About the Kamloops Fly Fishers

The Kamloops Fly Fishers Association (KFFA) is made up of Volunteers that practice and promote fly-fishing in the lakes and rivers in and around the Kamloops area of British Columbia. Our Vision is to ensure a future that sustains accessible, quality fly-fishing for all. We believe that fly-fishing increases personal wellbeing and knowledge, as well as encourages respect for our environment that achieves a positive conservation outcome for all.

The Kamloops Fly Fishers Association (KFFA) was started in 1972 by Tony Ruck and Wade Chernencoff. Dinner meetings were held at the Village Hotel (which is being torn down and turned into social housing) the third Wednesday of each month. The first Executive was President: Wade Chernencoff, Vice-President Barry Beaton, Treasurer Wayne Yoshida, and Secretary Tony Ruck. In 1972 we had a fishout with the Totems at Roche Lake and this was an Annual fishout. At this same time there was an International Fishout at Peterhope Lake. Several Members met in November for a steelhead fishout on the Thompson River with very limited success. Dues were $10.00.

We were registered as a Society in December 1974.

In 1975 dues were increased to $15.00 and the reason given was “inflation spiral”. It looks like the food wasn’t very good at the Village Hotel so we moved to the Highlander Restaurant. The Constitution was ratified in 1975.

In April 1975 Tony Ruck started a fly fishing club in Kelowna which became the Lonely Loons. Doug Porter our President attended one of the early meetings of the Lonely Loons on September 3^rd. Discussions were held about the admission of Ladies into the club. The first two Ladies were Marion Ross & Karen Chernencoff.

1976 dues were $20.00 (2024 Single $60.00, Family $75.00), Liability insurance $50.00, Memberships FFF-$29.00 BCWF-$87.00 (2024 Liability insurance & BCWF dues $1,760.00) and BCCFF-$58.00 (2024 $310.00).

1976 Members has name tags which we still do. The Club had a bottle drive to raise money for the Liability Insurance…they raised $72.00 which was more than enough to cover it.

1977 dinner at the Highlander Restaurant cost $5.00 and that included a tip for Dorothy the waitress. We currently have our meetings at the Shanghai Mandarin Restaurant and we try and keep the cost to under $25.00 per person including tip.

It was apparent right from the start the Membership was active.  They were having fish outs at the lakes we do now Peterhope, Roche etc. and work parties at John Frank, Tulip Lakes the Roche Lake Plan was being formalized, Method sessions which were held at Members house (now we have Fly Tying 101/Method Sessions at the Henry Grube Centre or The Fly Shop @ Domenics Marine once a month) and Casting Lessons at Riverside Park.

Lefty Kreh was the first Honorary Member in 1978. 

We have built punts

Of our current Membership Sinc Dalgleish became a Member June 1976 and Sandy MacDonald became a Member in 1978. Sinc is on our Paul Lake Boat Launch Committee and Sandy is on the SFAB…both still active. 

The monthly newsletter was the primary way to get information out to the Members. At the monthly dinner meetings fishing reports were given by each one in attendance with some of them being printed in the newsletter. Now we have our web page https://www.kamloopsflyfishers.org/ that is our primary method of getting the message out to our Members and also the public. Email & text messages to. We have started a Facebook page to provide information to the public on our Club.

We have a group of Anglers that go to Andros Island in the Bahamas. We chased bone fish successfully, but we have provided fly tying equipment and lessons for several youths. Books were taken and distributed to three of the elementary schools near the lodge.

Probably the most note worthy Member is Brian Chan who has several books to his credit as well as his https://www.stillwaterflyfishingstore.com/ as well as his many YouTube presentations. Peter McVey the master Bamboo Rod Maker was a Member. Ron Newman wrote a book “Rainbow Trout Fly Fishing, A guide for Still Waters”. Ken Strand wrote a book with Gordon Honey. Rick Passek wrote the books The Freshman FlyFisher and The Freshman FlyFishers Insect Guide. Doug Porter’s Drifter pattern can be found in Contemporary Fly Patterns of B. C. Region 5. & The Drifter fly pattern was talked about in the early newsletters.

Our biggest loss was when Hermann Fischer passed away. His obituary is in Fly Lines. He exemplified what our Club stands for Members helping Members.  I’ve mentioned people that Anglers know of or have heard of but this doesn’t diminish the contributions by all our past and current Members.

Currently we have 80 Members ranging in age from 12-85 years old. (As of 2025)

We have casting lessons for our Members just before ice off.

In November each year we have our Rod Building Sessions at the Henry Grube Centre that 15+ Members and New Members attend. Rod building kit cost under $300.00, and you’ve got an excellent fly rod. We have an annual ice fishing events where we have a hot dog over a fire and share some good old fun.

We welcome all new members no matter your expertise as we’re all learning, that’s why we call our fly tying classes “Fly Tying 101/Method Session”. We not only tie flies, but we talk about where and how to fish them.