The Indiana Flybrary Project: Merging Art, Fishing, and Conservation

With: jeffpassdesigns

We recently caught up with Jeff, the driving force behind the Indiana Flybrary Project. What started as a passion for fly fishing and woodworking has evolved into a community-driven effort to inspire more people to explore the sport. In this interview, Jeff shares how the Flybrary Project blends local artistry, conservation, and accessibility to help others discover the joys of fly fishing while supporting local craftsmen.

Jeff, can you tell us about the moment you came up with the idea for the Flybrary Project and what motivated you to bring it to life here in Indiana?

I’ve been an avid fisherman all my life. Since retiring from the Army, I knew I wanted to spend more time on the water and share my passion for fishing with my family. My wife and I signed up for Orvis’ free fly fishing lessons and became “hooked” and now we’re Fly Fishing addicts; Fly fishing became my weekly escape. But when I first started, it felt like I needed a PhD in jargon, the techniques, the flies. Luckily, I found a welcoming community willing to share tips without charging tuition. Realizing my friends had the same apprehensions, I wanted to merge my love for woodworking and art to ease that intimidation for others. I stumbled upon Tailer Trash Fly Fishing’s Flybrary Project and loved the concept and thought, this is something that I could expand within my community and involve my friends within the art community in. And so, the “Indiana Flybrary Project” was born, combining local artistry and craftsmanship with a passion for conservation.

As someone who cares deeply about both conservation and the arts, how do you think the Flybrary Project can benefit the community beyond just providing flies to anglers?

Art and angling both ignite passion and connection. My aim is to showcase the tireless conservation efforts happening behind the scenes and make sure everyone knows about these local treasures. Each Flybrary box is aimed to honor a local woodworker, artist, fly maker, and fishing guide. It’s about breaking down the barriers that keep people from trying fly fishing and making community resources more accessible while getting the community involved and excited about fly fishing. I want folks to see that they can pursue what makes them happy, no matter where they are in life. Plus, the boxes offer spots to donate poles to those in need—a little help for those who might be hesitant about the initial cost. It’s an honor to have artists and woodworkers create permanent installations in high-traffic public areas, sparking both interest and pride. I hope that these boxes will spark either a new passion for fishing, art, or woodworking to those who stumble across them while bringing a spotlight on those individuals whose boxes are honoring.

How have your collaborations with organizations like Tailer Trash Fishing, Orvis, Trout Unlimited, and Friends of the White River influenced the development of the Flybrary Project, and what role do these partnerships play in its success?

Working with these amazing organizations has really cemented my pride in our community. It’s like assembling an all-star team of conservation crusaders. Tailer Trash Fly Fishing offered the blueprint for growth and networking, while Friends of the White River and Trout Unlimited brought in fresh ideas and much-needed manpower. These partnerships lend legitimacy and add a jolt of excitement to the project. It’s been rewarding to connect so many good-hearted people with a shared mission, especially with the support from local art groups like Noblesville Creates and Hamilton County Artists Association.

What obstacles have you faced in securing approval from local parks departments and municipalities like Zionsville and Noblesville, and how have you navigated these challenges?

The biggest hurdle has been finding the right contacts—Noblesville Parks, for instance, are split between city and county, which means double the approvals. I’m pretty stubborn when it comes to my ideas, so when I wasn’t getting responses, I started knocking on doors, sending emails, DMs on Instagram, making calls, and reaching out to partners. I figured if all the groundwork is ready, cities and towns would have no reason to say no. This led me to rally woodworkers, artists, and organizations to handle the materials and manpower. Now, our next biggest task is securing the funding through donations, our fundraiser night at Bier Brewery, and a silent auction. Removing the financial barriers was key to getting city approvals.

How are you involving local artists, fly makers, and woodworkers in creating these Flybraries? Any specific examples of community contributions?

I’m tapping into the local woodworking community, giving them creative freedom to build the boxes. Our local artists will decorate them, resulting in permanent art installations they can proudly show off to family and friends. Fly makers and fishing guides are spreading the word like wildfire. Fundraising will hopefully cover the materials for the flies being produced. Noblesville, as the pilot program, is allowing us to test the idea by offering some boxes at fundraisers for the public to decorate, fostering a sense of ownership and pride in the parks.

What do you envision for the Flybrary Projects community impact, and how do you see it evolving over the next few years?

I hope the project inspires as much passion as I want to pass on to my kids. They’re artistic and love nature. If we can spark that interest in even a single person, we have succeeded. Tightening our network of like-minded folks is another win, boosting future conservation efforts. Meeting fantastic people along the way and connecting them with the community is the heart of this project. If I had discovered fly fishing or these organizations earlier, my life trajectory would have been different. I want others to experience the same positivity that comes from enjoying nature and doing good.

If people want to support the Flybrary Project, whether through donations, volunteering, or other contributions, how can they get involved and make a difference?

For anyone wanting to help us hit our $10,000 goal, we have a GoFundMe set up, or you can donate through the Indiana Flybrary tab on jeffpassdesigns.com. For silent auction donations, people can message me to get on the donors list. Volunteers can also email me to join our distro list for upcoming events.

GoFundMe link

https://gofund.me/f98edcb2