Casting Call Shows Fly-Fishing's Clout in D.C.

Washington, D.C.—The American Fly-Fishing Trade Association (AFFTA) met an interesting challenge at its Second Annual Congressional Casting Call, co-hosted by the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation, on April 30. A competing luncheon was offered to commemorate President George W. Bush's 100th day in office. Luckily for AFFTA, fly-fishing has clout in D.C., and some influential guests were ready for a day of fishing.

This year, the Casting Call enticed 10 members of Congress—Reps. Howard Coble, R-N.C.; Duke Cunningham, R-Calif.; Jim Gibbons, R-Nev.; Collin Peterson, D-Minn.; Clay Shaw, R-Fla.; Don Sherwood, R-Pa.; Mike Thompson, D-Calif.; Tom Udall, D-N.M.; David Wu, D-Ore.; and Sen. Michael Enzi, R-Wyo.—a large contingent of congressional staff and even Secretary of the Interior Gail Norton, who received a personal casting lesson from fly-fishing legend Lefty Kreh.

"Other lobbying groups pay a lot of money to be able to get people's time," says AFFTA President Bill Klyn in retrospect. "We gauge success on the quality of people that show up and how that's going to benefit us long term. To meet everyone like that is going to make a big difference."

Spanning the whole day, the event was held in three different locations—Fletcher's Boathouse on the Potomac, the East Lawn of the Capitol building and Rayburn House. There were lessons and fishing in the morning, a casting clinic in the afternoon and a reception that evening sponsored by Simms Fishing Products and W.L. Gore & Associates.

The event began at historic Fletcher's Boathouse, which has hosted guests since the 1850s. Wedged in between the Potomac River and the C&O Canal, congressional guests and AFFTA volunteers intermingled fly-fishing for shad with conversations about important environmental policy. "It's important that you're here and you support the caucus to ensure that our shared interests are advocated in the halls of Congress," said Rep. Thompson, co-chair of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus.

Rep. Shaw later added his support of the event saying, "It's a high point of the year for us to be with a group like this."

For Dan Clark, AFFTA board member and CEO of Ross Reels, events like this are important because it gives industry members an opportunity to pass along good information for good solutions. One of Clark's main goals was to give Secretary Norton the resources she needs to help the salmon habitat of the Northwest and still support increasing energy needs. "I want her to get to real people," he said.

After lunch, the second stage of the event moved to Capitol Hill. AFFTA's Washington representative, Jim Range, pulled up to the security gates at the Capitol building with a permit and four-car caravan in tow.

"We're here for the AFFTA casting demonstration," he told the guard.

"Really," replied the guard. "Tell me something. Can you catch a striper with a clouser?"

AFFTA volunteers were quickly given the best "free" parking on Capitol Hill.

For a few hours, guests were treated to casting lessons from Lefty Kreh, Mel Kreiger, Jack Dennis and other AFFTA volunteers.

At the reception that evening, Klyn summed up the day's events. "With your new passion for the sport," he said. "We hope you'll now have the passion to support our conservation initiatives."

According to Klyn, the event was successful in laying the groundwork for future collaborations with policy makers. AFFTA's voice was heard and some fish were caught.

For more information on political and environmental issues affecting the fly-fishing industry, visit www.affta.com. —J.M.M.