– The Museum of the Rockies has cancelled the 6th Annual TwoFly Fishing Tournament, planned for September 9-10, citing the need to conserve the region’s precious trout populations.
For the last several weeks, the organization had planned to go forward with the sold-out Two Fly event while taking every possible precaution to protect the fisheries. Plans were in place to adjust fishing locations and time on the water in order to run the event as planned. However, as the event date neared, with so little improvement in the fisheries, the prospect of adding 40 boats to the region’s already-stressed waters seemed irresponsible. After in-depth discussion and careful consideration, the Museum’s all-volunteer committee voted to cancel this year’s event, which is a major fundraiser for the organization.
Nick English, co-chair of the event committee and a representative for Simms, said the decision — though a difficult one — made sense for the future. “If we act responsibly now, we can ensure that our children and their children have the opportunity to fish for many years to come.”
“When it comes to clean water, Montana is truly blessed,” said Shelley McKamey, Executive Director, Museum of the Rockies. “We value and appreciate the importance of our blue-ribbon rivers and streams. We know that our rivers provide drinking water, sustain our wildlife and agriculture, and provide exceptional recreational opportunities. We want to be good neighbors and protect those treasures. We would like to thank our sponsors, guides and outfitters and everyone who had planned to participate!”
Participants are now being contacted and the event committee will begin preparations for a successful event in 2017. The TwoFly event was a critical fundraiser for museum activities including the HeadStart Free Family Membership program.
