your time at the rendezvous – what did you do? Who was there?
Flylords: CSU and CU have a pretty big rivalry, Does this show on the water when the clubs get together?
Sofia: Although CSU and CU do have a pretty big rivalry, when we’re on the water together, everyone is just there to have a good time, and it’s really interesting to be able to talk to other people that are just as passionate about fly fishing as we are. Although there is a tasteful hint of slander sometimes, particularly this year it was more about whose football team sucked the most as both schools had pretty terrible seasons.
Flylords: Is there anything your club does that is interesting and unique?
Sofia: I don’t have experience with any other college clubs aside from CSU, but I would say our club tries to be as beginner friendly as possible. We get so many people not from CO who want to experience the outdoors which gives us the opportunity to provide that through fly fishing. We also try to collaborate a lot with our local fly shops and give back to the community when we can.
Flylords: How have you grown from being a part of the club?
Sofia: I have definitely become a better angler, which is to be expected, but I’ve also gained confidence in my ability to help others, even when I’m not the most knowledgeable officer or member of the club. My involvement with 5 Rivers also strengthened my leadership skills, and learned that being really good at fly fishing is one thing, but showing up and being ready to help people or just help organize events really makes a difference in how people are experiencing or perceiving being part of the club.
Sofia: The club has allowed me to meet people with the same passions as me and provides me with an outlet to do what I love with some pretty awesome people. Interacting with other members has also grown my passions and reminds me why we do what we love.
Thank you to Costa Sunglasses for their dedication to the next generation of anglers and conservationists. These opportunities for students like Sofia and Parker would not be possible without their full support of TU Costa 5 Rivers since it’s inception in 2014.
Changing Currents: How College Students are Changing Fly Fishing
