“The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has approved its final plan recommendation for addressing Asian carp at Brandon Road Lock and Dam near Joliet, Ill.
Lt. Gen. Todd Semonite, the commanding general of the Corps of Engineers, signed the report, which will now be sent to Congress for approval and funding.”
Asian carp have been a major concern for the waterways of the Mississippi River watershed. They colonize new areas rapidly and are becoming dangerous to boaters in addition to native aquatic and land-based species.
Mark Taylor writes for TU.org, “The Corps plan seeks to prevent them from making it farther up the Chicago Waterway by installing technology at the Brandon Road Lock and Dam. Proposed actions include: complex noise, a bubble curtain, an engineered channel, an electric barrier and a flushing lock.”
The approval is great news for the multi-billion dollar commercial and recreational fishing industries of the Great Lakes and Mississippi River fisheries.
“Down the Path” is a new podcast that follows the case of Ron Sheepstra, a fly angler who disappeared without a trace while wading the flats of Xcalak, Mexico. The podcast itself is a fascinating listen and is sure to pique the interest of any fly angler with an interest in true crime stories. We sat down with the host of the podcast, Will Rice to discuss more about the podcast and what inspired him to tell Ron’s story.
“On April 11, 2009, Ronald Scheepstra disappeared from Xcalak, Mexico.
Ron and his companions had been to this remote area on fishing trips in both 2007 and 2008 and, as avid fly anglers, had done extensive preparation and planning.
For reasons that are not completely known or understood, Ron broke away from his friends in the early afternoon that day. He reportedly climbed from the shallow water and as he began to walk down the path, called back, “You go on. I’ll be fine.â€
Ron was never seen again.”
The host of Down the Path, Will Rice.
Flylords: Tell us a little bit about yourself. Â
Will: I grew up in upstate New York and began fishing at a very young age. When I wasn’t fishing I spent time skateboarding, snowboarding and trying not to get lost in the woods. After graduating from college with a Journalism degree I immediately drove west to Colorado. I spent the next 20 years, fishing and exploring the mountains. As a freelance journalist my work has been featured in The Denver Post, The Drake Magazine, The Flyfish Journal, Fly Rod & Reel, Saltwater Fly Fishing, OutsideMagazine.com, and Angling Trade, among others. Â
Flylords: How did you first find out about Ron’s disappearance? What drew you to the story?
Will: I first learned about Ron’s case from a friend who had read the story in a publication called the Angling Report in the Spring of 2009.  At the time I was contributing editor at the Drake Magazine and was always hunting for intriguing stories. On a short deadline, I turned around an abbreviated piece about the disappearance of Ron Scheepstra that was published in the Summer 2009 issue. Two things have drawn and held my attention about this case:  (1) as I learned more about Ron I realized he was very much like myself.  He loved fly fishing, he loved to travel and to explore new water. I was doing a lot of the same type of travel and exploratory trips at the time so that personally resonated with me.  (2) The second thing that has always nagged at me was the complete lack of evidence that turned up during the search effort. Something happened to Ron on April 11th, 2009 but there is simply no evidence that helps us understand what happened.  I’m still vexed 10 years later.
The area where Ron Sheepstra disappeared from in 2009.
Flylords: How long have you been following and investigating the experience? Â
Will: After I wrote the initial story in ’09, I would check online for updates weekly or monthly for about the next year. I was pretty sure something would turn up – and that Ron would be found. After that, I’d occasionally do a Google search and read what few updates were published.  If you look at the history of Ron’s case, there is a spike of information in 2009 and then it quickly dissipates. I’d read different message boards and chat room discussions for the next few years. I followed the story sporadically like this until the spring of 2018 when I contacted Ron’s wife Cindy to see if she would participate in an interview and help me with a story about Ron’s case to mark the 10 year anniversary.  The project began with the goal to produce a long-form article – which was completed and published by the FlyFish Journal in April 2019.
Flylords: How many episodes will Season 1 be made up of?
Will: The goal is to produce six episodes for Down the Path Season 1. Â
Flylords: What has it been like producing your own podcast?
Will: First off, a TON of credit needs to go to Jason Rolfe who is the Producer and Editor of Down the Path.  I’ve had quite a few people comment on the sound production and pacing of the episodes those accolades all belong to Jason.  In addition to his work with Down the Path, Jason is the Editor of The Flyfish Journal, as well as the creator and host of The Fly Tapes Podcast and host of the popular flyfishing reading series “Writers on the Fly.â€
As far as the creation of a podcast, the interviews, and writing of the episodes, it has been an amazing experience. It has been a lot more work than I originally anticipated and it is always a little scary creating something new for the first time.  I feel at this point, based on the reaction of listeners, that the story resonates with them and they understand what I’m trying to accomplish.
The interview process with the people you hear in the podcast has been another difficult element simply based on the topic and the details of what happened to Ron.  I want to thank everyone who took the time to share their recollections about this event with me. These are the people and voices who really bring Ron’s story to life, even though it is very much a sad and heartbreaking story.  It is clear that this is still a raw and painful subject to almost everyone who was involved. This project would not be possible without them.
People should not just disappear—to me the story and the case feels very unresolved and unbalanced, like an equation that just doesn’t add up. Â
The goal of the podcast is to tell Ron’s story in a way that it has never been told before. There is a longshot possibility that someone is out there who knows something – who has not spoken up before now – and who might come forward with new information and change how this story ends. Â
It was three miles to the lake. A trail along the creek led to and from our goal of catching native Rio Grande Cutthroat trout. All we had to do was follow the trail. We didn’t follow the trail. We did what guys do and improvised. I like to call it “blazing our own path.† It wasn’t long before we knew we needed to find the trail. If we continued on our journey, it would have been off a cliff, which concluded with a 50-foot fall. If we went any further there would be blood, pain, and absolutely a broken fly rod.
We found the lake and it indeed held plenty of natives. It was a great afternoon that ended too quickly. Suddenly, a rumble grabbed our attention. In the mountains, such rumbles echo for a few seconds longer as they bounce off the cliffs. This allows the situation to really sink in. The clouds were getting darker and building but the mountains masked them until they were on top of us.
We had been in Colorado three days and each afternoon were greeted with Thunderstorms. It was these storms that made our trip possible. A few weeks prior the Rio Grande National Forest was closed due to the Spring Creek fire, the 3rd largest wildfire in Colorado history. Our wives reminded us of this as we left because they had no clue where we would be over the next week. In honesty, I had no clue either. I had just gotten back from the Wisconsin Driftless area. I was just happy to be on another fly fishing road trip.
Now I was wondering how long it would take us to get back to the vehicle. We all had the same though, fish the creek leading to the lake on the way out and catch a few more cutty’s. Yeah that was probably a bad idea. The first thing I ran into was, what we all considered bear scat. I had never seen any in person but every door in the area had signs warning of black bears so we just assumed that’s what it was.  Whatever left this gift did it while we were at the lake. It wasn’t on the trail that morning. Â
Then the sky started to flash and you could feel the buzz of lightening in the air. At 10,000 feet you are actually in it! The booming thunder shook the trees. Thankfully the vehicle was in sight. We threw our stuff in and got moving down the mountain just when the hail started to fall. Then Brad said, “you’re not going to believe this, we’re about to have a flat.â€Â The tire sensor was saying, “the mountain ate your tire bro.â€Â
In reality, the sensor was misinformed. As Brad opened the door, the hiss of air was immediate, which was expected. What none of us expected was, “we’re going to have two flats.â€Â Both tires on the driver side had been eaten by the mountain.  No worries we have a spare and some fix-a-flat. We sprang to action like a NASCAR pit crew.  Then the fix-a-flat lost its mind. Rather than spraying its magic solution into the tire it just oozed all over itself.  It was 7 years old…dude replace the can every few years. The only thing left was to break out the air pump and fill the tire up every 15 minutes as we limped back to camp.Â
26 days later we arrived back at the dispersed camping area along the Conejos river. For the first time in a few days, I was thankful to see people walking near our camp. We all jumped up and flash mobbed them as they passed our camp. It went like this and I have no idea who said what or in what order. “how was the, did you sit through the, been down there long, we got caught on the, fix-a-flat.â€Â We waited for their response. They offered us the broken net they found on the trail. Â
The next morning, we woke up bright and early expecting to spend the day hobbling to Antonito to get the tires fixed.   We hadn’t even made it out of camp before the psi started dropping quickly.  It was going to be a long day. Then the two guys from the night before were standing in the road waving us down. With big smiles on their faces and something that looked like a can of “you just saved our vacation†in their hands. Score, you guys rock, let’s go fish! Â
Content courtesy of Drew Ross check him on his Instagram at @looknfishy for some killer kayak fly fishing content
The team at Vedavoo just launched a new collection of messenger bags in their Reel Service Project which benefits causes around the fly fishing world. The new collection, Reel Service VI, features the artwork of Paul Puckett and Jorge Martinez.
“VEDAVOO started the REEL SERVICE PROJECT as a means to raise funds for worthy causes and in this case, Captains for Clean Water.
VEDAVOO messenger bags featuring the original artwork of marquis artists Paul Puckett and Jorge Martinez were built as prizes for those who support these efforts. 100% of the proceeds from will directly benefit the featured charity. All construction, materials, artwork and administrative expenses have been donated.”
“Captains For Clean Water started out as a group of fishing guides that “had enough†of Florida’s poor water management practices. Given the destruction seen firsthand, we were convinced that if everyone knew what we knew, the problem would have been already fixed. We discovered, the solution has been delayed for decades because of a lack of political will and public awareness.”
We’re throwing it back a little for our Video of the Week. The Devils River is a hidden gem in south Texas that is hours from civilization. This river is so unique because it appears out of nowhere in the middle of the desert, and is flourishing with life including both smallmouth and largemouth bass.
“The Devils” is a film presented by YETI that follows fly fishing guide Alvin Dedeaux and tournament angler Miles Burghoff as they embark on a multi day float trip down the river. With zero connection to the rest of the world, Alvin and Miles focus solely on fishing while facing the harsh conditions that the river presents. Be sure to watch the full film for the total experience from the Devils River.
Be sure to check out more films from the YETI Presents series here.
The video of the week is selected and written by FlyLords team member Conner Grimes.
The drive from Bozeman, MT to the Frying Pan River, CO was a long yet scenic journey. Mountains rose into the air on the horizon and changing features of the landscape caught my eye as my trek took me South to “colorful†Colorado. This would be my third consecutive year attending the Trout Unlimited-Costa 5 Rivers Rendezvous for the Western Region. Collegiate fly fishing clubs from all over the Western US attend the event annual, which was now in its sixth year.
The Rendezvous is an opportunity for college anglers from all over to interact, network, collaborate, socialize, and fish together. Fly fishing has a rich tradition of bringing like-minded people together under their common passion for fishing and the outdoors. This event is built on that concept. The breathtaking scenery of the Frying Pan River and the surrounding area offered all of us the perfect location for this congregation.
I arrived at Diamond-J Ranch on Friday evening, eager to have a hot meal after long hours spent on the road. I walked into the dining room of the main building to join everyone for dinner. This year the attendance was lower than previous years due to conflicts with multiple schools’ finals schedules. In my mind, this made for a personable experience because it encouraged cross-club interaction. It didn’t take long for anglers to interact with those from other clubs sharing fishing stories and to make fishing plans for the following days on the Pan. Diamond-J buzzed with the activity of young fly anglers and local flora and fauna that had been awakened by Spring. It was evident that this was going to be a weekend to remember.
The Ranch next to the quaint little town of Meredith and upstream of Ruedi Revivor. The road up was laden with ups and downs as well as winding and narrow roads. The surrounding pine and aspen trees that covered the mountainsides combined with the vibrant colors of the red rock formations created unparalleled beauty. A place that can truly be enjoyed solely for its view. The miles of fishable water on River was a bonus to the gorgeous landscape we resided in for the weekend.
Post-dinner on Friday evening was filled with fishing time until dark and a bonfire to share a cold beer and past fishing adventures with friends. We retired to the homely cabins of the Ranch to rest up for what was sure to be a full day. Saturday is the busiest day of the event. After breakfast, we rallied in the parking lot in preparation to participate in “Get Trashed†put on by the Pig Farm team. “Get Trashed†combines a river cleanup with a scavenger hunt, of sorts. While fishing, participants are required to also pick-up trash, find items to use as fly-tying material, teach first-time fly fishers, and fulfill other various tasks laid out on the scorecard. The result is a cleaner river smiles on everyone’s faces, endless laughs, and few pictures of excited college students cheesing with a trout. What could be better?
The early afternoon offered more free fishing time—I spent this time throwing streamers off of large boulders and into tight windows on the section of the stream the ran through the Ranch. A mix of brown and brook trout filled my quarry for the afternoon. Before releasing each brown trout I was able to net, I couldn’t help but admire the buttery brown colors every brown in this river seemed to have. Frying Pan River brown trout have the more pronounced colors than any other river I had previously fished.
The most memorable experience of the weekend, for me, was the leadership meeting conducted by program leader Andrew Loffredo, Jay Johnson and Pig Farm Inc., Matt Moskal with Colorado TU, and Cody Rubner from Costa’s marketing team. The rest of us attending were club presidents, club leaders, and others who have an interest in one day being leaders. We all shared and discussed the states of our clubs, goals for the future of the program, and how we can help each other grow and improve the functionality of our clubs. It presented a unique opportunity for separate clubs from varying locations to help each other work together to reach common goals. The goals of promoting the sport of fly fishing, conservation, and community call back the premise of collaborating with like-minded people. The leaders of these clubs represent the hard work and dedication of fly anglers to create something bigger than themselves. Their love for fishing creates the foundation that everything within the clubs and the 5 Rivers program is built on.
It was Saturday evening, which meant it was time to start the “Iron Fly†event (put on by Pig Farm, Inc.) as well as raffling door prizes. But first, we all tried our luck at a casting competition. The angler who could set off a mouse trap by casting a fly in the fewest casts would win. Easier said than done. Most would try their luck only to fail in setting off the trap. One lucky contestant set off the trap within a few casts winning himself a pair of Costa Sunglasses. However, the raffle combined with a few giveaways landed everyone with some sort of prize that night.
The “Iron Fly†offered fly tying challenges for beginner and experienced tiers alike. I participated in tying a fly pattern blind folded along with five others. It was a blast and by the end of evening, everyone had smiles on their face. At the bonfire that followed couldn’t help but feel poetic over the whole event. An event like this should only exist in my wildest dreams, yet here I was. Sharing this whole experience with people that are driven by the same passion that I am.
As a group of us rallied around the fire to share in stories and until the light died out there was a feeling of unity. We were united in a common love for our Nation’s fisheries as well as protecting them for future generations. A program that started with thirty clubs is now over 100 and counting. This event continues to illustrate success from Trout Unlimited and Costa and their investments into this program. The 5 RiversRendezvous 2019 was now in the books, and it was a great one.
Article from Alec Giacoletto and photos from Oliver Sutro. If you are interested in attending one of these events, be sure to check out @tucosta5rivers on Instagram to follow along with new events.
Ben: A sarcastic optimist based in North Idaho that likes good folks, wild places, and tasty beer.
Prime “spring” Idaho fly fishing conditions.
Flylords:How long have you been shooting photos professionally for?
Ben: About 10 years, 6 of that as a side-hustle, and the last 4 full time.
A lone figure winter flyfishing a wild river on an arrowhead shaped bar in Oregon.
Flylords:How have you seen the photo industry change with the rise of social media and accessibility to cameras?
Ben: The accessibility today is pretty rad, the fact that almost anyone can afford to get some sort of camera and go out and get after is pretty neat. It also raises the bar and keeps photographers from being stagnant. Social media is a mixed bag for me. It’s a powerful way to share imagery and underlying messages but it definitely can be narcissistic and a creative echo-chamber at times. Though I’m in no way innocent of using the outdoors to make a living, it’s hard to see places getting loved to death from of a steady, coiffed line of instabros trampling a spot with no respect for the importance of place. Lately, I’m pushing for a less-is-more approach keeping location info vague or nonexistent for most areas, especially the obscure ones. That probably will do nothing but it makes me feel a little better.
Flylords:Do you remember the first image you had published?
Ben: My first real license was in a Mountain Gear catalog via the good folks at my photo agency Tandem Stills & Motion (tandemstock.com). It’s this shot from a stormy day climbing area in Oregon.
Prime “spring” Idaho fly fishing conditions.
Flylords:What is your favorite activity to shoot?
Ben: For stills, anything outdoors (preferably with an element of solitude) where I can kind of let the place drive the creativity. Adventure, recreation, conservation, history, absurd double exposure portraits, it’s all fun though. I definitely like to mix it up between more serious and less serious work.
For film, I gravitate towards kind of funky, fictional narrative stuff. A good example was a short film called Das Fischer from a couple years ago about a young German man’s trip to Idaho to learn to fly fish where he has a run in with a sort of douchey Hemingway character named Hildebrand Richwine.
Hatch, a yellow lab puppy, contrasting with the blackened soil from a summer forest fire in northeastern Oregon.
Flylords:Would you rather shoot a photo of the trophy trout, or catch the trophy trout?
Ben: I definitely shoot way more than I fish but I hope to remedy that.
Flylords:Tell us a little about what your camera bag looks like?
Ben: Pretty basic most of the time. A good wide angle (16-35), a good telephoto (100-400), and a nice low-light fixed 50 mm. I’ll occasionally do some off-camera lighting but I’ve found simple is often best for getting good moments. I use Canon but all the major camera companies are making great gear these days.
Flylords:Can you give one tip for aspiring outdoor photographers?
Ben: Everyone is sort of making it up as they go. But I was told 10 years ago by photographer and friend, Ian Shive, to “Hold on to that day job as long as you can.†Which was good advice for me. Having a dependable job that I didn’t really like allowed me to get gear and be financially stable so I could pursue the gig I wanted without having to cater or scrape by. There’s really no “I’ve arrived†moment though and it’s always a lot of legwork to stay positive and relevant, so enjoy each day. Any time I get to be out with a camera trying to do make something appear out of light, exposure, and composition, that’s pretty damn cool.  Â
Flylords:Do you have a favorite fly fishing image you have taken?
Ben: I like this one (above) from a shoot for The Conservation Fund in Wyoming last year.
Sharing is caring – a sneaky pup grabs a lick of his owner’s beer during a fly fishing float in Idaho.
Flylords:With a zillion grip and grin fish photos out there, how do you try and shoot creatively in a fly fishing setting?
Ben: It’s always hard to make something really unique but it helps to focus on the moments that bookend the netting of the fish. There’s more to the story than just landing lunkers. Though that never hurts…
Flylords:What is your favorite fish species?
Ben: Any native trout.
Flylords: Favorite Beer? Book? Movie?
Ben: Anything with an ABV above 6%. Patrick O’Brian’s Aubrey-Maturin naval series. The Life Aquatic
Flylords:Have you ever had a near-death experience on a photo shoot?
Ben: A couple close calls with rock fall while doing some dumb rapells for climbing photos.
A beautiful contradiction. Foggy commute to a tributary through fire-scarred timber.
Flylords: What’s next?
Ben: I have to disappear for three days and do my taxes.
Be sure to check Ben out on Instagram at @donofhern.
Every May, a great migration to Cape Cod begins, hundreds of anglers hear the call of the Striped Bass and head east to intercept the annual run of Striped Bass as they make their way up the Atlantic Coast.
The Cheeky Schoolie Tournament, “is a low barrier to entry, grassroots style event designed to encourage the interest and growth of saltwater fly fishing and to welcome our hard working schoolie stripers to their summer vacation home on Cape Cod, MA. The 2019 Tournament marks the 8th year for the annual event, which has become the world’s largest fly fishing tournament.” This year the fish were in, in numbers and size with “9,531 inches of striped bass were caught and released during the one-day competition” according to the official Cheeky Fishing scoring.
Yeah, those are all Stripers.
Leaderboard:
105 Inches – Team Jones
103.5 Inches – Team Deceiver
103 Inches – Team Salty Beards
102.5 Inches – Time Flies
101.5 Inches – Prof. Peacoat and Barbor Boy
For all the tournament results check out Cheeky’s blog post, here.
Most competitors thumbs looked like this Satruday!
The Western Native Trout Initiative (WNTI) has launched their “Western Native Trout Challenge” a fishing challenge designed to get more anglers out into the West to pursue native trout species. The challenge spans 21 species spread across 12 Western states. The challenge has no time limit, which means you can attempt the challenge over a year, 20 years or a lifetime and still be eligible to win. All you have to do to enter is register with a one time fee of $25 with 92% of that fee going directly back into conservation initiatives to protect the 21 species.
California Golden Trout. Photo by Cameron Cushman.
“We’re thrilled to be launching this fun way to support native trout conservation across the West,†says WNTI Coordinator Therese Thompson. “For every $25 program registration fee, $23 will go directly back to conservation projects that are helping native trout populations thrive. We want anglers to learn about these unique species and where they can go to catch them. In addition, catching the selected species helps conserve them by promoting angling and fishing license sales for native trout species, which also supports conservation efforts. It’s a wonderful way to help conserve these beautiful species, in beautiful places, at your own pace.â€
Rio Grande Cutthroat. Photo by Cameron Cushman.
The 12 states where these native trout species can be found are Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. WNTI is working alongside the various state’s fish and game departments as well as Trout Unlimited and the Federal Bureau of Land Management. A fully interactive map can be found online that has streams marked that are known to contain each species making trip planning a breeze!
The species on the challenge are: Alaskan Lake Trout, Alaskan Rainbow Trout, Apache Trout, Arctic Char, Arctic Grayling, Bonneville Cutthroat, Bull Trout, Californian Golden Trout, Coastal Cutthroat, Colorado River Cutthroat, Dolly Varden, Eagle Lake Rainbow Trout, Gila Trout, Kern River Rainbow Trout, Lahontan Cutthroat Trout, Little Kern Golden Trout, Redband Trout, Rio Grande Cutthroat, Westslope Cutthroat and Yellowstone Cutthroat.
“The challenge invites anglers to help celebrate this legacy by catching native trout and char in each of the 12 Western states, at their own pace. There are three levels of achievement: Participants who catch six trout species across four states will earn “Expert Caster†rewards. Those who catch 12 trout species across eight states will earn “Advanced Caster†rewards. And those who catch 18 species across all 12 states will not only enjoy the adventure of a lifetime, they will also be designated as a “Master Caster†with rewards to match.”
Register for the Western Native Trout Challenge, here!
Colorado River Cutthroat Trout. Photo by Cameron Cushman.
Bonefish & Tarpon Trust Announces First Inductees into Circle of Honor
For Immediate Release
May 15, 2019
Miami, FL – Stu Apte and the late Billy Pate have been named inaugural inductees in the Bonefish & Tarpon Trust Circle of Honor, which recognizes legendary anglers, fishing guides and conservation leaders who have made significant contributions to the conservation of the bonefish, tarpon and permit fisheries.
A Navy fighter pilot during the Korean conflict, Apte went on to fly for Pan Am for 34 years, while pursuing his passion for fishing. He began fly-fishing in the mid-1940s and, by the mid-1950s, was guiding part-time in the Florida Keys from his home on Little Torch Key. Following a Pan Am layoff in the 1960s, Apte began work as a full-time guide. Over the years, he has held more than 40 saltwater and fly-fishing world records. A tireless and vocal advocate for the conservation of our flats fisheries, Apte is a founding member of BTT and serves on its Board of Directors.
Best known for one of his longstanding tarpon world records, celebrated angler Billy Pate, who passed away in 2011, fished throughout Florida and around the globe. He was the first angler to catch all four species of marlin on a fly rod, and in 1982 caught a 188-pound tarpon on fly with a 16-pound tippet, a record that would stand for 21 years. Also an innovator, Pate worked with Ted Juracsik of Tibor Reels to develop a revolutionary line of fly reels that bear his name. Pate was a BTT founding member and honorary trustee, known for his advocacy on behalf the organization and steadfast support of its mission.
“It’s fitting that these two legends are the first in the angler and guide category to be enshrined in our new Circle of Honor,†said BTT President and CEO Jim McDuffie. “As legends of the sport, they’ve influenced the conservation of our flats fishery and helped build BTT as an effective organization capable of pursuing its mission into the future.â€
The Circle of Honor will be prominently housed in the Florida Keys History and Discovery Center, located in Islamorada, Florida, and will feature an annually rotating exhibit on those honored as well as educational content about the significance of the flats fishery. The inaugural inductions will take place during a special dinner and awards ceremony on January 16, 2020, at the center.
About Keys History & Discovery Center:
Keys History & Discovery Center is a world-class museum that preserves and shares the incredible history of our Upper Keys community and explores the unique ecology of the region. In addition to permanent exhibits on subjects such as Henry Flagler’s Over-Sea Railway, Legends of the Line, and First People, the Discovery Center offers a lecture series, educating the public through presentations from a variety of expert speakers. The museum’s second floor features a state-of-the-art theater showing documentaries on topics like the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane and Indian Key, as well as traveling exhibits, and the Jerry Wilkinson Research Library. The center, on the property of the Islander Resort, is open Wednesdays through Sundays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
About Florida Keys History and Discovery Foundation:
Florida Keys History and Discovery Foundation formed in 2013 to develop and operate Keys History & Discovery Center. The not-for-profit organization’s board of directors is comprised of community-minded volunteers with a passion for the mission of preserving and sharing the unique history and environment of the Florida Keys, particularly that of the Upper Keys. More information can be found at www.keysdiscovery.com or by calling 305-922-2237.
About Bonefish & Tarpon Trust:
Bonefish & Tarpon Trust’s mission is to conserve bonefish, tarpon and permit—the species, their habitats and the larger fisheries they comprise. As a science-based organization, BTT pursues this mission across the southeastern US, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean through research, conservation, education and advocacy.Â
