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About

Flies for Fins is a charitable organization whose primary mission is to promote and raise funding for specific projects dedicated to the conservation of various B.C. fisheries that are in need of help. Presently, there are numerous fisheries in the province of British Columbia that are in desperate need of funding assistance and public awareness.

While most of these fisheries are fortunate to have the aid of other concentrated non-profit organizations, these organizations often still need significant assistance with fundraising. Flies for Fins was founded with the hopes that we could assist these organizations achieve their goals by reaching out to conservation minded anglers around the world.

Flies for Fins carefully considers and partakes in discussions with these organizations before committing to assist them in order to reach their maximum funding potential. This is done by collecting details of the current proposed project (via the selected affiliated organization) and establishing a set amount of money that needs to be raised in order to achieve the desired goal.

The Flies for Fins project works by giving conservation minded anglers an outlet to donate flies and equipment which is then added to our e-commerce system and available for purchase by individuals around the world via our website. This provides multiple ways to contribute; donations, purchases, or both.

100% of the proceeds from the sale of these items goes to help fund the currently selected project. Currently, Flies for Fins has partnered with the Steelhead Society of British Columbia to raise funds for the improvement of important steelhead spawning and rearing habitat on the world renowned Thompson River. Learn more about this project by clicking here!

Flies for Fins is operated by a small team of dedicated volunteers that maintain the website and shipping/receiving of donated items.

We feel that Flies for Fins has a bright future and thank you for your interest and generosity!

- The Flies for Fins Team

Thompson River Project

Over the past 10 years there has been considerable attention paid to the Thompson River and its declining steelhead stocks. In 2010 the Thompson River remained closed to fishing for the steelhead season as a result of an anticipated low return (final estimates indicate that just over 500 steelhead returned to the Thompson to spawn in 2010). This is a troubling circumstance which has resulted in a general cry for help from the angling community and other stakeholders to restore the Thompson River steelhead population to sustainable numbers.

The Steelhead Society of British Columbia (SSBC) has been actively engaging regulatory agency staff and other regional fisheries experts in an effort to determine how we can make a difference for Thompson River steelhead stocks.

During a recent conversation with a Fisheries and Oceans Canada biologist, we were advised of bank stabilization issues on Spius Creek, a tributary to the Nicola River, which is the largest steelhead spawning tributary of the Thompson River.

Restoring and improving spawning and rearing habitat is key to preservation and enhancement of Thompson River steelhead. Unstable and eroding banks are often a natural occurrence; however, severe bank erosion can also result from human activities such as deforestation, as well as from riverbank trampling by domestic range animals.

In the case of Spius Creek, excessive bank erosion has resulted in the infill of important fish habitat such as pools, runs, and viable spawning habitat.

The SSBC contacted an expert to visit this particular site and provide an estimate of costs. The assessment found that the project costs to stabilize and enhance the three sites on the Spius Creek tributary would be $40,000.

The SSBC Directors have approved a motion to support the Spius Creek Bank Stabilization Project with a commitment of $10,000 and we are working hard to achieve the remaining $30,000. Flies for Fins has set a goal of raising $12,000 to contribute to this effort.