Chapter President: Ken Monk
Contact: mailto:president@nlft.org
Area of Interest
Since 2011, the Northern Lights Fly Fishers Chapter has focussed its conservation efforts in the upper Pembina River watershed. This is the southern portion of the range of Arctic Grayling, a truly unique and special fish that has experienced population declines and range contraction due to a variety of threats including habitat fragmentation, land use, over harvest, and climate change. The Chapter has been working hard in collaboration with Alberta Environment and Parks to collect data on Arctic Grayling distribution and habitat conditions within this watershed.
The Northern Lights Fly Fishers Chapter has also worked on projects in West Central Alberta including habitat restoration, riparian protection and redd counts along the Raven and North Raven Rivers.
Chapter Description
The Northern Lights Fly Fishers – TUC Edmonton is an active group of dedicated and concerned anglers and conservationists. They meet regularly throughout the year and host a wide variety of events and activities to promote conservation and engage people in fly fishing and fly tying. The Chapter is active in conservation efforts, in particular its Arctic Grayling project on the upper Pembina River watershed for which it received a National Recreational Fisheries Award. The Chapter is also represented on the Alberta Fisheries Management Roundtable and over the years has met with and submitted letters to federal, provincial, and municipal governments related to fish habitat and management issues. The Chapter continues to play an active role in fundraising for TUC including over 30 years of efforts towards the annual Edmonton National TUC Dinner and Auction.
Chapter History
In 2010, the Edmonton Chapter of Trout Unlimited Canada merged with what was then the Northern Lights Fly Fishers, becoming one of the largest and most active TUC Chapters in the country.
Dismal Creek August 12-16
Your participation in this trip is crucial as we aim to add an additional data point to information collected in previous years regarding the population of Arctic Grayling in Dismal Creek. Fish will be caught and measured, but no DNA sampling is anticipated. Your contribution will significantly impact our research.
We will be accompanied by EPA biologists (1-2 anglers per biologist)
The target is 8 sites on Dismal Creek; dates are weekdays, August 12-16 (weather permitting)
Sites are predetermined (same as in previous years). We will be hiking into Dismal Creek sites; therefore, volunteers must be prepared to bushwack, riverbank scramble, and wade between 4-8 km.
Maps and coordinates of suggested locations will be supplied.
We have gas cards allocated for each vehicle per trip. These cards cover the cost of fuel for the journey, ensuring that our transportation needs are met.
As per Fisheries research license requirements, NO FELT Soled boots will be allowed. All other equipment must also adhere to the Clean/Drain/Dry protocol. This protocol is designed to prevent the spread of invasive species, which could harm the Arctic Grayling population.
If you want to help, please reply with a list of available days. Also, let us know if you have a fishing partner in mind.
Important: Please email your reply to both Jim and me. I’ll be out of town for a while, and Jim will handle the scheduling.
Ken Monk 780-237-0688 kenmonk@gmail.com
Jim O’Neil 587-785-7806 jjfish@telus.net