RBFF in the News

From casting to setting the hook, I quickly learned that fly fishing bore little resemblance to my prior experiences fishing. Compared with conventional fishing—which requires a wide range of baits (worms, scallops, baitfish and the like)—fly fishing relies on flies crafted from feathers, fur, and other materials that mimic aquatic insects and much of the same prey we use in live-bait fishing.

Coaching and caring build confidence on the water. It fuels tenacity to keep trying, even in the face of adversity. In fact, recent data from the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation found that almost half of active female anglers say that fishing teaches them patience and helps to develop their confidence. I’m proof.

The Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation produces programs aimed at one thing: increasing participation in boating and fishing. Moreover, there is a volume of information and no-cost professionally produced resources available to all dealers through the RBFF.

With this information, the RBFF and its consumer brand, Take Me Fishing, created an integrated, consumer-facing marketing campaign: Find Your Best Self on the Water. It resonated well with women and men in testing. The campaign launched in May on different platforms across markets nationwide. It showed that women who fish are happier and healthier.

Similarly, it’s more important than ever that the Discover Boating outreach and the national “Take Me Fishing” campaigns of the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation continue to produce materials that dealers can use to feature the benefits of family boating. And dealers should use them. It’s a route to continued growth and profits.

“Vamos a Pescar” (Let’s Go Fishing) is a program associated with the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) in the U.S. RBFF is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting participation in recreational boating and fishing.

“From the executive level of manufacturers, associations, and dealerships to every other aspect of the industry, the entire 2023 class of Women Making Waves honorees continuously strive to better their organizations and the industry as a whole,” former Boating Industry editor-in-chief and ELEVATE master of ceremony, David Gee said during the awards. Click here to read all about the 2023 Women Making Waves honorees.

The Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF)'s "Find Your Best Self on the Water" campaign aims to fix my problem. The Take Me Fishing initiative hopes to raise awareness of the many very real benefits—like increased confidence, happiness, patience, and perseverance—fishing can have for women.

At the ASA Summit, everyone in the room has a vested interest in participation numbers growing so it makes sense that the first speakers in the general sessions spoke on the subject. Rob Southwick is president of Southwick Associates which is a research firm specializing in Sportfishing, hunting and the shooting industry. Stephanie Vatalero is SVP of Marketing and Communications for the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation and responsible for the organization’s consumer and stakeholder outreach, as well as their Take Me Fishing and Vamos A Pescar campaigns. Both groups do extensive surveys to measure participation and this year they delivered more good news for the fishing industry by reporting that participation is up by 9%.