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2007 FFF Southern Council NominationClub of the YearFree State Fly FishersFree State Fly Fishers of Lawrence, Kansas formed in August of 2005 as a charter club of the Federation of Fly Fishers to provide an opportunity for fly fishers in northeast Kansas to meet others with a similar passion for the sport. In less than two years, Free State Fly Fishers has grown from three guys in the back room of the local fly shop with what they thought was a good idea to a healthy, growing club numbering 70 strong. As an FFF charter club, all members of Free State Fly Fishers are FFF members. So committed to the Federation and the Southern Council is the club that in just their third year of existence they are the host club of the 2007 Southern Council Conclave. This growth has been achieved through providing members with ample opportunities to receive and provide fly fishing education, get involved in local water conservation efforts, promote fly fishing in our area communities and, of course, enjoy the fellowship of each other's company through club social events. Education efforts conducted in the community: One-hour "Introduction to Fly Fishing" classes were provided for 50 honors students at Lawrence Free State High School each of the last two springs. The same class was presented at the 2007 Topeka Boat and Outdoor Show along with ongoing fly tying demonstrations at the Free State Fly Fishers booth throughout the three days of the event. A full day fly fishing school was taught in Colby, Kansas as part of their local adult education program. Twenty-five students completed the seven-hour course led by members of Free State Fly Fishers. Free State Fly Fishers were on hand to promote the sport and the Federation at Cabela's Days held in the spring of 2007. Local tying demonstrations are part of an ongoing partnership with the Lawrence, Kansas Farmers Market on Saturday mornings throughout the season. Club members can be seen at their booth talking with local shoppers about the sport. The club has also provided demonstration fly tying at the new Bass Pro Shop in Olathe, Kansas and for Leadership Day at the Hallmark Cards corporate office in Lawrence. Club members are also active in conducting individual fly casting instruction in cooperation with the local fly shop, Yager's Outfitters Education opportunities conducted for club members: A 12-hour introduction to fly tying class held over the last two years featuring a 1-to-1 student/teacher ratio in a group setting, completed by 23 club members. An intermediate weekly tying class held over 12 weeks in the winter in which 18 club members participated. An annual spring Celebration of Fly Fishing, where members received free, individual casting instruction led by FFF Master Casting Instructor Paul Sodamann. An advanced fly tying class led by well known fly tyer and author, Ken Iwamasa, completed by 11 members of the club in the spring of 2007. Conservation Activities: Free State Fly Fishers are active in fish habitat restoration efforts at the Douglas County State Fishing Lake in partnership with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP). Drained for dam repair in late 2005, the lake now holds over 200 piles of cedar trees anchored to the lake bed thanks to the club's efforts. In addition to the brush pile habitat, the club has obtained grants from the FFF Southern Council and Aquila Energy to purchase materials for the construction of artificial vertical lake bed habitat to promote restoration of aquatic life in the lake. Club members recently agreed to continue the partnership with KDWP to develop similar structure in several other area lakes beginning in 2008. Eleven members of the Free State Fly Fishers have completed training in water quality analysis provided by Kansas State University. A Stream Team is in place to gather data on water quality and aquatic life on the upper Wakarusa River. The club also holds spring and fall cleanups on the dam at Clinton Lake outside of Lawrence. Free State Fly Fishers have raised $1,500 over the last two years for the local childrens' shelter by decorating and donating a fly fishing-themed Christmas tree to the local Festival of Trees auction. Members hail from 13 Kansas cities as well as Missouri. The club maintains a very active web site that promotes the sport in northeast Kansas. With one of the most distinctive logos you'll find, Free State Fly Fishers were recently featured in the United Kingdom publication Fly Fishing and Fly Tying. The club has also been the subject of two feature articles in the Lawrence Journal-World, the primary area newspaper. Craig Phillips |
