Last weekend over 100 students gathered in Gunnison Colorado for the 3rd annual 5 Rivers Rendezvous, sponsored by Costa Del Mar and Trout Unlimited. Students gathered on Friday night for an exclusive showing of the Flyfishing Film Tour, followed by some bonding time by the bonfire.
The 5 Rivers Program is run by Andrew Loffredo, and Franklin Tate, who have grown the organization from 35 college clubs to 90 clubs in under two years. The program encourages students to hit the water, clean up their local fisheries, and inspire new students to join this great sport.
The weekend includes environmental seminars, fly tying events, and a fishing scavenger hunt full of awesome prizes. Saturday morning was time to wader up and hit the water. Gunnison, Colorado is home to some of the best trout fishing in the US, so students were able to target trophy trout just minutes from the campsite. Students from 10 colleges mixed in together teaching each other new fishing tricks and helping net each other’s fish.
Saturday afternoon was time for the 5 Rivers scavenger hunt, where students would be rewarded for catching fish and picking up trash. After the scavenger hunt students convened on the Gunnison River, to learn about how to prevent stream erosion.
(Below) Students from Colorado State University admire the size of a rainbow trout from the Taylor River.
As the sun went down, the fishing rods were stowed and out came the vises. Saturday night was the big iron fly event, where students competed in fly tying competitions lead by Jay Johnson and the Pig Farm crew. One memorable event was students casting into mouse traps with hand-tied flies.
Overall the weekend was a huge success, and students left looking forward to next years event! If you have any interest in starting or joining a 5 Rivers club, please contact Andrew at aloffredo@tu.org
For more from the 5 Rivers, you can find them on Instagram @tucosta5rivers
