Just what is the Federation of FF’s?
I’m sorry… i understand it’s a conservation education group…I was more interested in how say they compare to Trout UnLtd…I thought I heard the FFF lambasted on this board…just want the skinny…that’s all…
Both Trout Unlimited (TU) and the Federation of Fly Fishers (FFF) have local groups. There are good and bad groups in both. TU spends of greater part of its dues sueing States or the Federal Government to protect streams, watersheds, remove dams etc. From that point it perhaps is the most actively involved in conservation. TU local groups are usually very active in restoring local waters.
The ‘slams’ on this board are related to the Certified Casting Instuctor program of FFF.
LadyFisher, Publisher of
FAOL
I will say again what I posted on the subject of fishing guides. “Sometimes the ink is not worth the paper it is printed on.”
Just because you can demonstrate the steps needed to get a certificate for fly casting instructor, it will not make you a good teacher. Teachers are born not made by attendance and test scores.
[This message has been edited by Parnelli (edited 06 March 2002).]
I belong to both TU and FFF, and basically the difference is that TU is concenerned with cold water fisheries and FFF deals with both cold and warm water fisheries. I don’t know to much about what goes on at the national level, but I do know that our local chapter is involved in teaching newcomers to the sport about fly fishing and tying. We are also involved in stream restoration and clean-up projects, here in Oklahoma as well as in Arkansas and Missouri. We have also donated money to the Three Dollar Bridge project and others in western states.
Steve Crosby
Sec.- Tulsa Fly Fishers
My club is affiliated with FFF here in Arizona. I think that the activity varies a bit from area to area. FFF has contributed good solid cash to some fishery improvement projects here in Arizona, so I imagine they do the same elsewhere. As mentioned above, TU seems to be more of a watchdog. However, having said that, I’ve heard that in Richmond, VA for instance, the local TU chapter is the only group that holds monthly meetings for fly fishers. (Could be misinformed?)
If you’re looking for a group that you can interact with on a very regular basis and find folks that will impart knowledge, fish with you, cheer you up when you get skunked, etc. look for a local fly club that meets regularly…check the brochures out in the local fly shops.
Good luck.
Silvertop
Silvertop: “If you’re looking for a group that you can interact with on a very regular basis and find folks that will impart knowledge, fish with you, cheer you up when you get skunked, etc” look no farther than Fly Angler’s Online. Okay three out-of-four, ain’t too bad. You figure which one don’t match up…
TU is dedicated to the conservation of cold water fisheries most notably trout water. It is not a fly fishing organization, although many members are certainly are fly fishers. FFF is an organization dedicated entirely to fly fishing, whether it be cold, warm or salt waters. TU has more of a conservation slant while FFF is more of a fishing club although FFF cetainly gets involved w/ conservation issues. I belong to both and they each serve an important function and are both good organizations. Check out your local chapters and go to few meetings to get a feel for what meets your needs best. I’m sure local chapters vary widely around the country.
Ron M
I am a board member of our local FFF affiliated club,started by 6 people and in 6 years we have grown to 100. If you want to find out what we stand for and do for ffishing you should visit the FFF web site. [url=http://www.fedflyfishers.org:b89e7]www.fedflyfishers.org[/url:b89e7] Mine is under Indiana “The Three Rivers Fly Fishers.” The FFF has clubs all over the world. I doubt TU can say the same. You name it and we do it for fly fishing, stream clean up,teaching everything from fly tying in the schools to rod building. Our latest is tying every Monday evening for new tyers(we get new members that way). Name speakers each month. The Great Lakes Council(20 clubs in Ind Ohio & Mich) hosts a large fly tying shows with 100 of the best tiers. Some on this forum wrote about certified casting instucters. They are the best I can vouch for that with two friends that have passed the strict tests. The TU tried to start a club in Indiana. Go to the FFF web site, you might like us and start your own local club.
William, if you do indeed know two excelent casting instructiors, your to be envied. However would not these folks be casting instructiors with or with the title? I know were my money would be on that bet. of course they would. All true teachers teach because they need to share, its part of their makeup,its part of what you admire in them. the fact that they are FFF certified, goes to the longing to be a part of something larger than themselves,to a hope that they will further learn and pass on that knoweldge. There in lies the fustration youve seen come from some of us here. That a program that was inocently started to further provide information to thoes who would carry it to them that could benifit. Has become something more identified with greed and ego, than the promotion of the skill refinment it takes to fully injoy the flyfishing experence is sad. I do not utter these words lightly, but with a hope that someday the FFF program will become the vehicle,by which any worthy instructior can point to with pride,and say “I am part of something greater than myself.” with sincere hope Capt. Paul Darby
Capt Paul Darby I see you and other are misinformed about a certified casting instructor.Its not a title that they wave at everyone,in fact I bet 6 out of our 100 club members know it. If you want the best help they are willing to teach anythng froma 3 wt to a 14 foot spey rod. I learned the hard way years before you were no doubt born by my father. I have seen my friends spend many hours teaching children and adults. Have you ever taken time to teach??? They do pay a for the testing,some dont pass. AS for the TU I didnt want to bring up the fact that they arent a fly fishing organizaton but I see one one did that for me. The FFF is the only organized advocate for fly fishers worldwide.
I stayed out of this for a reason, but Mr. Fitzgerald, you managed to get me into it anyway. It’s that same attitude you just demonstrated that keeps hundreds away from a group that could otherwise lure folks with talent in. Your comment: “Have you ever taken time to teach???” demonstrates exactly what deters so many of us from the FFF and especially its certified casting program. Capt. Paul Darby has taken the time to teach many people from all walks of life. When a well known rod designer recently decided that he should brush up on his long casting skills, did he call you or the FFF to do the job? No! He called Capt. Darby because he knew Paul’s reputation as an instructor and he also knew he would get what he wanted without the overlay of ego so many “certified” instructors dish out.
You don’t know Paul, but damn if you didn’t throw a rock anyway. Glad you were able to point out your attitude so well.
Well, looks like the nuts are off the buggy wheel again. I am not going to comment again on FFF, but I do know hundreds of TU Members who are under the mistaken idea that their group is a fly fishing group. Since I was the first female member of Trout Unlimited, in the first organized TU Chapter, Mershon Chapter, Saginaw Michigan, I can tell you the founders of TU founded it to protect the fishery. Gosh, maybe we were/are all fly fishers.
LadyFisher, Publisher of
FAOL
In light of your answer Wiiiam, I have only one gift left to offer, my shoes.
Capt. Paul Darby
I don’t know a whole lot about FFF. However, TU is an excellent organization. They are not specifically a fly fishing group - but are more interested in conservation specific issues. I would highly recommend taking a look at their web site: [url=http://www.tu.org:e427e]www.tu.org[/url:e427e]
Its well worth your time.
Oh well, here goes nothin’
As a member of TU, I want to state that TU is an organization dedicated to preserving Trout and their habitat. It so happens that in my chapter everyone I know is a fly fisher and we have a fly tying session prior to the chapter meetings, give tying classes and have guest speakers talk about fishing. What we do for work is promote Salmon restoration in the CT. River, try to influence policy concerning Trout habitat and do stream and river restoration projects in conjuction with other organizations. Those projects involve physical labor. The focus of what we do is the restoration and habitat work. Just so happens that almost all of us fish. Thats probably true of all TU chapters. Know of a non-flyfisher that wants to get active in TU. They’ll be welcomed with open arms.
As for FFF, they don’t exist in my area or if they do they are “below the radar screen”.
First I would like to appolaize to the few that I may of offended. It seems the world “Certified” is offensive and rubs one the wrong way. Until they know what it stands for and the hundreds of known ffishers that are qualified I feel they shouldnt comment. Dont know of any that use it to boost their ego. My opinion!!!
JED- As for the salmon in the Conn River they would have a hard time going over the Holyoke dam if it wasnt for the water lift my dad company installed. Your statement about FFF clubs in NE wasnt correct–8 in Mass 3 in Conn, and 2 in NH. Many more TU clubs
WF,
Thank your dad for me. That and the Ladder in Turner Falls make this a possibiility. Try fishing below the Holyoke dam sometime for Shad. They are great fun on a fly rod. Last year I was glad I had to stop fishing at noon. I was developing Carpel Tunnel Syndrom from reeling in so many fish 
If not a single salmon returns, the Salmon Restoration Project is still a success for all of the school children that are involved in it and for the conservation they learn. While I am sure there are FFF’s in New England and MA, there might even be one in my town, but I never hear about them or what they do. They sure are keeping out of site in my part of the state.
Jed
I was a Senior Instructor in the US Army and one of the few NCO Course Managers of MOS Training. My motto was, “Student hasn’t learned, the Teacher hasn’t taugth!” Seen many people who went thru classes on how to properly teach, and if they did not have the gift, all the schooling in the world would not make them a great teacher. Either you got it, or you don’t.
Parnelli knows what he’s talking about. Teaching is God given and if you don’t have a passion for it, you won’t get your points accross. I’ve been a TU member since 1992 and an FFF member since 1994. I’m now a TU life member and soon to be a FFF life member. The point is, we need more members of all these organizations, not less. Join them all, get off you ass and do something for the fish, the inviornment, the water, the rivers and streams, and yourself, and stop *****ing about this and that. It’s counter productive and stupid. Opinions are like *******s, everybody has one. GET IT? Better known as, YOU DIG? m.j.romero p.s. my wife failed the FFF cretification test twice, not because her casting wasn’t adaquate, but because her English isn’t that hot. So what, she’s still teaching and enjoying it, and getting paid for it sometimes. You don’t need the FFF for that.
I teach and love it and get paid for it, and i do it for free also. And, i’ve never even thought about FFF certification, who needs it!
mark j. romero
M&M Fly Fishing
[This message has been edited by willowhead (edited 07 March 2002).]
[This message has been edited by willowhead (edited 07 March 2002).]