Fly Fishers International


Fly Fishers International is an international 501 non-profit organization headquartered in Livingston, Montana. Since 1964, Fly Fishers International has been an organized voice for fly fishers around the world. They represent all aspects of fly fishing, from the art of fly tying and casting to protection of the natural systems that support healthy fisheries and their habitats, which is essential to the sport. Today, the organization's mission is to ensure the legacy of fly fishing for all fish in all waters. They focus on conservation, education, and a sense of community.

Origins

In May 1964, the was organized in Eugene, Oregon with the expressed goal of forming a national fly fishing organization. A gathering of prominent fly fishermen from the West Coast of the United States and Gene Anderegg of the Theodore Gordon Flyfishers of New York City occurred in September 1964 in Aspen, Colorado. Gene Anderegg orchestrated a correspondence among many fly fishing clubs, aided by the support of angling notables Lee Wulff and Ed Zern that resulted in the first conclave being held in June 1965. All the original clubs were from California, Oregon and Washington, with the exception of the .
The Federation was first organized as the Federation of Fly Fishermen but the name changed to its current status in the early 1980s. By 1974 there were 120 clubs and over 7000 members across the United States in the Federation.
Lew Bell and Lee Wulff drafted the original constitution for the Federation and its preamble read:
A great many notable anglers and sportsmen have been members and participants in the Federation of Fly Fishers--Ted Trueblood, Ed Zern, Pete Hidy, Polly Rosborough, Dan Bailey, Bud Lilly, Arnold Gingrich, Joan Wulff, Lee Wulff, Roderick Haig-Brown, Tom Brayshaw, Lefty Kreh, Enos Bradner, Nick Lyons, Paul Schullery, John Gierach, Steve Raymond, Thomas McGuane, Gary LaFontaine, George Grant, Curt Gowdy, Dave Whitlock, Gary Borger, Dave Hughes, Ernest Schwiebert, Charles Brooks, Eric Leiser, Charles Fox, Bob Clouser, Bob Jacklin, Art Flick, Mel Krieger, Mike Swederska, Tim Rajeff.

Goals

Fly Fishers International exists to:
The organization is composed of 17 regional councils to which belong over 300 fly fishing clubs as well as individual members. The goal is to support fisheries conservation and educational programs for all fish and all waters. Anywhere fly fishers have an interest, the organization plays a role in furthering its goals through its councils, clubs and members.

Annual Awards

The Federation of Fly Fishers Awards Program was established to recognize those individuals, clubs and other organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the environment, fishery resources, angling literature, the fly tackle industry and the Federation.
The Federation has held an Annual Fly Fishing Fair and Conclave since 1965. The Fly Fishing Fair and Conclave is the Federation's annual education and fundraising event. The Fair offers workshops, programs, demonstrations on fly tying, fly casting, fly fishing tactics, aquatic entomology, fly rod building, angling ethics, water safety and many related topics. Anglers and fly fishing experts from around the world attend to support Youth and Women's programs, conservation and education forums, photo contests, and author book signings.
The show includes an exhibit hall where fishing tackle companies, retailers, artists, travel services and other companies that cater to the fly fishing lifestyle offer exhibits and sales of their products. The 2012 International Fly Fishing Fair and Conclave will be held in Spokane, Washington in July 2012.

Certified Casting Instructor Program

In 1992, the Federation established the Certified Casting Instructor program with the goal to enhance the sport of flyfishing in three important areas:
Noted fly caster, Mel Krieger led the effort to establish The Casting Board of Governors at the Calgary, Alberta conclave in July 1992. Its founding members are iconic figures in American fly casting or fly fishing. They were: Gary Borger, Leon Chandler, Chico Fernandez, Jim Green, Lefty Kreh, Mel Krieger, Al Kyte, Steve Rajeff, Bruce Richards, Allan Rohrer, Barbara Rohrer, Doug Swisher, Lou Tabory, Dave Whitlock and Joan Wulff. The first BOG meeting was held at Park High School in Livingston, Montana, during the 1993 conclave.
The program trains and certifies casting instructors in two tiers—Certified Casting Instructor and Master Casting Instructor. Certification requires candidates to pass a written and performance test.

Fly Fishing Discovery Center

The Federation runs the Fly Fishing Discovery Center, a museum and education center in Livingston, Montana. The museum's Tackle Room chronicles the history of fly fishing with displays of rods, reels, lines, float tubes and art. The Fly Room features thousands of flies tied by masters from around the world. The museum houses the Lewis A. Bell Memorial Fly Fishing Library, a large collection of fly fishing books and journals available for public viewing and research.

Fly tying Group

The Fly Tying Group was established during the 2007 Conclave in Livingston, Montana as a group of fly tiers whose goal is to develop the art of fly tying at the local, regional, council, national, and international levels. The group hosts workshops that teach demonstration fly tying and run fly tying classes at annual conclaves.

Guides Association

The Guides Association is administered by the Federation as a service to its member guides and to the fly-fishing public. The association aims to connect professional guides with potential clients as well as provide guides some marketing support via the Federation's publications.

National Conservation Committee

Conservation is one of the founding principles of the Federation of Fly Fishers.
Participating in over 40 years of conservation work, the Federation of Fly Fishers contributes to the protection of fisheries and angling opportunities for the future. The National Conservation Committee is composed of representatives from each Federation of Fly Fishers Council. The Conservation Committee advises and supports conservation efforts with perspective from each Council.

Publications