Announcements

Hello Everyone,

Just a quick reminder to all as we finish out the month of February and head closer toward Spring.

February’s guest speaker : Jason DeArman. Jason will be our speaker tomorrow evening, Wednesday, February 19th, 2025, for our monthly membership meeting at the Classic Cafe Exhibition Hall here in Ft. Wayne. The doors open at 6:30 pm and the meeting starts at  7:00 pm.

Jason DeArman is the Founder, Owner and Head Guide of Two Forks Guide Service based out of Noblesville, IN. Jason guides extensively on the White River, and is actively involved with conservation efforts on the White, as well as other rivers and streams throughout the watershed. Jason is also active in various conservation groups such as the Indiana Wildlife Federation. Jason was a previous Guide/Outfitter vendor at last year’s Ft. Wayne Fly Fishing and Tying Show, and was slated to be one of our headline speakers at this year’s show. Several of our Three Rivers Fly Fishers members have taken a float trip with Jason, and have given rave reviews. Jason will be presenting a program on :  “Summer Time Dead Drifting for Smallmouth” . Members, come on out for the evening, and enjoy a float down the river with Jason and help promote your club.

February Community Outreach Program : Just a reminder that Thursday evening, February 20th, 2025 will be one of our outreach programs with the Eckhart Public Library in Auburn, IN. This Introductory Fly Tying event is being presented by the Eckhart Library and Valerie Simmons in partnership with Three Rivers Fly Fishers. As many of you may remember, we partnered with Valerie and the Library last summer for an introductory fly casting, fly tying clinic which was very well received. Thursday night’s event will be conducted at the library building, and will be presented by Brent Walchuk, Bob Womack and Bob Menefee at this time. This fly tying event is completely booked, but for additional information, future events and how to sign up, go to the library website. There will be a fly casting clinic presented On Saturday, March 15th, 2025 through the library system and 3RFF. Sign up and information will be available on the library’s website as well. We will also post additional information as it becomes available. This is a wonderful opportunity for those wishing to learn the basics of fly tying and fly casting, and I would encourage both our members and the public to get involved with these events.

For those that may be interested, we have gotten positive feedback from the new staff at Big Brothers Big Sisters. As soon as we can establish a date for an event we will post that information. We will, as in the past, need support from the membership body as well as the Board. I anticipate this will probably happen on a Saturday, sometime this summer, but will update as we establish more of a relationship with BB BS moving forward. Just wanted to get the information out there for all to think about. This has been a great program for us in previous years.

Elections : We all need to be thinking of upcoming elections and getting back on track with proper election protocol and following election guidelines. Members, you need to be thinking about nominations, who you may want to nominate, or if you yourself want to be nominated for a position on the Board of Directors. Current Officers and Board Members, you need to give consideration as to whether you want to continue in your current role, or wish to be nominated to continue in that role, if your term is expiring this cycle. All, please think about how you may want to get involved to help move your club forward. The term for the office of President is coming due and is a one year term. The Vice President position is open. The Secretary position is open. Two of the Board member positions, a two year term, their terms are coming due. Additional Board members are always welcome and needed. You only need to be a paid member in good standing to be considered for election and to serve. Remember, the club can not continue moving forward, be viable or healthy, conduct business and plan events, or…even exist, without a Board of Directors in place who are willing to fill those roles and be “active” in those roles. Thank you for your consideration and support.

Membership : The Board would like to offer a friendly reminder that membership dues were due on January 1st, 2025. Any individuals who have yet to pay, and need to pay their dues for the year 2025, may still do so at the monthly meeting, or you may still send them in, if not attending the meeting. As a reminder, the club, its functions and events, the guest speakers we pay for, the outings we hold and the food and beverage we provide are supported by you, the paid members in good standing, and are for the members who support their club through their dues. Should you wish to remain a part of this great club and enjoy the benefits we have to offer, we will have people in place at the meeting to accept your dues payment, verify current member status, and then you will be issued your name badges. Please stop by the registration table and check in upon arrival, and we hope you enjoy the meeting and thank you in advance for your cooperation and supporting your club. As previously mentioned when discussing the elections, the same applies, we can not continue to grow, be viable and healthy as an organization, provide for outings and events etc, without the continued support of our dues paying members. Thank you.

Rod Raffle : With the unfortunate cancellation of our 2025 Fly Fishing and Fly Tying Show, we had to make the decision to adjust our drawing date for the Ron Barch Custom Bamboo Rod we are raffling. The Board has voted to move the drawing to the general membership meeting on Wednesday, March 19th, 2025. Raffle tickets may still be obtained and sold through that date. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

In closing, I hope this finds everyone doing well, and Thank You all so much for your continued support of Three Rivers Fly Fishers. Hope to see you all at the meeting. Until next time, get out there, get involved and enjoy your club. Have a great week.

Respectfully and Tight Lines,

Kevin Curtis – President
Three Rivers Fly Fishers – 3RFF

Hello Everyone,

This is to “Officially Inform” you, the membership of Three Rivers Fly Fishers, that we have, “Effective Immediately”…CANCELLED…the 2025 Three Rivers Fly Fishers, Fly Fishing and Fly Tying Show scheduled for Saturday February 8th, 2025 at the Classic Cafe Exhibition Hall.

This action was not taken lightly. But after considerable thought, discussion and full consultation with the rest of the Board of Directors, the tough decision was made to cancel our upcoming fly show.

The reason this action was taken was due to an overwhelming lack of vendor support for this show. Of 65 vendors contacted, 51 either responded that they would not be attending, or did not respond at all with their intent to attend, or, claimed they would commit and attend, but failed to return contracts and payment. It is most unfortunate, however we simply cannot have a fly show, nor conduct business in this manner. 

Ron Dixon will post a cancellation notice on our Three Rivers Fly Fishers Facebook page. Larry Wilson will remove all fly show information from the website page and post a cancellation notice as well. I would ask your help as members as well. If you put up show fliers around your areas, please ensure that those are removed, and the venue where you placed them is notified of the cancellation. If you reached out to any other form of print media with ads, please ensure they are aware of the cancellation also. I would ask that you please post to your own personal social media platforms as well of the cancellation, and that you would ask others that you engage with on these platforms to help us pass the word as well. Thank You all in advance for your help, support and efforts in regards to this matter. We are regretful of any inconvenience this has caused to our membership and vendors who have given their support.

In closing, I would like to say…THANK YOU… to all of those whose tireless efforts, help, support and volunteerism, tried in every way, to make this show a success. I am saddened to have had to bring you this news, but could not be more proud of the quality people we have to get the job done.

Final Notice… the 2025 Three Rivers Fly Fishers, Fly Fishing and Fly Tying Show, in Ft. Wayne IN, is…”CANCELLED“

Most Respectfully,

Kevin Curtis – President
Three Rivers Fly Fishers – 3RFF
Ft. Wayne, IN

Hello everyone,

As we put 2024 behind us and move forward into another year, I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of you a Happy New Year and I am hopeful that you, your families, friends and loved ones were able to have a wonderful and blessed Holiday Season.

I am going to be brief as possible and cover a few topics of importance as timely as I can for now. I will have more in depth information that may answer any questions you may have, and cover some topics I feel are necessary for the good of the order in a forthcoming email. 

For now, please be reminded that the General Membership Meetings will be held on the third WEDNESDAY of the month for calendar year 2025. Your first meeting then will be Wednesday, January 15th, 2025 at 7:00 pm at the Classic Cafe Exhibition Hall on Hillegas Rd. in Ft. Wayne. Doors open at 6:30 pm.

We will be set up again this year at the War Memorial Coliseum here in Ft. Wayne for the All American Outdoor Expo. This coming Friday, Saturday and Sunday, January 10th, 11th and 12th. Check local media outlets, social media platforms and the Expo website for times and a list of ongoing events. Please consider coming out and stopping by the booth and casting pond and showing your support for your club during this event. We have the volunteer list now complete and have submitted that information to Expo staff. I will be reaching out to those individuals, you know who you are, in short order with the information you will need for the weekend. Thank You for all your support in advance.

The official Three Rivers Fly Fishers Tuesday Night Fly Tying event will resume this coming Tuesday, January 7th, 2025 at the Coyote Creek Bar and Grill (Coyote Creek Golf Club) on Hillegas Rd. in Ft. Wayne. Tying, fellowship and great food and drink will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. This event will continue every Tuesday night until the last Tuesday in March. Please consider stopping out for a laid back evening and good times.

Also the Wabash tyers group is meeting every Monday night through the winter months as well. If you are close to the Wabash area, consider stopping in for a night of fly tying and fellowship with those folks as well. For times, location and details please contact Bob Hester at glassmanbob1989@yahoo.com

It is Fly Show Season! Don’t forget to mark your calendars for our own 2025 Fort Wayne Fly Fishing and Fly Tying Show. Saturday, February 8th, 2025. 9:00 am until 4:30 pm at the Classic Cafe Exhibition Hall, Ft. Wayne, IN. Volunteers for set up, tear down and to work the show are always welcome and needed. Reach out to a Board member if you are willing to help your club out. Thanks in advance. Other shows that may be of interest to members are the Heartland Fly Fishing Festival, Lebanon, IN. The Kentuckiana / Derby City Fly Show, Louisville, KY. Both on January 18th. The Greater Cincinnati Fly Show, Cincinnati,OH on February 1st. And the Midwest Fly Fishing Expo in Warren, MI, March 8th and 9th. Check their websites and social media for details. 

Our guest speaker for January is Mark Karaba, and Gary Krebbs for February. More details and bios in an upcoming email. Mark your calendars accordingly and please come out and support these speakers and your club. Thank you.

Two community outreach programs I want to make you aware of will be held in March. We will again be partnering with Eckhart Public Library and Valarie Simmons in Auburn, IN. The first event will be a fly fishing, fly casting clinic event on Saturday, during the day, March 15th. The second event will be a fly tying demonstration and hands on learning/tying program on Thursday night, March 20th. Both of these events are the Basics – 101 type programs, so if you have an interest in learning more about fly fishing or tying, feel free to sign up for these public forums. More details to follow, but for now refer to the Eckhart Public Library website, or reach out to member Brent Walchuk if interested in learning more about these programs or helping out. Thanks.

The last topic of importance is membership. This will probably be the hot button moving forward this year, and it will be a topic of priority for the Board of Directors very soon. The Board has discussed this in the past, and we feel that leadership, and those members who do pay their dues in a timely manner, have been more than gracious, more than tolerant and more than fair with those who continue to be non-compliant. Moving forward, we simply cannot keep individuals on the membership roster who are continually delinquent with their dues payment. Should you wish to continue on as part of this organization and benefit from what it has to offer, then your 2025 annual membership dues are now due. Thank you.

Hope this finds everyone doing well and enjoying the start up of this new year. Thanks to everyone for your continued support and for being a part of Three Rivers Fly Fishers. Take care and have a great week. Until next time, get out there, get involved and enjoy your club.

Most Respectfully – and Tight Lines,

Kevin Curtis – President

Three Rivers Fly Fishers – 3RFF

Ft. Wayne, IN