The Long Beach Casting Club (LBCC) is set to commemorate its 100th anniversary on May 17, 2025, marking a century of dedication to the art and sport of fly fishing. Established in 1925, LBCC has been instrumental in educating and nurturing countless fly fishers, fostering a community rooted in tradition and excellence.
Tournament casting was a popular activity in the early 1920s and a young Finnish immigrant, David R. Linder, was an accomplished caster and a world champion in fly distance and accuracy. As he was practicing his casting in a park one day, he attracted the attention of others with similar interests and in 1925, the group of men formed the nucleus of the Long Beach Fly and Bait Casting Club. In 1931, with the help of the City of Long Beach, the LBCC was offered a location in the relatively undeveloped Recreation Park, where they built the first of three ponds. This first was 130 feet in diameter, lined with asphalt and in the same location as the club’s current pond’s eastern end.
The Long Beach Women’s Casting Club was formed in 1940 and was only the second women’s casting club in the entire West, along with Golden Gate Angling and Casting Club. For more than 40 years, the men’s and women’s clubs operated side-by-side, sharing the facilities and co-hosting tournaments. In 1980, the club opened its membership to women and the first female was admitted to the club.
LBCC will be hosting a centennial celebration on May 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the club’s historic facilities. The event will host activities, including casting demonstrations that showcase the skills of seasoned anglers, historical commentaries detailing the club’s storied past, and opportunities for attendees to engage with members and learn more about fly fishing.
In addition to the anniversary festivities, the club has a series of events lined up throughout the year to honor this significant milestone. A notable highlight is the U.S. Open Casting Championships, scheduled from August 5 to August 9, 2025, which will attract top casting talent from across the nation.
With a legacy spanning a century, the Long Beach Casting Club continues to be a cornerstone of the fly-fishing community, celebrating its past achievements while looking forward to the future.
