2023 Hall of Fame Inductees

Jen Ripple, Tennessee (Communications) - Inducted for sharing her knowledge and experience as a writer and editor of Dun magazine and many other publications, as an instructor, volunteer, teacher and public speaker. For her dedication to bringing recognition to women working in the industry, and for her work to introduce new women to the sport.

Walter Babb, Tennessee (Crafts) - Inducted as a nationally recognized professional fly tyer and rod builder, a historian and scholar of flies specific to the Smoky Mountains and developing many patterns specific to the region. He is widely known for sharing a lifetime of knowledge and being an avid fly fisherman.

Mike LaVoie, North Carolina (Conservation) - Inducted for his many years of conservation, environmental and national resource oversight for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. For being the bridge of understanding to connect reservation authorities with local and regional authorities. For finding funding partners to implement significant projects for endangered species, river conservation and bridge removal to open regional waterways. For his work to build the economic impact of fishing in Cherokee and Western North Carolina.

Captain Jacob (Jake) Jordan, North Carolina/Florida (Recreation) - Inducted for his sixty years of contributions to the saltwater fly fishing industry. Known nationally and internationally as a big gamelight tackle Captain, business owner, educator, author, conservationist, guide, industry consultant and world record holder many times over. At 81, Jake still owns and operates the Fly Fishing School, the Marlin school and Tarpon fishing Charters in the Key’s.

Don Ray Howell & Dwight G. Howell, North Carolina (Ambassadors) - Inducted together poshumously for their leadership and commitment in sharing a lifetime of knowledge as regional pioneers as TU state board members, rod builders, guides, and teachers. As shop owners, the Howell brothers were the first to bring tying materials to the area. As nationally and internationally recognized fly tyers, they even tied for the Prince of Wales.

John Zimmerman & Taylor Sharp, North Carolina (Humanity) - Inducted for their work together creating and cofounding the nonprofit Casting for Hope and the Casting for Hope retreat center. Casting for Hope supports women battling ovarian and other gynecological cancers while using fly fishing as a catalyst. Shop owners and avid fly fishers they are known for thinking creatively to host unique ways of fundraising to support their cause.

By Capt. James McManus

There are times of the year that everyone is a hero on the water, that time on our mountain lakes is now. Almost any lake, almost any bank, will hold fish; some days, there may be more on clay banks, sometimes gravel, and again on boulder banks. I think it’s whether they are primarily feeding or just looking for that perfect spawning area. Seems like, regardless of the reason to be there, they are hungry when they arrive. I love to throw two main baits, Rapala jerkbaits seem to work when I’m around points and on straighter banks, I give the nod to jigs. The jigs I use are typically 1/8th ounce with either Zoom or Kietech swimbodies. If I am on a lake with stripers, then I am throwing the Rapala regardless of the bank.

Some of our lakes still have seagulls; never ignore even one or two birds. There are times when stripers are in the middle of large coves,

Continued, see MARCH IS FOR HEROS Page 29