"Our industry isn’t just about rods and reels; it’s about preserving clean water, wild places, and generational access. Losing public lands isn’t just an ecological loss; it’s cultural and economic self‑sabotage. America’s public lands are a public trust."

- Lucas Bissett  

As the national voice for the fly fishing industry, the American Fly Fishing Trade Association (AFFTA) stands firmly opposed to any proposal to sell off millions of acres of public lands, a move that threatens not just pristine wilderness but the lifeblood of our trade.

Public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service include some of America’s most treasured river corridors and high-mountain streams, which provide habitat for trout, salmon, steelhead, and the insects that sustain them. Under Senator Mike Lee’s proposal, up to 3 million acres could be divested over the next five years from a pool of over 250 million acres across 11 Western states.

The economic consequences are profound: fly fishing creates thousands of jobs and generates millions in revenue every year, from guiding, lodging, gear sales, and conservation partnerships. Selling public lands to developers, corporations, or private investors can jeopardize access, increase fees, erect barriers, or lead to outright closures. Once privatized, these resources are gone for good.

AFFTA champions healthy watersheds and wild landscapes, not fenced-off estates or homes built atop spawning grounds. Conservationists warn that this land sale plan “raises uncertainty about monument protections” and “poses severe impacts on wildlife, wildfire management, and conservation efforts.  Imagine trophy homes lining once-pristine rivers, with lawns and runoff degrading water quality and biodiversity.”

Budget reconciliation bills aren’t meant for auctioning public heritage. As the Center for Biological Diversity notes, this would be a “shameless ploy to sell off pristine public lands for trophy homes” under the guise of solving budget deficits.

What begins as the disposal of “underused” lands could accelerate into a sweeping trend, 3 million acres sold could easily spread beyond initial caps if left unchecked.

Supporters argue that this could generate housing near growth areas, but they concede that there is no mandate for affordable units and no protections against wealthy speculators or foreign buyers. As outdoorsmen and women, we know what happens when access is gated: fishermen, hunters, families, and guides are shut out.

Our mission extends far beyond the gear and experiences we sell. We're defending the public waters and wild spaces that sustain our sport and our communities. Public lands fuel our culture and economy, and losing them would be a betrayal of future generations.

AFFTA joins the numerous other trade associations, conservation groups, and outdoor businesses in urging lawmakers to preserve these wild places for fish, families, and future generations.