Clearwater Guest Speaker: Lindsay Agness- NY TU Headwaters Youth Update
This event is open to the public. Members and any interested guests are welcome to attend.
Clearwater Trout Unlimited would like to welcome Lindsay Agness to speak to the group on some exciting upcoming programs for youth education in New York, supported by volunteer chapters, along with the New York State Council of Trout Unlimited. In 2022, Lindsay supported our chapter's Youth Education leaders, Mike & Kimberly Walchko and Bob Mead, at the annual New York Troutwaters Youth Camp. She will be highlighting these efforts along with Trout in the Classroom, STREAM Girls, TU Costa 5 Rivers College Clubs and more.
To read a bit more about Lindsay's background in conservation and angling, see below:
Lindsay is a New York State Licensed fly fishing guide. Last year Lindsay was inducted into the New York State Outdoorsmen Hall of Fame, for her lifetime devotion of “giving back” to the outdoor sports and conservation in NYS. The NYS Outdoorsmen Hall of fame honors sportsmen and women who have made significant contributions to conservation or preserving the heritage of outdoor sports. She was honored for starting the Trout Unlimited Women’s Fly Fishing classes, a successful program used to introduce women into fly fishing. The all-volunteer seminars were hosted at the NYSDEC Salmon River Hatchery each year sponsored by local TU chapters in NYS. This program was so popular, that it began to grow into three events annually across NYS. During this time, through this program Lindsay has taught over 350 women how to fly fish.
Lindsay volunteers as a guide for Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing and Lindsay and her husband Dave, started the fly fishing program for wounded veterans for the Non-for-Profit organization called OASIS Adaptive Sports, Inc. (Outdoor Adventures for Sacrifice in Service) which is a non-profit organization offering instruction, equipment and support to disabled military veterans in a variety of sports activities. In 2020 OASIS Adaptive Sports merged with CompeerCORPS. The program assists these veterans in reconnecting and resuming productive lives in society through participation in outdoor recreational activities that promote independence, and social and emotional well-being.
Lindsay has served on board for her local Trout Unlimited chapter along with the NYS Council for Trout Unlimited in various roles as VP for Diversity and Women and currently as the Vice President for Youth Education. In 2016, Lindsay received the Trout Unlimited National Volunteer Award for Distinguished Services for Veteran Service at the TU National Annual meeting held in Bozeman, Montana.
Lindsay is actively involved with the startup of the Upstate NY Casting for Recovery chapter. Casting for Recovery (CfR) is a non-for-profit organization that enhances the quality of life of women with breast cancer through a unique retreat program that combines breast cancer education, peer support with the therapeutic sport of fly fishing. Today she currently volunteers annually as a CfR Fly Fishing Instructor and Guide for the Upstate NY Casting for Recovery program.