What is the American Museum of Fly Fishing (amff.org)?

Updated

The American Museum of Fly Fishing (AMFF) is a member-driven museum dedicated to preserving the history, people, places, and objects of fly fishing. Its website, amff.org, serves as both a visitor guide to its physical locations and a digital hub for fly fishing culture. If you want to explore the sport's heritage, browse a growing online collection, or find coldwater, saltwater, and warmwater fishing content in one place, this site is worth a look.

What the Museum Holds

AMFF has been preserving fly fishing history for more than 50 years. Its collection includes over 40,000 artifacts connected to fly fishing legends, U.S. presidents, and everyday anglers. The museum describes itself as striving to represent the entirety of fly fishing sport and culture, not just its most famous figures.

Where to Visit

The museum operates two physical locations:

Location What You'll Find
Manchester, Vermont The main campus, housing the core collection of angling history and artifacts
Springfield, Missouri The Leigh H. Perkins Hall at the Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium, featuring treasures from the permanent collection across 2,300+ square feet

The Vermont campus is described as accessible to all.

What the Website Offers

The site organizes fly fishing content into three main categories:

  • Trout & Salmon — classic coldwater fly fishing, from the biggest rivers to the smallest streams
  • Saltwater — fly fishing in estuaries and bluewater, whether you're casting a six-weight or a sixteen-weight
  • Warmwater — sweetwater fishing, noted for its accessibility and variety from coast to coast

Beyond these categories, AMFF provides a range of digital programs, including:

  • A members-only forum
  • An online screening room
  • Digital exhibits
  • Webinars
  • Conservation classes
  • An online collections database, which the museum is building to make its cataloged records publicly accessible

Membership and Support

AMFF is member-driven and relies on support to sustain and grow its mission. Membership offers exclusive benefits and lets you represent your fishery. The site directs interested visitors to learn more about membership options.

Who This Is For

  • Anglers and historians who want to explore the sport's material and cultural history
  • Researchers looking for a growing digital catalog of fly fishing artifacts
  • Travelers planning a visit to Manchester, Vermont, or Springfield, Missouri
  • Anyone interested in remote programming like webinars, digital exhibits, and conservation classes

If you're deciding whether to browse or visit, the site gives you a clear starting point: explore the three water-type sections online, check the events calendar, or plan a trip to one of the two museum locations.