President’s Message

The fly fishing journey generally seems to go something like this: First, you just want to catch a fish. Then you want to catch a lot of fish. Then you want to catch a big fish. Then you want to catch a lot of big fish.

And then, if the fishing gods have smiled on you enough during your time on the water, you are happy just to go fishing (I’m still hoping I will be mature enough to achieve this last goal).

For many people in the sport, they are—and have always been—happy to just go fishing. That’s it. The fish are simply a bonus. Something we all may know directly or intuitively is that fly fishing about so much more than simply catching a fish.

There is something distinctly magical about fly fishing that transcends a finned critter tugging on the end of a line. The emotional and spiritual reward, drawn from the art, science and learning process of fly fishing, is much bigger than the gripand-grin shot that we often assume is the point of our efforts.

This philosophy has been reinforced for me many times. Most recently, it was illuminated at the 2021 FFI Virtual Expo Film Competition. The three winning films shared many traits: fantastic story-telling, incredible images and high production value, but what stuck out to me was their consistent themes; in each of the films, fly fishing is about so much more than catching a fish.

In the winning film, Becca: Water is Life, directors Justin Dobson and Matt Bornhorst show that a series of life-changing moments led Becca to fly fishing as she faced the complete unknowns of stage four cancer. She tackles the challenges with as much grace as she can muster, with two feet firmly placed in her homewaters.

The film Tightened Lines, which took second place, is an intimate, honest portrayal of a man in his 60s, Mark Roberts, who strives to get on the water, regardless of any obstacles that confront him. This emotional mini-documentary was directed by Hannah Roberts, and culminates with a reward on a level few of us will ever comprehend.

The final film, Until We Fish Together, directed by Jay Sung, tells the story of a young American boy who was taken by his mother and brought to Korea. As his father fights to get him back, fly fishing helps him cope.

And as we celebrate Women’s Fly Fishing Month, FFI is kicking off the festivities with airing of a the film Cadence. This short documentary follows the journey of Emily Rodger, a world-class professional cyclist who suffers though major injuries and accidents. Emily finds solace and healing through fly fishing. She tells part of her story in this edition of Fly Fisher. Her journey is nothing short of remarkable.

There are some excellent, inspiring organizations across the fly fishing world who recognize fly fishing is so much more than catching a fish. Many of them are integrally connected to FFI. Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Casting for Recovery, the Mayfly Project, Good Fly and countless other organizations focus on the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual value of fly fishing.

Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing (PHWFF) got its start within FFI, and is now thriving as a successful organization on its own, remaining one of FFI’s most valued strategic partners. The people involved teach fly fishing skills to active and retired disabled military service personnel. By applying fly fishing as a rehabilitation tool, the organization has become recognized as an innovative leader in the field of therapeutic outdoor recreation for people who are disabled.

Many FFI members and volunteers continue to support the programs offered by Casting for Recovery(CfR). This inspiring organization provides healing outdoor retreats for women with breast cancer, providing opportunities for women to find inspiration, discover renewed energy for life, and experience healing connections with not just nature, but with other women.

The mission of The Mayfly Project is to support children in foster care through fly fishing and introduce them to their local water ecosystems. The Mayfly Project believes that engaging the children in a passion such as fly fishing can provide an opportunity to have fun, build confidence, and develop a meaningful connection with the outdoors.

Patrick Berry

Patrick H. Berry is FFI President and CEO. Berry brings over 27 years of experience within the environmental conservation field, having come to FFI from the Vermont Community Foundation where he served as vice president of philanthropy. A former commissioner of the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, Berry is recognized as a visionary conservationist and is widely respected by his peers.

There are a variety of smaller, but equally noteworthy organizations who also focus on the value of fly fishing— the value that transcends a finned critter on the end of a line. Good Fly, based out of Texas, views fly fishing as a way to renew the mind and refresh the spirit. Good Fly focuses on fly fishing to help people deal with depression, anxiety and stress, and offers programs to those who work in traditionally high-stress professions.

Many of us are fortunate to have found our way to a passion and a pastime that does more for our mind, body, and spirit than we might always realize. The next time you are fortunate to spend time on the water with a fly rod in hand, hoping that a big fish is willing to take your offering, remember the work of the organizations that are using fly fishing as a means to achieve more than just a grip-and-grin photo. If you let it, fly fishing will always be about so much more than just catching a fish.