11th annual Dan Blanton Striperfest to be held at Sugar Barge, Bethel Island, November 1st. Proceeds to support the delta, youth fly fishing and fishing advocacy organizations

Dan's flies catch fish, this one ate a Blanton  Whistler . Photo © Dan Blanton

August 23, 2008 -- It’s that time of year again to ask the generous folks in the fly fishing industry to contribute to this worthwhile fund-raiser supported by you and the California Delta striped bass fly fishers of the Dan Blanton Bulletin Board community. 

This will be our 11th Striperfest, and going on 8 years of active fund raising for Bay/Delta conservation and other important functions.  To date we have raised, through your generosity of donation quality raffle prizes, more than $75,000.00.  Approximately $60,000 (net proceeds) has been raised in the 7 years of active fundraising.

Roughly six thousand dollars has been provided in youth fly-fishing grants, with emphasis  to support programs that actually get youth out on the water fishing, as opposed to programs that strictly provide classroom exercises. The youth grants have been provided to the Arroyo Fly Fishers, Tahoe Truckee Fly Fishers, and Merced Fly Fishing Club.

Steve Able of Able Reels with a fall '07 striper.  Steve donates generously to the Striperfest raffle  Photo © Dan Blanton

Approximately $15,000 has been provided to conservation/fishery organizations that focus on the Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta. Grant emphasis has been to support specific campaigns such as opposing increases in water exports from the Delta (opposing the South Delta Improvements Program), re-watering the San Joaquin River, decreasing the take of threatened and endangered species at the water pumping plants. Grants have been provided to the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Environmental Water Caucus, and the Sierra Club.

Dave Sellers, Striperfest supporter, with a perfect 26  pounder. Photo© Dan Blanton

Approximately $5,000 has been provided to organizations specializing in fisheries lawsuits.  Another $30,000 has been kept in reserve to support ongoing and potential lawsuits. Grant emphasis has been to support lawsuits where the Northern California Council / Federation Fly Fishers has been a member of a plaintiff group, to support Endangered Species Act related lawsuits, to support water quality related lawsuits, and to support water export limitation lawsuits. Grants have been provided to Earthjustice and the Natural Resources Defense Council.

In 2008 $15,000 of Striperfest funds was granted to California Sportfishing Protection alliance (CSPA) to be used for defensive court battles involving a suit by water exporters to declassify California striped bass as a game fish.  Additional funds will likely be donated to CSPA and other conservation organization as needed. 

  Approximately $4,000 has been spent to support outreach, consulting, and media campaigns related to the striped bass slot limit, the South Delta Improvements Program, and other related Delta fishery conservation initiatives. As you can see from the above report, we have been using Striperfest funds wisely and for good causes.

  Whether you are a retailer, wholesaler, guide or just a private angler  I sincerely hope you can donate some of your fine products, books, magazine subscriptions whatever you feel will add to the quality of our raffle.  This is an extremely important conservation fund-raiser! Please let me know what you will be donating this year; and, again I can’t thank you all enough for your continuing support of this important event.

And of course, whether you are "in the business" or just an avid striper chaser, please put this event on your calendar. Everyone is invited to attend, last years party was a blast, this years will be even better. Come over to my bulletin board and sign up when the registration committee gets things started.

Sincerely,

Dan Blanton

www.danblanton.com

Chairman - Striperfest