Effective March 2nd, 2026, Fly Fishers International (FFI) raised its membership dues. This marks the first increase in base dues in over 15 years.
During that time, the cost of delivering programs, supporting our community, and operating the organization has steadily increased. After careful review and thoughtful discussion, the Board of Directors has approved a modest dues adjustment to ensure Fly Fishers International remains strong, sustainable, and well-positioned for the future.
Here’s what to expect:
- Standard Memberships will now be $45.00 per year.
- Youth, Senior, and Veteran Memberships will continue to receive discounted rates.
- Youth memberships will be $25, while Senior and Veteran will be $35 per year, which still provides a deep discount off the standard rate.
- Enhanced Membership Levels (Advocate, Patron, Sustainer) will remain unchanged.
Why are these increases necessary?
Back in 2009, when the last dues were approved, the cost of membership was marketed as “the cost of a budget fly line”. Which at the time, the budget Orvis Silver Label line was $35. According to the U.S. government’s Consumer Price Index, the cumulative rate of inflation from 2009 to 2026 has been a whopping 51.6%. So, a $35 fly line back then would cost $53 today. The current price of an Orvis Clearwater fly line is $49. So the increase is still in line with “the cost of a budget fly line”.
Sadly, it’s not just fly lines that have gotten more expensive. It’s everything else. And in addition, we now utilize technology that didn’t exist in 2009 but is now used to provide members and future fly fishers with all the tools they need to be successful. These include our monthly Zoom sessions on casting and fly tying, as well as our extensive video library. FFI member benefits are at an all-time high.
There’s no denying that if FFI were a larger organization, with more members and bigger sponsors, that we could forestall dues increases for a couple more years. Growing membership is a goal we are currently working on. In order for FFI to become a more powerful voice for conservation – as a large majority of fly anglers urge – we need to grow membership by a factor of 10 or more. To do this, we need to transform from a bottom-up organization (as most hobby NPOs) to a top-down organization. It won’t be an easy change, and it won’t happen quickly.
Meanwhile, these dues changes allow us to continue investing in the programs, education, and community connections that define FFI, while supporting long-term financial stability and our strategic vision.
We’re deeply grateful for the continued support and commitment from our members to the fly fishing community and to conservation. Thank you for being part of Fly Fishers International.
