Salty Flyrodders of New York

Welcome to the Salty

The Salty Flyrodders of New York are the oldest saltwater fly-fishing club in the country. Meetings are held at VFW Post 9592, and club gatherings have included guest speakers such as Henry Cowen and Bill Cox, virtual seminars on tarpon with Michael Mauri, and holiday parties. A “Salty Re-Boot” notice posted on June 7, 2021 described the club’s dormancy since the pandemic declaration in 2020 and the plan to bring it back together.

Captain David Blinken, a Coast Guard licensed and certified casting instructor from the Federation of Fly Fishers, has led club presentations on seasonal fishing such as “Seasons on the East End.”

The Salty Flyrodders of New York began at the very start of saltwater fly fishing in the country, gathering a community of anglers who wanted to share technique, gear knowledge, and the simple pleasure of chasing fish in coastal water. What started as a small circle of fishermen meeting regularly has grown into a club with a long memory, a packed calendar of events, and a reputation among readers as one of the most established saltwater fly-fishing organizations anywhere.

Regular meetings anchor the club's calendar, typically hosted at VFW Post 9592, where members sit down together to trade stories, watch demonstrations, and talk through the seasonal conditions along the beach and near the river mouth. Over the years the format has shifted with the times, moving between in-person gatherings and virtual meetings hosted over Zoom, but the underlying rhythm of sharing knowledge has stayed the same.

Guest speakers have long been a highlight of the program, with noted figures in the sport such as Henry Cowen and Bill Cox addressing members at past gatherings. These evenings blend instruction with storytelling, giving attendees a chance to hear how accomplished fly casters approach the ever-changing saltwater environment and to pick up practical ideas for their own time on the water.

Virtual seminars have expanded the club's reach well beyond its home waters, including a well-received session on tarpon with Michael Mauri. Online instruction made it possible to bring specialists into the room when travel was difficult, and it also allowed more members to participate, particularly during the pandemic years when in-person gatherings were limited and many anglers were separated by distance.

The annual Community Conclave remains the centerpiece of the club's year, a gathering that brings together saltwater fly anglers from across the region for education, casting clinics, pattern sharing, and fellowship. Around that event the club organizes smaller workshops too, including casting instruction and technique sessions, so that beginners and seasoned casters alike can find something useful and a welcoming atmosphere in which to learn.

Pattern recipes are among the most requested topics within the membership. Fly tying for saltwater species demands durable materials, careful choices of hook and hackle, and a good working knowledge of what fish are feeding on in changing water. Club members trade their own proven patterns, discuss seasonal variations, and work through the details of packing, presentation, and the behavior of fish once a fly is in the water.

Life at the Salty Flyrodders extends far beyond the fly line. Holiday parties and social gatherings keep members connected, and the club posts timely notices so that everyone stays aware of what is coming up. A notice about a "Salty Re-Boot" posted in June 2021 described the careful thinking required to restart activities, preserve limited resources, and ensure the organization survived a tough period with its traditions intact.

The club's guiding spirit can be summed up with a line borrowed from the ancient philosopher Heraclitus: no one steps in the same river twice, and the world is continually flowing. For a saltwater fly-fishing club, that idea fits perfectly. Fish move, tides shift, weather changes, and conditions that worked last month may fail next season, so members keep learning, keep adapting, and keep meeting to share what worked before heading back to the water.

From the Water

Flies, boats and shoreline scenes that come up in club conversations, meetings and Conclave presentations.

Friends of the Club

Organizations and resources club members reference, including fly fishing schools, federations, outfitters and regional expos.