Federation of Fly Fishers - North Eastern Council

Our nation was founded and continues to grow stronger when like - minded groups of individuals share ideas and resources to achieve shared goals. 

So too the nation of fly fishers has its organizations, taking advantage of the synergy created when independent anglers band together in support of the conservation agenda.  One organization, the Federation of Fly Fishers (FFF) came to be in 1964 from the efforts of many individuals and clubs, celebrates over 43 years of existence and service to the fly fishing community.  Its members share the belief that fly fishing is not only the most conservative way to practice the sport, but also the most fun.  Towards that end, the primary activity of the Federation of Fly Fishers is the teaching of fly fishing skills, fly tying, and the ethics of angling.  Its publication, The Flyfisher, was the first national magazine for anglers to focus exclusively on fly fishing (its editor was Arnold Gingrich, then editor of Esquire), and it is still published quarterly and sent to all the Federation of Fly Fishers members.  The FFF headquarters is located in Livingston, MT.  FFF also maintains and runs the International Fly Fishing Discovery Center in Livingston, Montana as a museum and education center.  The FFF is a world-wide organization with over 12,000 individual (335 Foreign) members and 257 Charter and Affiliated (5 foreign) clubs.

To better serve its constituency (individuals and clubs formed wherever fly fishers gather to talk flies and fish: cold, warm or salt water), the Federation of Fly Fishers has formed regional councils to more efficiently represent geographic-specific needs and interests to the national organization.  The FFF North Eastern Council was formed to represent the following areas:

USA Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island
Canada Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador

Now nobody wants to have to fish his or her favorite stretch of water in rotation due to the number of anglers waiting their turn, but in any political system, there is power in numbers.  If you are reading this, the urge to fish runs deep in you and you probably fish locally as often as you are able and occasionally travel to fish.  You have probably enjoyed fishing on waters that favor the fly fisher because of special regulations.  You can add your voice to our fly fishing nation to help expand fly fishing opportunities by simply becoming a member of the Federation of Fly Fishers, or you can wade a little deeper and get your club involved or contribute your skills to a fly fishing school, workshop or clinic.  The FFF is focusing its considerable energies now on working with youth programs like the Boy Scouts of America, and learn to fly fish classes specifically designed for women.  They also offer training and certification for casting instructors to help anglers get more out of their time 'a stream'.  As a fly fisher, you know how much you get back from your involvement with the sport.  It fulfills your life on many levels.  If you are thinking it is time you gave something back to fly fishing today or for its future, consider doing it through the Federation of Fly Fishers

 History

The then Eastern Council was split into two councils; North Eastern and South Eastern.   Now you know why we are known as the “North Eastern Council” and not the “Northeastern Council”.  The North Eastern Council had two sub-councils; the Mid-Atlantic and the Eastern Canadian.   The Mid-Atlantic sub council also gained its autonomy and Council status.  The South Eastern Council has since been subdivided into the Southern and Florida Councils. 

The FFF-North Eastern Council was created by the Federation of Fly Fishers on 31 Jul 1990.  We had our organizational meeting on 8 May 1991 and filed our incorporation papers on 13 May 1991 in the State of Maine.   

 
First Directors of the FFF - North Eastern Council were:

Martin Redcay                  Barbara Redcay                  John J Prokorym               John Bellows

Angus Black                     Elmer Tollison                     Jim Wenger                       Dennis L Abrams

H Earl Retting                   San D’Ambruiso                  David Barson                    Jean Black

Bob Popovics                   Jim Gillum                           Ron Pisani                        Robert A Ethier

Robert H Osburn              Albert Brewster                   Tom Farmer                     Mike Hintlian

Matthew Vinciguerra

First Officers

Martin Redcay..................…...President

Dennis L Abrams……….Sr Vice President

Ron Pisani……………………………..Treasurer

H Earl Retting………………Membership VP

Robert A Ethier…..Communications VP

John J Prokorym.…….Development VP

San D’Ambruiso….…….Conservation VP

Robert H Osburn….………..Education VP

Presidents of the North Eastern Council

Martin Redcay               Livingston Manor, NY              31 Jul 1990 - 4 Mar 1992

Bob Ethier                     Newburgh, NY                        04 Mar 1992 - 5 Jun 1992

John Bellows                 Chester, CT                           05 Jun 1992 - 22 Sep 1995

Richard Diamond           Framingham, MA                    22 Sep 1995 - 28 Jun 1998

H Earl Rettig                  Cotuit, MA                             28 Jun 1998 - 3 Jun 2001

Mike Stewart                 North Granby, CT                  03 Jun 2001 - 13 Nov 2004

Robert Ford                   Boston, MA                           03 Nov 2004 - 15 Nov 2007

Rodney Priddle               Mechanicville, NY                   15 Nov 2007 - Present

To see a list of our current officers please Click Here.

Conserving - Restoring - Educating through Fly Fishing

Preamble
We, in conclave assembled, out of a firm and abiding conviction that fly fishing as a way of angling gives to its followers the finest form of outdoor recreation and natural understanding, do hereby join in common effort in order to maintain and further fly fishing as a sport, and, through it, to promote and conserve angling resources, inspire its angling literature, advance its fellowship and broaden the understanding of all anglers in the spirit of true sport.

Purposes
In the Bylaws, the purposes of the Federation are listed as follows: 
a. Cultivate and advance the art, science and sport of flyfishing as the most sporting and enjoyable method of angling and the way of fishing most consistent with the preservation and use of game fish resources; 
b. Be the voice for organized fly fishing; 
c. Promote conservation of recreational resources; 
d. Facilitate and improve the knowledge of fly fishing; 
e. Elevate the standard of integrity, honor, and courtesy of anglers: 
f. Cherish the spirit of fellowship among anglers everywhere; 
g. Establish and maintain liaison with other organizations of anglers and conservationists and government agencies concerned with the sport of angling; and 
h. Keep its members informed of developments of interest to the membership. Those purposes are a tall order.

Mission Statement
The practice of catch & release is encouraged to be used selectively in environments where there is not an overpopulation of fish. Obviously there are situations where harvesting is appropriate.

For a full map of all territories where you can find the Federation of Fly Fishers please see this page.