This summer, I had the opportunity to join the TU Costa 5 Rivers program at the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming. If you’ve never heard of 5 Rivers, it is a program designed to build community around fly fishing and conservation among college students. Universities across the country are given the tools they need to create their own chapters (similar to the greater Trout Unlimited program). Here, they teach students about fly fishing and conservation, take on river cleanups, and, of course, fish.
When I landed in Wyoming, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Dropping a group of college students in the wilderness for a week, I certainly had my doubts. But what I soon saw was a group of extraordinary young leaders, conservationists, and anglers dedicated to fly fishing. Over the next five days, these students worked closely with the reservation’s people, supporting them however they could.
Wind River Reservation
The Wind River Reservation is located in Eastern Wyoming and encompasses 2.2 million acres of land. It is the seventh-largest reservation and home to the Eastern Shoshone and the Northern Arapaho tribes. Art Lawson, the Fish and Game Director for the reservation, is taking the initiative to build a community around the outdoors and offer means for youth to get involved. In partnership with Indifly, a groundbreaking organization whose mission is to work alongside Indigenous communities to pave a path for a better future, the Wind River Reservation is making incredible progress. Check out our interview with Art and Indifly HERE to learn more about the work being done.
TU Costa 5 Rivers
Created by the good people at Costa Sunglasses and Trout Unlimited, the TU Costa 5 Rivers program is what I wish I had as a college student. The program serves as a means to connect with like-minded individuals and share experiences on the water. Regardless of where you are or what you fish for, students can start their own TU Costa 5 Rivers club (trout are not a requirement). On this particular trip, students from different chapters across the country came together in Wyoming, supporting Indifly, with a common goal of helping the people of the Wind River Reservation.
When I arrived, it was as if I stepped into a gathering of old friends eager to get on the water, share stories, and be dedicated to fly fishing and conservation. What I didn’t know was that many of these students were meeting for the first time. Through their shared passion for fly fishing, they instantly connected and came together for the week ahead of them.
A Weekend in The Wind
After a morning at camp, we were off to explore the vastness of the Wind River Reservation. Our first step–river cleanups. A core principle in fly fishing and the TU Costa 5 Rivers program is conservation. The students were eager and familiar with how to execute a successful cleanup. After all, they have been planning similar events for their own clubs. They hit the ground running, quickly and methodically combing over the banks until all the trash was gone. This was a recurring theme throughout the weekend as we visited camping sites and river access points, leaving them pristine for the community to enjoy.
Throughout the weekend, we continued to connect, share stories, and explore pristine rivers around the Wind River Reservation. Along the way, I watched as students planned future trips, figured out ways to collaborate, and learned how to improve their own clubs. Seeing the next generation invested in fly fishing and all that comes with it was refreshing.
On my final day at the Wind, Art Lawson and Indifly organized a community fly-fishing event to introduce the reservation’s youth to fly fishing. The students quickly took charge, hosting a step-by-step demonstration of everything needed to fly fish, from casting to gear and proper fish handling. The students put on a thorough demonstration. We then separated into groups, piled into trucks, and were off to the creek. I could see the excitement in the kids’ faces, eager to take what they had learned and hit the water.
We arrived at the creek, a small brook trout stream flowing through an open meadow. Together, students and kids made their way to the water and began to fish. The goal was to give kids the quintessential fly fishing experience and watch fish rise to dry flies. Small dries and terrestrials did the trick, and the fish were abundant and hungry. I watched up and down the banks as everyone came together with a common goal of catching a fish. Casts were thrown, bushes were caught, and fish were landed. With proper catch and release practices, everyone had the chance to catch a fish, take a quick picture, and release them safely.
The Big Picture
Although my time on the Wind River Reservation was only a few days, what I learned changed my perspective forever. The work of Indifly, Costa Sunglasses, and TU Costa 5 Rivers resulted in direct positive changes for the community. The tools the 5 Rivers students learned over the course of their trip were invaluable on the Wind and in their home communities. So, I said my goodbyes and made my way to the airport, knowing that if these students were the future of fly fishing, we were in good hands.
Behind the Cause – Indifly and the Wind River Indian Reservation
