George Abernathy
Historically, the Sun Lakes Fly Fishing Club’s goals have been to keep our lines wet and support our disabled veterans; however, in addition to keeping our lines wet and supporting veterans, this year, we opted to support Trout Unlimited’s Trout in the Classroom (TIC) program. Trout in the Classroom offers students of all ages a chance to raise salmonids in a classroom setting and then release them into a nearby community lake. Caring for the fish fosters a conservation ethic in the students, and the act of walking to a lake and directly releasing the fingerlings into the water makes a concrete connection between caring for the fish and caring for the water.
In November, four club members (Mike Reiser, David Lott, Fred Wells, and Mark Moberg) helped deliver 3,200 trout eggs, which were eventually distributed to 32 schools throughout Arizona. TIC brings nature into the classroom, allowing students to develop a personal bond with the natural world and a sense of conservation ethics that are at the core of Trout Unlimited’s mission, www.tu.org. Youth and young anglers better understand the value of their local waters and fisheries when they have seen the trout lifecycle up close and personal in this way. For this reason, Trout Unlimited staff and volunteers in 35 states are involved in more than 5,000 classroom programs in the United States. Not all fry survive, so the last bit of advice Trout Unlimited volunteers give to the teachers is “Don’t allow students to name their favorite fish.” Can you imagine the possible drama?
On Dec. 10 from 5 to 9:15 p.m., the Sun Lakes Fly Fishing Club is hosting our annual fundraiser for the Disabled Veterans with Arizona Veterans Fly Fishing, Inc., in the Bradford Room at Oakwood Country Club. If you’re attending the Toby Keith concert, you’ll walk right past our door. Tip: Don’t buy those Christmas gifts just yet—our baskets make the perfect presents, and every dollar raised goes directly to supporting our heroes. Get ready to bid on an unbelievable line-up of themed baskets and experiences: a private airplane flight from Chandler to Pinetop for lunch for three; guided fly fishing trips; two tickets to Oakwood’s 2026 concerts; rounds of golf and pickleball; wine, liquor, and cigar packages; restaurant gift certificates; shooting sports opportunities; pet-themed baskets; date nights; ladies’ and men’s baskets; and so much more! Our goal this year is to raise enough money to cover the cost of an overnight fishing trip for as many veterans as possible, a dream that has been unattainable for many of them.