The Arkansas Fly Fishers, "Central Arkansas' Fly Fishing Club", celebrates over thirty years as an organization and as an affiliate chapter of the Federation of Fly Fishers. Founded by three long-time FFF members (Frank Brown, Jim Wingfield, and Dave Whitlock) back in 1973, it was only natural that the AFF would adopt the FFF's motto as their own, "To Conserve, Restore, and Educate through fly-fishing".

Restoration: The AFF has been an AG&FC Stream Team member since 1998. AFF volunteers have parti-cipated in bank and habitat restoration projects on the Little Red River including the recently completed Phase 1 of the AG&FC's Winkley Shoals Habitat Improvement Project. The AFF raised $10,000 for this project and its conservation officer was instrumental in the project's development and completion.

(The AFF has also raised enough money to complete Phase 2 of the project as well as provide volunteer labor as soon as the AG&FC is able to donate their manpower and machinery.)

Education: The AFF was one of the first fly-fishing clubs in America to teach Boy Scouts about their new fly-fishing merit badge. In June 2001, a team of AFF volunteers taught six one-hour classes every Thursday for four weeks at the Blass Scout Reservation near Damascus, Arkansas. Over 300 scouts attended these classes and the volunteers were so touched by their young students' enthusiasm that this year marks the third year in a row they will provide merit badge classes at the camp. The AFF has three FFF Certified Casting Instructors who help with casting lessons for both members and the general public alike at various venues each year. Periodically, the AFF offers rod building classes and has among its membership two highly respected rod builders who are always willing to share their expertise. Fly tying instruction is always available. Whether at club events and meetings or at public gatherings the AFF provides a plethora of fly tying programs each year.

Fun & Fellowship: Although not an official part of the AFF motto, "fun and fellowship through fly-fishing" has been a credo of the club since its founding. Three annual club events, the AFF One Fly Tournament, the AFF Fish Fry, and the AFF Christmas Party & Banquet, are the highlights of each year's calendar of club activities. The annual AFF Fish Fry is open to the public and along with the fried catfish and a raffle there are casting games for both grownups and kids. (The 2004 AFF Fish Fry was preceded by the 1st Annual Arkansas Casting Games, which featured competition casters from around the region.) The AFF offers a schedule of ten informative and entertaining monthly meetings annually, and also has club outings throughout the calendar year.

From a canoe/fishing float trip with another club down a stretch of the Little Red to an annual trip to New Mexico's San Juan; from an annual New Year's Day fishing trip and party on the White/North Fork rivers to a float down the Buffalo River; or from group casting lessons at a public ramp on the Arkansas River to casting with a group of governors from the Southern Governors' Conference; AFF members enjoy the fun and fellowship of their sport and we love to share it with others. Join us!