From AFFTA:
The American Fly Fishing Trade Association (AFFTA) is excited to announce a major new member benefit for fly fishing outfitters and guides, as well as retailers that offer in-house guiding and outfitting.
Beginning this month, AFFTA members in all 50 states who make a living guiding and outfitting clients will now have the opportunity to purchase commercial liability insurance as a group at a special industry discounted rate. Through this new AFFTA program, the annual premium for an independent guide is only $400.00. This comprehensive policy will include $2 million in aggregate coverage with $1 million of coverage per occurrence. Outfitters who employ guides will be able to pay the $400 annually for their own coverage, and can then add their guides to the policy for only $175 each (with the same amounts of coverage).
This program has the potential to collectively save professional guides and outfitters hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. Capital Insurance – an A+ rated insurer located in Minneapolis, Minnesota – will be underwriting the policies, and the Bissel Company of Bozeman, Montana will be the broker handling all applications.
“We all know that obtaining commercial liability insurance coverage is very expensive for professional outfitters and guides, with rates continuing to rise year after year” said AFFTA President Ben Bulis. “I have spoken to many guides who pay in excess of $1200 a year for their basic insurance coverage. With the tens of thousands of guides in the fishing industry, this program has the potential to collectively save this segment of the industry an incredible amount annually.”
“Commercial liability insurance is a must in our litigious society,” said AFFTA Chairman Jim Klug. “It is something that provides a level of financial security while guiding clients on the water. The fact that AFFTA is now able to offer a group rate on this insurance coverage is huge – arguably the most significant thing that we’ve done for members in years. It would be crazy for any guide or outfitter not to join AFFTA and take full advantage of a policy that will in all likelihood reduce their annual insurance costs by more than half.”
“We’re very excited about this new liability insurance policy,” said Colby Trow of Virginia’s Mossy Creek Outfitters. “We currently pay around $1,500 per guide for coverage for a year. AFFTA’s outfitter option that allows us to cover multiple guides at a much lower cost is going to save us a TON of money. We’re looking forward to migrating our coverage to this new policy.”
In order to take advantage of this new group coverage, guides, outfitters and retailers that offer guide services will have to be a current AFFTA member. An annual membership for guides is $25.00 per person, with the annual membership for outfitters and retailers based on a percentage of total annual sales
For an AFFTA membership application, log on to http://www.affta.com/join-affta/and print and complete the form. Once the membership form is completed, the AFFTA staff will send out an insurance application. For more information or membership assistance, please contact Ben Bulis or Sarah Grigg at the American Fly Fishing Trade Association at (406) 522-1556 or at www.affta.com.
AFFTA’s mission is to promote the sustained growth of the fly fishing industry. We work to grow consumer demand for fly fishing goods and services, enhance the growth and professionalism of fly-fishing businesses, and support the protection, enhancement and restoration of fish and fish habitat.
