We partnered up with Fish for Change Scholarship Program to send one lucky kid on a fly fishing trip of a lifetime. Fish for Change uses fly fishing as a platform to make the world a better place by uniting a diverse group of students in wild fisheries where they engage in a variety of initiatives that promote education, connection, exploration, and conservation. We share Fish for Change's dedication to supporting young anglers and igniting a love for the outdoors at an early age, so we sent off a plane ticket, a bag of essential Chums gear, and asked our young traveler to share his experiences with us here.
Meet Josip Turk, age 14
"Like the greenback cutthroat trout, I am a Colorado native. I go to school in Parker, but I spend a lot of time fishing the Arkansas River in Salida. I have been drawn to the water and fishing for as long as I can remember. As a matter of fact, the first time I went fishing was when my dad took me when I was two years old. I’ve been hooked ever since. I love fishing the lakes in Minnesota when we go back almost every summer to visit family. When I’m not on the water, I can usually be found playing soccer, skiing, tying flies, or chatting with my friends."
Why do you fly fish?
I fly fish because it is the thing I love most in the world! Fly fishing is my way of connecting to something greater than myself, bigger than humanity, something pure, the spiritual. Fly fishing is very humbling because as humans we’re quite cocky. We’ve dominated all 7 continents, we’ve already been outside our planet, but most of the time, the fish still wins! Fly fishing has allowed me to maintain a more personal relationship with nature; its animals, plants, and ecosystems. It has given me solace from the hum-drum of day-to-day life. Honestly, I don't know what I’d do without it.
How did Fish For Change help you grow as an angler?
I’ve never gotten to fish in saltwater, and I’ve never fly fished anything heavier than a five weight. Having the opportunity to fish a new environment with all the new species and conditions pushed my skill level, tested my resilience, and was a dream come true! I loved learning from local mentors; both with regard to fishing expertise and cross-cultural experience.
Where were you fishing on the trip? What species were you catching there?
I was fishing off the Bay Island of Guanaja, Honduras, which is about 43 miles off the east coast of mainland Honduras. I caught a number of species, including permit, bonefish, tarpon, and mangrove snapper.
What were some of the biggest fly fishing lessons you learned while in Guanaja?
Fishing-wise, I learned about strip-setting to set the hook, which was difficult to adjust to at first. Coming from Colorado, I fly fish almost exclusively for trout, so trout-setting is useful and works just fine. When I went to Guanaja, I had to literally stop and tell myself to strip set whenever I had an eat — so much so that I genuinely wound up, (as if I was trying a punch backwards), when I had to set the hook into a 35 lb tarpon. Strip setting was hard for me to get used to because it had been a long, long time since the last time I had to consciously think about one of my fishing habits. I now try to strip set whenever streamer fishing for trout or any other species. It's crazy how one thing you learn in one corner of the world can be applied to different fish in a completely different part of the world. It's crazy how one thing you learn in one corner of the world can be applied to LIFE in a different part of the world.
What advice would you like to share with the fly fishing community and kids your age now that you've experienced this trip?
I've learned to keep options open and to not limit myself in terms of opportunities. Before January, I had no idea that Fish For Change was an option for my future, but because I kept an open mind and reached for it, I was able to go on a breathtaking trip to Guanaja! When you are given the opportunity to do something, take it! Do it! Don't hold back! It may be your only shot, and it will probably affect you for the better. One of the other life lessons I would share, and that resonates with me most is to love everybody like family, make friends with strangers, and be passionate about the good things in the world. Guanaja made me feel more accepted in the world, and my desire to better the world and preserve the best parts of it was strengthened tenfold.