Master Angler: Antoinette “Toni” VanDePutte
toni.v@fishingsfuture.org

Area Chief T.P.W.D.
401 Gladys Ave.
El Paso, TX  79915
Home:  915-779-6884
Cell:  915-276-2103

Toni can still remember catching her first fish as a 9 year old sitting in an aluminum boat on Lake Huron, in Michigan with her mothers’ father and her father.  That 8 inch perch launched her passion of fishing.  She took that passion to her 1st job, which she had for 29 years, at Ysleta High School teaching Outdoor Ed.

Because of her involvement with Texas Association of Health, Physical Education and Dance she meets Steve Campbell from TWPD and she began a commitment to TPWD.  After her retirement in 2004 she joins Ascarate Fishing Club, a non-profit organization dedication to teaching kids to fish. Since 2005, AFC  has 28 TPWD Instructors of the 34 members and 6 Area Chiefs among its membership. UTEP asked her to continue teaching and she introduced fishing into their Kinesiology Individual Sports Class.

“The family that fishes together stays together” are words spoken at every instructor’s class by Toni.  Come spend a couple hours in the out of doors, sit and watch a duck swim by and talk to a child about spending time outdoors.  “There is no bigger thrill for me than to see a child catch their first fish.  The squeal in their voice and the smile on their face is infectious.”