WFS 478 – Fly Fishers International with Patrick Berry – Conservation, Fly Casting Instructions, Fly Tying

     

Patrick Berry takes us into Fly Fishers International and the resources you can utilize for fishing and conservation. We discover where locally you can get involved in sustaining your fishing and your fishery.

We also find out which top national issues they are working on this year and the history of how it all started for Patrick and FFI. This is not just your ordinary fishing chat — it’s an inspiring journey of passion, dedication, and making a difference.

Fly Fishers International with Patrick Berry. Hit play below!

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(Read the Full Transcript at the bottom of this Blog Post)

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Fly Fishers International Show Notes with Patrick 

03:00 – When it comes to conservation, names like Fly Fishers International and Trout Unlimited always come up. We’ve previously had Len Zickler on the show, and today we’re diving into an exciting update on FFI with Patrick Berry. But first, we hear about how Patrick got into fly fishing.

04:00 – Patrick’s earliest memories in life were of fish and fishing. He recalls a camping trip with his family, where his father made fishing rods out of sticks, strings, and safety pins as hooks while digging worms for bait.

08:20 – Patrick says conservation work is a common path for many fly fishers. He quotes the words of Lee Wulff, one of the founders of FFI, who famously said, “When you teach a person to fly fish, you have just created a conservationist.”

10:14 – After years of trout bumming after college, Patrick got a job in a fly shop with Jeff Currier. Aldo Leopold’s A Sand County Almanac inspired him to pursue environmental science. This marked the beginning of his remarkable conservation-focused career.

12:35 – After years in Montana, Patrick and his wife decided to return to Vermont, where he worked for the Vermont Natural Resources Council. He was later appointed head of Vermont’s Fish and Wildlife Department.

Fly Fishers International — Who Are They?

14:38 – Patrick Berry sees Fly Fishers International as an organization that is available to guide people on their fly fishing journey no matter what their skill level is, where they live, or what fish is their favorite to chase after.

Fly Fishers International started with a focus on conservation, education, and community in the 1960s, and they’ve stayed true to their roots.

15:00 – Fly Fishers International’s most significant strength area is high-quality fly fishing education. The Casting Instructor Certification at FFI is considered a premier casting instructor program worldwide.

18:00 – Patrick shares his perspective on pressing issues today, such as climate change and more. According to Patrick, climate change movements sometimes fall short of providing information on how an average person can help make a difference.

35:40 – Patrick lets us in on FFI’s conservation focus for the upcoming years. Their main goal is to keep providing conservation grants at the local level and collaborate closely with partners to tackle big-picture conservation challenges.

         

41:17 – We also touch on the significance of technology and the role of famous personalities in driving change.

46:17 – Since our upcoming event is centered around the Great Lakes, I couldn’t miss the opportunity to ask Patrick for his insights on the steelhead program in the region.

1:05:27 – Patrick is a music and podcast enthusiast, and he admits to having a dedicated playlist exclusively for The Avett Brothers’ songs. Additionally, Patrick is a big fan of the SmartLess Podcast, especially the episode featuring George Clooney.

Visit their website at Fly Fishers International

Instagram @flyfishersinternational

Facebook Fly Fishers International

Resources Noted in the Show

 Videos Noted in the Show

Related Podcast Episodes

WFS 408 – Fly Fishing Florida with Bruce Chard – Tarpon, Bonefish, Permit, Grand Slam

WFS 474 – Lords of the Fly with Monte Burke – Homosassa, Tarpon Fishing, Nick Saban

Read the Full Podcast Transcript Below

Fly Fishers International Conclusion with Patrick Berry

And that’s a wrap of our conversation with Patrick Berry from Fly Fishers International. We got an inside look into his journey, his passion for conservation, and the important work FFI is doing.