About the Buckeye United Fly Fishers

Introduction to the Buckeye United Fly Fishers

History –

Buckeye United Fly Fishers is a non-profit organization located in Cincinnati, Ohio, organized under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, incorporated in the State of Ohio for the preservation, conservation, and wise use of our fishing waters and game fish and to assist in the protection and improvement of our natural resources.

BUFF has been in existence since 1975 and a major influence in the popularity of fly fishing in the greater Cincinnati/Tri-State area. The inception of the club was prompted by a local fishing shop called Mickey Finn’s—long since out of business. Several formation meetings were held in the office of Ron Smith who came up with the name BUFF. The “B” stood for either Buckeye or Bluegrass to cover all bases. The club was officially incorporated in 1977.

A decade later, membership had boomed. To facilitate logistics and better manage future growth, a sister club was formed—the Northern Kentucky Fly Fishers. The two clubs are autonomous but freely participate in each other’s programs.

BUFF is an affiliate club of Fly Fishers International and a member of the Ohio Council of the FFI. Our members also actively support the local Trout Unlimited chapter—TU Mad River.

Cincinnati is conveniently located within several hours drive to many of the country’s prime warm and cold water fishing streams. We also have many prime warm water and some cold water fisheries here locally.

Club Activities –

Fishing Trips – BUFF organizes travel fly fishing trips primarily for bass, trout, and steelhead. The objective of the trips is to provide fishing experiences and exposure to people, places, methods and equipment for new and experienced fly fishers. Recent trips have taken us to Indiana, Kentucky, Northern Ohio, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, West Virginia, and New York.

Training – Members helping members is the strength of our club. Club veterans, without hesitation, freely share their experience. Club volunteers conduct beginner, intermediate, and advanced fly tying classes, casting classes, rod building classes, and landing nets building classes. In addition, specialized classes covering advanced casting techniques are taught by BUFF experts, augmented by local guides and outfitters.

Social – The club has monthly dinner meetings with fly fishing presentations and an annual banquet to recognize club volunteers. In addition, there are frequent informal fly tying and fishing get togethers by club members.

Women’s Programs – BUFF has a very active women’s program, featuring numerous trips and activities geared toward getting more women into fly fishing. The club has had leading women experts featured at club events providing fly fishing presentations and casting instructions. Recent guest presenters and demonstrators include Susan Thrasher, Wanda Taylor, Charity Rutter, and Ann Miller.

Community Service –

BUFF annually donates time and resources to numerous conservation activities conducted by state and local soil and water organizations, land and stream conservancies, and Trout Unlimited projects.

BUFF provides fly fishing related instruction to local schools, scout organizations, veteran’s groups, and health rehabilitation organizations in the region.

In addition to donating our time, BUFF makes monetary donations to agencies which make fishing accessible to the handicapped and to organizations assisting people recovering from cancer.

Conservation –

BUFF is committed to the conservation and preservation of our environment. BUFF annually donates money to approved conservation organizations. In recent years, BUFF has made donations to the Little Miami Conservancy, Rivers Unlimited, Three Rivers Conservation Trust, Izaak Walton League, Anglers of the Au Sable, Mad River Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Ohio River Foundation, and the Mill Creek Alliance.

BUFF members actively engage in local stream quality monitoring to provide data needed to ensure the vitality of our streams and wildlife. We also participate in local stream restoration activities, including habitat restoration and erosion control.

Education –

The club has a wealth of accumulated knowledge, both in its members and in our publications—the BUFFER monthly online newsletter and our website: www.buckeyflyfishers.com. The website is the club repository of archived articles, fly tying instructions, Fly Fishing 101 information, and club calendar information.

BUFF also maintains an extensive library of books and dvd’s for check out by members. The library is brought to each monthly dinner meeting.

Member Services –

The BUFF website offers a number of online services to assist members with membership renewal, trip and activity registration, local fishing access, ordering logo apparel, a member directory, and a library catalog.

Fly Fishing Show and Banquet –

As part of our ongoing educational program to our members and the public, BUFF sponsors the Greater Cincinnati Fly Fishing Show every February. The intent is to educate and inform the general public on the sport of fly fishing and provide an opportunity for individuals new to the sport to learn about equipment, places, techniques, and people related to fly fishing, conservation, and education. The show hosts presentations and demonstrations by business professionals and exhibits by manufacturers, guides, fly shops and other entities related to fly fishing. Over the years, the show has hosted numerous nationally recognized speakers.

Each spring, the club holds a fund-raising banquet featuring raffles and auctions of equipment, materials, trips, and services. The annual banquet showcases club leadership and recognizes and celebrates club volunteers.

The Buckeye United Fly Fishers, Inc is a non-profit corporation organized under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, incorporated in the State of Ohio
for the preservation, conservation and wise use of our fishing waters and game fish; and to assist in the protection and improvement of our natural resources