Who We Are
The Salty Flyrodders of New York is the oldest saltwater fly-fishing club in the country. The club grew out of a shared enthusiasm for chasing fish on the fly in coastal waters, and has kept that focus through decades of seasons, speakers, and shared trips.
Members meet regularly at VFW Post 9592, where guest speakers, club business, and fly-tying sessions take place. Meetings have also been hosted on the water and at outfitters' shops, and seminars have been run online with visiting anglers such as Michael Mauri on tarpon fishing.
Instruction comes from working guides and certified casters. Captain David Blinken is a Coast Guard licensed and certified casting instructor from the Federation of Fly Fishers, and has presented sessions on seasons along the East End.
The Salty Flyrodders of New York began as a handful of fishermen sharing a fascination with casting a fly into saltwater, and that simple enthusiasm has carried the club through generations of changing tides. What started as informal gatherings around a table of flies and stories has grown into a recognized saltwater fly-fishing organization with a devoted membership, a calendar of events, and a calendar of shared trips. The club's identity remains tied to its original purpose: bringing together people who enjoy pursuing tarpon, snook, striped bass, and other coastal species on the fly.
Learning is central to the club's character, and members take part in instruction offered by working guides and certified educators as well as seminars led by visiting anglers. Sessions on casting loops, fly patterns, knot tying, and packing for the beach equip newcomers and sharpen experienced casters alike. Fly-tying nights at the meeting hall turn technique into practice, while online meetings expanded the club's reach when in-person gatherings were interrupted. Guest speakers, shared trips, and conversations with outfitters have become a steady rhythm of the season.
Regular meetings at the VFW Post give the club a consistent place to gather for club business, guest presentations, and fly-tying work, with additional gatherings hosted on the water and at outfitters' shops. Beyond fishing, the club keeps an eye on conservation and the health of the waters its members fish, encouraging careful handling of fish and respect for the resource. What endures is the fellowship: fishermen who cast together, share meals and recipes, trade stories of difficult conditions, and return each season hopeful that the next cast will land.
What We Do
Three things sit at the heart of club life: learning, tying, and gathering together each season.
Learn
Article-based education on casting technique for salt water, leader connections such as the Perfection Loop, and the craft of tying.
EducationTie
Step-by-step recipes for club and coastal patterns, including the Simple Tan Crab and other proven flies.
RecipesGather
Monthly meetings, guest seminars, holiday parties, and the annual Community Conclave with a full program and packing list.
ConclaveClub Facts
- NameSalty Flyrodders of New York
- ClaimThe oldest saltwater fly-fishing club in the country
- Meeting placeVFW Post 9592
- Annual eventThe Community Conclave, with a published packing list and program
- Key sectionsEducation, Fly Pattern Recipes, and Events
Join Us at the Next Meeting
Meetings are held at VFW Post 9592. Review the schedule of club events and seminars, then get in touch with the club if you would like to attend or ask about the membership application form.