Contributed by our own Barry Stokes
The Haig-Brown Fly Fishing Association of Victoria B.C. was officially formed in March of 1977 by a group of anglers "who wanted to bring together a group devoted to fly fishing, who could exchange experiences, savour companionship of those with similar interests, fish together and enjoy themselves".
Original aims of the Club were "not to oppose those who fish by other methods, but rather to attempt to convince them that fly fishing is more challenging, more rewarding and often a more productive method of angling, to interest young people in the sport, hold classes where they and others can learn the basics of fly fishing and make a wider contribution to the advancement of the sport”.
Initial organizational discussions included seeking advice from established Clubs and organizations such as the Totems and the Osprey Clubs of Vancouver B.C., Olympic Fly Fishers of Washington State, the Federation of Fly Fishers and the B.C. Federation of Fly Fishers.
When choosing a name for the Club, permission to call the Club "The Haig-Brown Fly Fishing Association" was asked of and granted by the widow of Roderick Haig-Brown, Mrs. Anne Haig-Brown.
The first elected Executive of the Club were President - Mike Dunne, Vice President - Barney Kent, Secretary - Garry Stewart, Treasurer - Ron Lovatt and Newsletter - Dick Gosling. The first official Club outing was held on October 1, 1977, to Council Lake in the Sooke Watershed Area, 10 members attended. The HBFFA was officially registered as a Society in 1981.
Over the years, many excellent guest speakers from all aspects of the fishing community have entertained the Club. Among the more notable guests have been Steve Rajeff, Mike and Denise Maxwell, Ehor Boyanowsky, the late Hugh Falkus, Valerie Haig-Brown, Brian Chan, Phil Rowley and Peter Morrison, not to exclude the many Club members both past and present who are experts in their own right. Annual Club events include a fund-raising auction, the Lorne Barrett Cowichan River Drift, Christmas Banquet and Awards, Summer Barbeque, an in-house Fly Tying Competition and B.C. Interior fishouts.
The Club has participated in a number of conservation efforts over the years, including a Steelhead study on the Goldstream River, stream and bank rehabilitation and fish population surveys on Sandhill and Shady Creek for sea-run cutthroat trout, dam maintenance on Forebay Lake in the Jordan River area, letter writing campaigns on fly-fishing related subjects and participation in outdoor shows and conservation symposiums.
During its history, the Club has met at a total of six different venues before finding our present home at the Chief and Petty Officer’s Mess facility at CFB Esquimalt. Over the years the Club has amassed a substantial library including both fly-fishing books and videos.
The members of the HBFFA and the Club as a group support other organizations such as the B.C. Federation of Fly Fishers, the Pacific Salmon Foundation, and other fly fishing clubs by attending and donating to their fund raising activities. The Club affiliations at present are the B.C. Federation of Fly Fishers and the Amalgamated Conservation Society.
The Club also holds regular Fly Tying nights where both old and new members, expert, intermediate or novice tiers can get together in a relaxed atmosphere to pass on tips, learn fly tying techniques and how to tie specific patterns.
Original aims of the Club were "not to oppose those who fish by other methods, but rather to attempt to convince them that fly fishing is more challenging, more rewarding and often a more productive method of angling, to interest young people in the sport, hold classes where they and others can learn the basics of fly fishing and make a wider contribution to the advancement of the sport”.
Initial organizational discussions included seeking advice from established Clubs and organizations such as the Totems and the Osprey Clubs of Vancouver B.C., Olympic Fly Fishers of Washington State, the Federation of Fly Fishers and the B.C. Federation of Fly Fishers.
When choosing a name for the Club, permission to call the Club "The Haig-Brown Fly Fishing Association" was asked of and granted by the widow of Roderick Haig-Brown, Mrs. Anne Haig-Brown.
The first elected Executive of the Club were President - Mike Dunne, Vice President - Barney Kent, Secretary - Garry Stewart, Treasurer - Ron Lovatt and Newsletter - Dick Gosling. The first official Club outing was held on October 1, 1977, to Council Lake in the Sooke Watershed Area, 10 members attended. The HBFFA was officially registered as a Society in 1981.
Over the years, many excellent guest speakers from all aspects of the fishing community have entertained the Club. Among the more notable guests have been Steve Rajeff, Mike and Denise Maxwell, Ehor Boyanowsky, the late Hugh Falkus, Valerie Haig-Brown, Brian Chan, Phil Rowley and Peter Morrison, not to exclude the many Club members both past and present who are experts in their own right. Annual Club events include a fund-raising auction, the Lorne Barrett Cowichan River Drift, Christmas Banquet and Awards, Summer Barbeque, an in-house Fly Tying Competition and B.C. Interior fishouts.
The Club has participated in a number of conservation efforts over the years, including a Steelhead study on the Goldstream River, stream and bank rehabilitation and fish population surveys on Sandhill and Shady Creek for sea-run cutthroat trout, dam maintenance on Forebay Lake in the Jordan River area, letter writing campaigns on fly-fishing related subjects and participation in outdoor shows and conservation symposiums.
During its history, the Club has met at a total of six different venues before finding our present home at the Chief and Petty Officer’s Mess facility at CFB Esquimalt. Over the years the Club has amassed a substantial library including both fly-fishing books and videos.
The members of the HBFFA and the Club as a group support other organizations such as the B.C. Federation of Fly Fishers, the Pacific Salmon Foundation, and other fly fishing clubs by attending and donating to their fund raising activities. The Club affiliations at present are the B.C. Federation of Fly Fishers and the Amalgamated Conservation Society.
The Club also holds regular Fly Tying nights where both old and new members, expert, intermediate or novice tiers can get together in a relaxed atmosphere to pass on tips, learn fly tying techniques and how to tie specific patterns.