Cal Trout, TU, or FFF: Who should get my money?

[fly addict]

The FFF sounds like it is run by a bunch of jack booted thugs! And I’m working on getting my CCI which is run by the FFF. I still think this is a bunch of bull crap. If the clubs I am currently a member of say I have to pony up another $35 to join the FFF, I’ll say up yours. If the clubs put it towards a vote, I hope the members will say no way.

One of the things this great country of ours was founded on was FREEDOM OF CHOICE. If I choose to be a member of the FFF that is my choice. But I don't like it being rammed down my throat because I choose to a member of a fishing club.

This is how communist do things. They make everybody become a member even against their will. I think if the FFF is going to proceed with this crap why don’t they change their name to CFFF (Communist Federation of Fly Fishers)

[Trootfisher]

My son is a twenty something fly angler. He is also a fly fishing stud (if I may brag), the fish biologist for the local club's home river, and someone young who will eventually be replacing us greybeards when we head north. In short, he would be a fantastic person to snag in a local club. While he was living at home & a full time student, he participated in many of my local club activities under my family membership. He just graduated, moved out, and got a job. At my urging (pestering?) I had been pushing him to join up with the local (and I believe only) club in his area, he went in with the intention of joining, and promptly left when he found out he would join the local club at $25 and BE REQUIRED to also join the FFF at $35. At this time in his life, he's really not interested in the FFF, so he promptly left, and he really doesn't have the finances to join the FFF either.

Actually now that I think of it more, if your son is a fisheries biologist then he shouldn't worry about spending money to join any organization as he is already doing a lot of good for the resource. Those guys are overworked and underpaid, but it definitely IS a great job. If he hasn't heard of them have him look into the Cal-Neva chapter of American Fisheries Society, and the Salmonid Restoration Federation. Instead of joining a club or whatever, these groups offer a lot for the practitioner. They both put on great training workshops and annual conferences that offer valuable learning experiences and amazing networking opportunities. The fisheries community is very small, close-knit, and very friendly, but I'm sure he knows that.