Why It Matters

​First Watch Fly Co. was built on service. Service to people. Service to community. Service to the water.

We believe time on the river comes with responsibility. If we take from it — clarity, restoration, fish, perspective — we also give back to it.

 

Conservation is not a marketing piece for us. It is a standard.

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The rivers that shape our lives — from the Iowa Driftless to the White River in Arkansas — deserve active care, not passive appreciation.

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Monofilament Line Cleanup Initiative

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Discarded monofilament line is one of the most harmful and preventable threats to river ecosystems.

It does not biodegrade.

It entangles birds, fish, turtles, and mammals.

It damages boat propellers and river structure.

It silently accumulates year after year.

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We are building a structured cleanup effort that includes:

• Organized riverbank cleanup days
• Installation of monofilament recycling tubes at access points
• Education during guided trips on proper disposal
• Partnering with local shops and lodges to host collection sites
• Data tracking of pounds collected annually

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Our goal is simple: leave less behind than we found.

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Restoration & River Health

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Conservation goes beyond picking up trash.

Healthy fisheries depend on:

• Stable banks
• Cold, oxygen-rich water
• Native vegetation
• Responsible catch and release
• Educated anglers

 

We actively support:

• Habitat restoration projects
• Native vegetation planting
• Stream bank stabilization efforts
• Fish handling education on all guided trips
• Seasonal and species-specific ethical practices

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Every client who fishes with us learns not only how to read water — but how to protect it.

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Education as Stewardship

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Stewardship begins with awareness.

During instruction and guided trips, we teach:

• Proper fish handling techniques
• Barbless hook practices
• Respect for spawning seasons
• Reading water without damaging structure
• Leave No Trace principles

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We believe conservation is strongest when it becomes culture.

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Community Partnerships

 

We are actively seeking partnerships with:

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• Local fly shops
• River lodges
• Conservation organizations
• Veteran and first responder nonprofits
• Youth outdoor programs

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The long-term vision is to build a conservation fund through First Watch Fly Co. — where a percentage of guided trip revenue directly supports cleanup and restoration projects in Iowa and Arkansas.

Our Standard

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We do not guide water we are not willing to protect.

We do not teach skill without teaching responsibility.

We do not build a business separate from the health of the river.

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If you fish with First Watch Fly Co., you are part of something larger than a day on the water.

You are part of stewardship.