The Catskill Fly Fishing Center Inc

What The Catskill Fly Fishing Center Inc does

The Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum (CFFCM) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operating a 53-acre museum campus on the banks of the Willowemoc Creek in Livingston Manor, New York, dedicated to preserving the heritage of fly fishing in the Catskill Mountains and educating the next generation of anglers and conservationists. Founded in 1979 and incorporated in 1981, the organization holds stewardship over Junction Pool (the confluence of the Beaver Kill and Willowemoc) and operates a museum, the Wulff Gallery and Heritage Craft Center, a fully operational bamboo rod making shop (the Cane Rod Shop), casting fields, a trail system, and a Welcome Center with a gift shop and book shop. Revenue is generated through a diversified mix of streams including museum admission ($12/person), individual memberships ($40/year), gift shop and book shop merchandise sales, paid programs and workshops (Bamboo Rod Builders Workshop at $1,300-$1,600, Rodmakers Library digital access at $75, Fly Fest at $10), corporate sponsorships (three tiers from $250 to $5,000+), donations and planned giving, commemorative offerings (Adopt-a-Bench from $3,000, Sponsor-a-Plaque at $500), and annual fundraising events (Annual Dinner, Catch & Conserve Dinner, Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony).

The organization serves a hybrid customer base consisting of fly fishing enthusiasts and hobbyist anglers seeking heritage and craft education, youth and families participating in field trips and after-school programs, K-12 school groups aligned with NYS Learning Standards, donors and philanthropic supporters of conservation and heritage causes, and a network of local and regional corporate sponsors. Programming operates year-round with peak visitation and revenue concentrated in the April through December operating season; the facility closes December through April 1 for winter. Youth education is delivered free of charge to students and is supported in part by grants from the New York State Council on the Arts, Bass Pro Shops & Cabela's Outdoor Fund, and the Sullivan County Youth Bureau. Strategic partnerships with Trout Unlimited, the Catskill Fly Tyers Guild, Beamoc Trout Unlimited, the Roscoe Chamber of Commerce, and local lodging and dining establishments provide community reach and event co-hosting capacity. Distribution is primarily direct on-site visitation to the Livingston Manor campus, supplemented by an e-commerce storefront, an email newsletter, an active social media presence on Instagram and Facebook, a YouTube channel featuring virtual programs, and earned media through fly fishing publications and regional press. The center is governed by a Board of Trustees with Anthony J. Magardino as Board President and Laura Colangelo as Director of Operations; no private equity, venture capital, or institutional investor ownership is indicated.

Name

The Catskill Fly Fishing Center Inc

Legal name

The Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum

Website

https://cffcm.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a 53-acre museum campus on the Willowemoc Creek in Livingston Manor, NY, preserving Catskill fly fishing heritage through exhibits, youth education, bamboo rod workshops, and community events for anglers, families, schools, donors, and corporate sponsors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Museum and Cultural Heritage Institution

NAICS

Museums (712110)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty Museums (e.g., Maritime, Aviation, Sports, Music, Film) (THAJADAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fly Fishing Specialty Retail (CRAMALAD), Lures, Flies & Terminal Tackle Specialty Retail (CRAMALAJ)

Keywords

• Fly fishing museum
• Heritage conservation
• Educational programs
• Bamboo rod making
• Nonprofit cultural center

Headquarters

HQ city

Livingston Manor

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Museum Admission: General admission to the museum and grounds. Admission is $12/person; children 5 and under are free. Members receive free admission.
2. Membership Fees: Annual membership with tiered options. Membership includes free museum admission, reduced rates for select programs, and 10% off in-store gift shop purchases. Transitioned from calendar year to rolling annual renewal.
3. Gift Shop and Merchandise Sales: On-site and online gift shop selling hats, apparel, bags, stickers, hatch charts, and branded merchandise. Books and fly fishing literature sold through the book shop. Bamboo fly rods also sold through the Cane Rod Shop.
4. Book Shop: Sale of new and gently used fly fishing books, first editions, signed copies, and Catskill literature.
5. Donations and Fundraising: General donations, memorial donations, planned giving, and endowment fund contributions. Corporate sponsorships at multiple giving levels ($250-$999, $1,000-$4,999, $5,000+). Annual fundraising events including Annual Dinner and NYC dinner.
6. Programs and Classes: Revenue from paid programs including the Bamboo Rod Builders Workshop ($1,600), Fly Tying Series, Rodmakers Library digital access ($75), and special events like Fly Fest ($10).
7. Sponsorships and Plaques: Railing plaque sponsorship at $500 and bench adoption starting at $3,000, providing commemorative naming opportunities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Catskill Fly Fishing Center Inc is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit museum and heritage organization that preserves the history, craft, and traditions of American fly fishing. It operates a 53-acre campus with indoor exhibits in the Wulff Gallery, heritage craft workshops including bamboo rod building, a research Rodmakers Library, youth and adult educational programs, and a gift shop. The Center is the steward of the Junction Pool of Willowemoc Creek and the surrounding Beaverkill watershed and runs year-round programs, events, and venue rentals.

Product overview

The Catskill Fly Fishing Center & Museum (CFFCM) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operating a unified multi-faceted visitor destination and educational institution dedicated to preserving fly fishing heritage in the Catskills. The core offering is the physical museum campus (~53 acres along the Willowemoc Creek in Livingston Manor, NY), which combines a world-class museum and Fly Fishing Hall of Fame with active educational programming. The product portfolio includes: the main museum and Wulff Gallery & Heritage Craft Center (which houses an operational bamboo rod making shop — the Cane Rod Shop — and multi-purpose educational spaces); a Gift Shop selling branded apparel and accessories; a Book Shop specializing in fly fishing literature; a Membership Program providing free admission and member benefits; Youth Education Programs including school field trips, after-school fly fishing/fly tying/rod building classes, and summer programming (all free to students); the Bamboo Rod Building Workshop as a paid intensive class; the Rodmakers Library as a digital video product ($75); program/event sign-ups for workshops and festivals; and ancillary offerings such as venue rental, corporate sponsorship, Adopt-a-Bench, and Sponsor-a-Plaque. All offerings collectively serve to educate anglers and conservationists, preserve the heritage of Catskill fly fishing, and support the sustainability of the regional ecosystem.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Catskill Fly Fishing Center & Museum Campus 53-acre wooded museum campus open seasonally with indoor interpretive exhibits, outdoor heritage buildings, walking trails along Willowemoc Creek, and access to the Junction Pool — designed for fly fishing enthusiasts, families, heritage tourists, and school groups.
• Wulff Gallery & Heritage Craft Center Indoor exhibit hall housing the Irwin A. Barr vintage fishing tackle and aviation art collection, plus displays of rods, reels, flies, and tackle from 1870s to 1960s — open to museum visitors.
• Cane Rod Shop Working bamboo rod shop where volunteer master rodmakers plan, repair, and build bamboo rods — visible to visitors during operating hours and used for hands-on workshops.
• Rodmakers Library Research library of thousands of volumes, bound periodicals, and tackle manufacturer catalogs available to rodmakers, researchers, and visiting enthusiasts for on-site reference and study.
• Bamboo Rod Building Workshop Paid hands-on workshop in which participants learn to build a bamboo fly rod using the Center's Garrison-Carmichael equipment and instruction from master rodmakers.
• Youth and Adult Educational Programs Educational programs covering stream ecology, fly fishing, and conservation, including the Trout in the Classroom aquarium curriculum, J. Paul Taylor Stream Studies, women's introduction to fly fishing, and Boy/Girl Scout programs.
• Annual Museum Membership Tiered annual membership program with individual, family, and corporate levels providing free admission and a subscription to The Catskill Country magazine.
• Gift Shop On-site and online retail store selling branded apparel, prints, gift cards, and accessories related to the Center's fly fishing heritage.
• Book Shop Specialty book retail offering curated titles on fly tying, casting, angling history, bamboo rodmaking, and Catskills streamers — available on-site and online.
• Bamboo Rod Kits and Parts Store Online retail storefront selling bamboo rod kits, components, blanks, and tackle supplies for hobbyist rodbuilders.
• Corporate Sponsorship Program Tiered corporate sponsorship program offering Patron ($5,000), Founder ($10,000), Heritage Circle ($25,000-plus), and Custom levels with acknowledgement on the website and donor walls, event recognition, and brand visibility.
• Venue Rental On-campus venue rental for corporate events, private functions, and member-only celebrations at the Catskills museum campus.
• Sponsor a Railing Plaque Named-tribute program for a $200 contribution placing a personalized plaque along the Center's campus railings, in honor or memory of a loved one.
• Adopt a Bench Program Donor program funding permanent benches with named recognition along the Willowemoc Creek walkways on the museum campus.

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Catskill Provisions DistilleryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of the Catskill Fly Fishing Center & Museum. Listed among 13 local and regional business sponsors providing financial support, brand affiliation, and community engagement.
• Dette FliesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of the Catskill Fly Fishing Center & Museum. Dette Flies is a Catskill-based fly tying materials company.
• Gaelic SuprememinorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of the Catskill Fly Fishing Center & Museum.
• Garnet HealthminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of the Catskill Fly Fishing Center & Museum.
• Guardian RevivalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of the Catskill Fly Fishing Center & Museum.
• The JunctionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of the Catskill Fly Fishing Center & Museum. The Junction is a venue in Roscoe, NY.
• Old SoulsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of the Catskill Fly Fishing Center & Museum.
• Resorts World CatskillsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of the Catskill Fly Fishing Center & Museum.
• Roscoe Chamber of CommercecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor and community partner. Collaborates on events such as First Cast at Junction Pool and Trout about Town Scavenger Hunt during Opening Weekend. Represents the local business community.
• Roscoe MotelminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of the Catskill Fly Fishing Center & Museum.
• The Rose Cottage in DebruceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of the Catskill Fly Fishing Center & Museum. B&B featured in The New Fly Fisher television episode filmed at the Center.
• Tailwater SoapminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of the Catskill Fly Fishing Center & Museum.
• West Kill BrewingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of the Catskill Fly Fishing Center & Museum.
• Trout UnlimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCFFCM is a proud sponsor of Trout Unlimited's 'Trout in the Classroom' educational program in local schools. Also sponsors the Beamoc Trout Unlimited chapter (relaunched under CFFCM leadership). TU partnership provides access to conservation network and supports the center's educational mission.
• NYS Council on the Arts (NYSCA)coreOthersFunding for CFFCM is provided in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature.
• Catskill Fly Tyers GuildcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of fly tying events, Saturday Fly Tying Series, and Fly Tyers Rendezvous. The Guild holds regular meetings at the CFFCM Wulff Gallery. Joint programming includes Fly Tyers Roundtable hosted in partnership with Mid Hudson Trout Unlimited and Beamoc Trout Unlimited.
• Mid Hudson Trout UnlimitedminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Fly Tyers Roundtable event along with Catskill Fly Tyers Guild and Beamoc Trout Unlimited.
• Beamoc Trout UnlimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrout Unlimited chapter under the CFFCM's stewardship, relaunched in 2024. Led by Judy Van Put (President), Laura Colangelo (Vice President), Don Borelli (Treasurer), and Rachael Yaeger (Secretary). Focuses on conservation and stewardship of Catskill rivers and fish. CFFCM acts as the parent organization for the first year.
• Smok'd CatskillsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the 20th Annual Fly Fishing Film Tour (F3T) event at CFFCM.
• Guide Ambassador InitiativeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFresh membership campaign initiative developed to engage fishing guides as ambassadors for the center and drive new member acquisition.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Bass Pro Shops: Outdoor recreation retailer that, through the Cabela's Outdoor Fund, is a current CFFCM youth-program funder. Comparable as a broad incumbent in outdoor/heritage retail and conservation philanthropy relevant to CFFCM's sponsorship and youth-education streams.
• Orvis: Founded in Manchester, VT — also a birthplace hub of American dry fly fishing — Orvis operates a fly fishing heritage retail store and visitor experience alongside a broad catalog of rods, reels, apparel, and fly fishing schools. It is a much larger commercial incumbent with overlapping heritage DNA and fly fishing retail that competes for CFFCM's audience and corporate-sponsorship dollars.

Regional players

• Catskill Watershed Corporation: Regional nonprofit overseeing watershed protection, water-quality programs, and education in the Catskills. Comparable as a regional peer protecting the same watershed ecosystem that underpins CFFCM's trout fishing mission and educational programs.
• Catskill Mountain Club: Regional nonprofit focused on outdoor recreation, conservation, and trail access in the Catskill Mountains. Comparable as a regional peer serving similar visitors and advocating for Catskill outdoor heritage, though focused on hiking/recreation rather than fishing specifically.

Others

• Fly Fishers International: National fly fishing education and conservation organization promoting catch-and-release, casting, and heritage. Mission-adjacent peer operating educational programming, conventions, and certification that overlap with CFFCM's heritage and education mandate.
• Trout Unlimited: National coldwater conservation nonprofit that partners with CFFCM on Trout in the Classroom and the Beamoc TU chapter. Comparable as a fly-fishing-adjacent conservation mission organization and a major funder/channel partner rather than a competitor.
• Delaware River Basin Commission: Interstate-federal commission managing water quality, allocation, and conservation in the Delaware River basin (named American Rivers' River of the Year 2020). Comparable as an ecosystem steward whose work directly affects the Catskill/Delaware trout fishery that CFFCM's mission is built around.

Direct peers

• American Museum of Fly Fishing: A 501(c)(3) museum in Manchester, VT dedicated to preserving the heritage of fly fishing, with collections, exhibits, and educational programming. This is the most direct comparable to CFFCM in mission, structure, and visitor experience.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC3mDNZT1_sIsOqgD5Ob8SMg
• Facebookfacebook.com/CFFCM
• Instagraminstagram.com/catskillflyfishingmuseum
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/catskill-fly-fishing-center-museum

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Catskill Fly Fishing Center Inc