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FlyFisher
FlyFisher is published for FFI by Bird Marketing Group Inc.
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On the cover: Jake Dicks
Why FFI? Community. That is my why. Allow me to introduce myself by demonstrating how my community grew when I began fly fishing and became more involved with to FFI.
When my husband decided to learn to fly fish, I decided to learn so I could spend time with him. My community grew to include the employees of a local fly shop when we went to purchase equipment and learn how to fly fish. It grew again when the fly shop suggested that we join an FFI fly club. The employees at the shop and members of the club became friends who taught us how to cast, tie flies and fish. I learned to fish for all fish in all waters and had some memorable trout, bass, steelhead, and saltwater fishing trips with this group of people.
Later, I helped organize an FFI women’s fly-fishing club, the Stonefly Maidens. My community grew more with this fun group of women who have
been around for more than 25 years. We taught each other about fly fishing, and we supported each other on our trip through life by becoming friends. Some of my favorite memories are trips with this group of women. Even though I do not live in Oregon, I am a member and still have a connection to the club.
I became more involved with the Oregon Council first as Secretary and working on the Northwest Fly Tying and Fishing Expo, then as the first woman president of the council. Working in the Council broadened my community more by introducing me to FFI council leadership from around the country and tiers and casters from across the U.S. I attended my first FFI conclave in Livingston, Montana in my role as Council President. My community grew even more as I met the Board of Directors,othervolunteersandteachers. The next year, I attended the Expo in Whitefish, Montana as a Council President, Board member and volunteer.
I also met my current husband there. He didn’t practice “catch and release,” and we got married the following year right before the Loveland, Colorado, Expo where we spent our honeymoon.
I have served on the Board of Directors since 2008, serving as the Expo Chair for many years, serving on the Executive Committee, the Finance Committee, Women Connect Committee and as Secretary of FFI since 2018. I am now proud to serve as Chair of the Board of Directors. Along the way, I have grown my community more when I met members from Japan, England, Italy and Newfoundland.
Through my membership in and service to FFI, my community has grown to include friends and colleagues throughout the world. I have met fly fishing luminaries and teachers that I am fortunate to call friends. I know that no matter where I go, I can find an FFI member to fish with. For me that is why FFI. Come join me.
A lifelong angler with a deep passion for conservation and education, Tilda Evans has been actively involved in FFI for over 15 years, serving on the Board of Directors and most recently as Board Secretary and a member of the Executive Committee. Her leadership has been pivotal in expanding fly fishing opportunities, promoting conservation initiatives, and educating new anglers. Recognized for her outstanding contributions, she has received multiple honors, including the FFI Distinction for Leadership and Service award, Fly Fisher of the Year, and the Women’s Community Development award.
Tilda Evans
This issue of Flyfisher shares answers to the question, “Why FFI?”, and you'll read stories about what FFI means to many people. For me it is about those who are front and center as we work to accomplish the goals we set forth. FFI members and volunteers come from all walks of life, are at different places along their fly-fishingjourney,andenjoythissport to the fullest. Some are seeking to improveskillsincastingortying.Some are interested in welcoming and mentoring women, and others are working in conservation of natural habitats important to fly fishing. Regardless of individual interests, it's the collective passion that strikes me asthevalueofthisorganization.Itwas a vision Bill Nelson started, founding FFI in 1964, and one so many others have carried forward for more than 60 years.
Ipersonallyexperiencedthispassion shortly after I joined the staff in 2011. It was at my first Conclave in West Yellowstone, where about 400 fly fishers descended on the small town in Montana to share knowledge with one another and support the efforts of our organization. The night of our annual auctioneveryonewasmakingtheirway around the silent auction to bid on itemsspecialtothem.TheoneIhadmy sights on was a Mike George Improved Crawdad that Steve Jensen had so skillfully constructed into a gorgeous fly plate. Unbeknownst to me, Steve was watching my interest and realized I had lost out to someone else. He approached me and asked about my
interest in the piece. Before it was all over, Steve convinced Mike George to tieanotherandinsistedthatheframeit forme.Steve’spassionformakingsure a new employee felt welcome came through loud and clear that evening. Hispassionformakingbeautifulworks of art, from flies that a tier made speciallyforanoccasion,wasunlimited asIhavecometorealizeovertheyears.
Passion for fly fishing and sharing the sport, is everywhere in this organization. You can see it, watching our talented casting instructors demonstrate fundamentals for new anglersorflytierssharingtheircraftat the tying table. It’s not only that they are passionate about developing their skills, but they want to welcome others to fly fishing, as well.
In the last year alone, I’ve witnessed the committed drive of the Fly-Casting Education Team while re-creating the program to serve all anglers. By the time this issue reaches you, results of this effort will be on our website. A small group of dedicated and talented people spent hundreds of hours creating a new section that helps website visitors find information easier. It’s dedication like this that makes our organization so special. I encourage you to visit flyfishersinternational.org to see the impressive work for yourself.
Look at any of our programs and you’ll find the same commitment to makingthatprogramthebestitcanbe. The Fly Tying Group provides frequent educational opportunities, including the online sessions like Fly Tying
Techniques, the new Fly Tying Instructor Program, and a new manual focused on saltwater flies. FFI Women Connect is providing in-person opportunities for women to gather and learn in a welcoming environment, while the Education and Conservation Committees are focused on our core pillars. We can’t do that without hundreds of people committed to making it happen.
Then there is the FFI staff, working to support all of our programs so FFI members can experience these benefits of being a member and feel a connection to the wider fly-fishing audience.Itmightsurpriseyoutolearn a staff of 7 dedicated individuals can support an organization and membership as active and widespread as that of FFI. This small group of people serve the network of councils, clubs, programs, and thousands of members. The days can be long, butwearecommittedtoourvolunteers, members,and thesuccessoftheentire organization.
In September we will all come together in Grand Rapids, at FlyFest 2025. We will welcome people from different countries, fisheries, backgrounds, and experience levels, whoallsharethiscollectivepassionfor fly fishing. We invite you to join us for a few days to experience this firsthand. In the faces and voices gathered,itwillbeeasytoseeandhear the answer to “Why FFI?” and to share with the fly-fishing community your own passion and commitment to this sport we all love.
Rhonda Sellers
Rhonda Sellers is the Executive Director. Rhonda has been an integral part of Fly Fishers International since 2011. She has managed the operations of the organization and worked to improve the organization’s responsiveness to members, groups, and industry. She is a trained professional in managing government and community relations and has served on numerous non-profit boards during her career.
EVENTS CALENDAR
JUNE
3rd Annual FFI Women’s Fly Fishing Photo Contest
June 1 – August 31, 2025
Sponsored by Miss Mayfly and FFI Women Connect, this fly fishing photo contest celebrates women anglers and photographers. The top three photos in each category will win prizes from Miss Mayfly and all entrants will receive an invitation to join an Online Fly Fishing Photography Seminar with Brian O’Keefe. You do not need to be an FFI member to participate in this contest.
Get Outdoors Day
June 7, 2025
9:00 AM – 2:00 PM Memorial Park, Colorado Springs, CO
Sponsored by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. This all-day event features fun for the whole family. Experience boating, climbing, archery, shooting, fishing and much more. Admission is free and kids will receive a free fishing rod. Discover your next outdoor adventure at the Colorado Springs Get Outdoors Day!
5th
Annual Fly Casting Skills Development
June 7 & 14, 2025
Cranberry High School, Seneca, PA
Join us for two hands-on days of fly casting instruction and practice, open to anglers of all experience levels—from first-timers to those aiming to fine-tune their technique. Whether you're brand new to the sport or looking to advance through Bronze, Silver, or Gold level skills, this event is designed to help you grow as a fly caster.
Women Connect Fish & Campout
June 18 - 23, 2025
Cinder Hill Campground, East Lake, OR
Sponsored by the Oregon Council of Fly Fishers International
Join us for a memorable week of fishing, friendship, and fun in the stunning outdoors of East Lake! Whether you’re cozying up in a cabin or pitching a tent under the stars, the Women Connect Fish & Campout offers a welcoming space for women anglers of all experience levels. Come for the fish, stay for the fellowship— leave with lasting connections and stories to tell.
Fly Fishing & Camping on the Coeur d’Alene River
June 20 – 22, 2025
Devil’s Elbow Campground, Wallace, ID
Sponsored by Palouse Women on the Fly
Join us for a weekend of walk-andwade fly fishing targeting native Cutthroat trout. Whether you're up for a day trip or a full camping weekend, we’ve got you covered. This is a DIY-style adventure, so please bring all your own gear including fly rods, flies, boots, waders, and anything else you'll need to fish and camp comfortably.
Fly Casting Skills Development Event
June 21, 2025, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Ausable River Outfitters, Mio, MI
The Great Lakes Council will have the Fly-Casting Skills Development Course set up for the day for individuals to try out and offer fly
casting instruction and introduction to fly tying as well. Refreshments will be provided.
Fly Fishing Academy
June 21 - 28, 2025
Panhandle Lake, Shelton, WA
A non-profit program of the Washington Council of Trout Unlimited.
This week-long summer camp is open to youth ages 12–16 and offers more than just casting and fly tying. Held on a private, stocked lake with access to nearby trout streams, students will participate in 26 hands-on classes covering everything from casting and entomology to fish biology, conservation, and river ecology. Only 18 spots are available and applications are filling fast!
Ladies Day at Sunnybrook Trout Club
June 28, 2025, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM Sunnybrook Trout Club, Sandusky, OH
Celebrate Women's Fly Fishing Month at this beautiful Sunnybrook Trout Club in NW Ohio! Registration includes a light breakfast, lunch, The History of Women in Fly Fishing presentation by Jerry Darkes, raffle ticket and full day fly fishing!
Fly Casting Skills Development
June 28 10:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Cauley Creek Park, Johns Creek, GA
Sponsored by Veterans Fly Fishing and Fly Fishers International
Fly Casting Skills Development (FCSD) is a fun way to improve casting skills for all fly fishers in a self-paced fashion. FCSD is an
expanded and redesigned version of the Fly Casting Skills Challenge. Water and snacks provided, bring a lunch.
JULY
Caddo
Fly Fishing Expo
July 19, 2025, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Jefferson Tourism & Visitor Center, Jefferson, TX
Sponsored by North Louisiana Fly Fishers
A full day of casting demos, handson workshops, expert-led talks, and outdoor fun for all skill levels. Whether you're new to the sport or a seasoned angler, you'll find inspiration, connection, and community in a beautiful riverside setting. Explore fly fishing gear, learn new techniques, and swap stories with fellow fishing enthusiasts. Free to attend – all are welcome!
Tying Flies for Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing
July 19, 2025, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Pattern School, Lenoir, NC
Sponsored by SEC FFI
Join us for a day of fly tying in support of Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing Charlotte and Winston Salem Chapters. Every fly tied directly contributes to PHWFF’s mission of supporting disabled veterans through the therapeutic power of fly fishing. Come enjoy fellowship, share your skills, learn from others, and give back to a great cause. All skill levels are welcome!
SEPTEMBER
Suncoast Fly Fishers Lady Fly Tournament
September 13, 2025, 7:00 AM - 8:00 AM
Tiki Docks Skyway, St. Petersburg, FL
This is an exciting inshore flyfishing competition exclusively for female anglers! Fish by boat or land from the West Coast of Florida, spanning Sanibel Island to Crystal River. Teams may include 1–2 anglers (female only), with male captains or guides permitted. There will be cash prizes, youth awards, a Ladyfish Calcutta, and more! Stick around for the awards dinner with live music, food, drinks, and raffles at Tiki Docks Skyway.
FlyFest 2025
September 26–27, 2025, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Grand Rapids, MI
FlyFest is the premier celebration of fly fishing, community, and conservation! Join us in Grand Rapids—a vibrant city with plenty of fishing access—for two full days of workshops, seminars, casting and tying demos, and expert instruction from some of the best in the world. Topics include fly casting, tying, fishing techniques, and conservation. Don’t miss raffles, silent and live auctions, plus your chance to win a 14’ Stealthcraft drift boat. Registration opens in July.
OCTOBER
2025 Women's Driftless Rendezvous
October 06, 2025 - October 12, 2025
Cedar Valley Resort, Whalen, MN
Sponsored by FFI Upper Midwest Council
Join the FFi Upper Midwest Council & FFi Women Connect this fall for our 5th Annual Women’s Driftless Rendezvous! Thiseventwillbeheldintheheartofthe Minnesota Driftless. This area is known for its expansive trout habitat and beautiful, deeply carved river valleys with pristine spring creeks. This is an event hosted by women, for women! Registration includes food & lodging; all other travel, transportation, licensing, andguidetripsareatyourownexpense.
JANUARY 2026
Western Idaho Fly Fishing Expo
January 30-31, 2026
Expo Idaho, Garden City, ID
Presented by Boise Valley Fly Fishers, exhibitorswillshowcasegearincludingthe latest rods, reels, fly tying equipment, guide services, artwork and more. Tyers from all over the west will demonstrate their skills in small group settingswhereattendeescanaskquestions & learn. Experts from around the country demonstrate the latest techniques for different fish species, where to fish, and more. Over 2500 fly fishers attend and proceeds are used to support fly fishing education and conservation programs throughoutIdahoandEasternOregon.
Why FFI?
Because we are fly fishing
Bryant Dunn
In late May 1964, Lee Wulff sat down at his desk to write a letter. His thoughts revolved around a topic that would surprise no one, neither then nor now. The topic of his focus was fly fishing. His thoughts did not revolve around the springtime emergence of pale morning duns, Baetis or Callibaetis mayflies however, nor the annual spawning runs of anadromous salmon pushing up nearby Newfoundland rivers, nor did they center on the invention of some innovative, as-of-yetperfected imitation fly pattern firmly secured within the jaws of his fly-tying vise. Wulff’s focus on this day was on a topic of far greater substance.
Bob Wethern, a Walla Walla, Washingtonian by birth, resided in Portland and was a charter member of the Flyfishers Club of Oregon, a cadre of dedicated fly anglers who united to share their passion and promote the sport in 1961. Wethern and Wulff were friendly fellow anglers and the letter Wulff penned that day was intended for Wethern’s desk.
“It occurs to me that a loose federation of fly-fishing groups could be of considerable value,” Wulff wrote. In this meditation, he was not alone. In fact, a month earlier in Eugene, Oregon, the Mackenzie Flyfishers had been established with the stated intention of forming a national organization to better promote the sport, community and ethos of fly fishing.
With these wheels in motion and momentum building, Gene Anderegg of the Theodore Gordon Flyfishers of New York City, in conjunction with several influential western anglers, including Bill Nelson and Skip Hosfield of theMackenzie Flyfishers, came together in Aspen, Colorado in September of ’64 to discuss the concept and formulate an action plan. The result of this gathering lead directly to the first conclave of associated anglers and burgeoning fly-fishing clubs in early-summer of 1965 and the beginnings of today’s Fly Fishers International was born.
Even then, at FFI’s inception (originally known as the Federation of Fly Fishermen) and before it had grown to its current state consisting of 17 regionals councils, almost 300 clubs and affiliate clubs and many thousands of members, each individual angler at some point asked
Bryant Dunn
Bryant Dunn serves as FFI International Programs Committee Chairman, FFI Ambassador Coordinator, FFI Ambassador in the Royal Kingdom of Bhutan and owner of Dunn Outfitting International, operating fly-fishing businesses in the Himalayas, Oceania and the American Rocky Mountains. Bryant loves nothing more than sharing the spirit of flyfishing with fellow anglers across the globe. Bryant is the proud father of four fly fishers, Maddy, Amanda, Daker and Hunter.
themselves, “Why FFI?” Why invest annual dues, time and energy into THIS organization when there were so many other groups which might serve as a gathering place for anglers passionate about fly fishing, community, conservation and the endless collateral topics that surround one of the outdoor’s finest pursuits.
Why FFI?
Today, some 60 years removed, much remains the same regarding fly anglers bonding together in the soulful sharing and support of the sport under the FFI banner. And as much as anglers celebrate their love of fly fishing in similar ways to the Old Guard, around the campfire, pulled up to the bar or kicking back on the riverbank, in some ways much has changed. Once upon a time, fly fishing was primarily a male-dominated, activity dependent on horsehair and silk fly lines, bamboo and fiberglass rods, woven basket-style creels and decidedly catch-and-keep practices recorded, perhaps, by a mechanically operated film camera.
Today’s fly fishing is enjoyed by a diverse user group that leans on highly advanced technical equipment made of materials such as graphite, dacron, braided nylon, fluorocarbon, polyvinyl chloride, carbon and synthetic fiber, aluminum, tungsten and titanium. These anglers cast an endless selection of hand-tied fly patterns produced on all six fishable continents specified for hundreds if not thousands of fish species. Digital fishing images are published by countless anglers on numerous social media platforms with several-digit promotional endorsements to be viewed by millions of viewers within hours or minutes of the fish being removed from and usually returned to, the waterbody from which it was strategically enticed. Innumerable how-to videos featured on innumerable online forums compliment the cacophony of content creators who compete within the market for likes, follows and the followers that follow them.
And yet, beyond the refined technological advances in gear, the supercharged online visibility of fish and
fishermen and the profound dynamism of the women and men, young, old and in-between who submerse themselves in fisheries across the globe, the spirit of the sport has remained profoundly like the good-old-days. Fly fishers fly fish to experience a deep connection with nature, unite in the passion of this outdoor endeavor with like-minded enthusiasts and thrive in teaching and sharing time-honored angling skills with those who follow in their footsteps. This sense of community, diverse as never before and representative of all aspects of the sport, is part of the foundation of why.
But there is more. At no point in human history has there existed such a profound series of threats to the natural resources that anglers hold dear. An exploding human population and its myriad effects on surrounding ecosystems including climate change, pollution, hyper development of infrastructure and a fundamental disregard for the value of ecological systems around the world is resulting in substantially increased pressure on global fisheries. The conservation of these ecosystems has never been more important than it is today.
Fortunately, the presence of a unified conservation conscience, the awareness of these threats and the systematic approach to working as groups to conserve threatened fishery ecosystems, is also at an all-time high. As one of FFI’s pillars of purpose, conservation, which has its roots in the earliest years of FFI’s existence, serves as a guiding light for FFI’s leadership and membership. In 1968, Lee Wulff first referred to the concept of catch and release angling practices in an article he wrote for Flyfisher magazine, FFI’s flagship publication that you are reading right now. The idea was, at the time, a novel one. So, too, was his argument for limiting fish stocking programs in many rivers and lakes around North America to protect wild fish strains and their naturally-evolved genetics, another concept he discussed in Flyfisher in 1975.
From the very earliest days of the organization, FFI has served the global angling community by bravely standing up for the natural resources that house our
cherished fish species, their surrounding interconnected ecosystems and the interests of anglers everywhere. FFI’s developed conservation history and its ongoing fight to conserve precious fishery resources is another important aspect of why.
But there is more yet to the answer of Why FFI? An umbrella under which the angling community can gather for all things fly fishing and a dedicated proponent of
fisheries conservation are certainly important characteristics of Fly Fishers International. But of equal importance is the concept of the “I” in FFI. Did you know that FFI currently represents 873 members from 41 foreign countries on all six fishable continents? Did you know that FFI is represented by International Ambassadors from each of these continents who specifically represent over 1.9 billion citizens not
including the United States itself? Or that FFI’s website is available in 5 different languages with more translations in the pipeline?
As far as an organization that reaches almost every corner of the planet as the global torchbearer of the passion, sport and lifestyle of flyfishing, no other organized entity even comes close to promoting the reach of its membership in comparison to FFI. In fact, the first
international fly-fishing club to align with FFI was the Wyndham Anglers Club of New Zealand in 1972 more than a half-century ago. The international aspect of FFI, the “I” in FFI, provides the opportunity for members to connect with other like-minded, angler conservationists from just about any place where rivers flow, lakes ripple or tides rise and fall. This is another foundational factor to consider when asking oneself, “Why FFI?”
Finally, it is also important to consider the demands of sustaining and advancing the legacy of what we hold dear. Whether those be ideals such as democracy, family values, the rule of law and respect for our fellow human beings or passions that we share with fellow community members, including the culture of fly fishing. “The price of liberty is eternal vigilance,” Thomas Jefferson is once said to have stated. This concept applies to championing of everything we value and are willing to fight for so that those who come after us enjoy the same benefits that we have enjoyed. That fight is just, noble and should never relent. FFI has proven its worth over 60 years of threats to our values, attacks on our resources and has thrived in a world which has seen chaos and stability come and go since the time of its inception. And through it all, FFI has stayed true to the tenets that its founders wisely established long ago namely, community, conservation and angling ethics.
But there is one final thought to consider. The answer to “Why FFI?” is more than a question, it is a call to action. It is a fundamental understanding that without involvement and a focus on protecting and sustaining what we hold dear that we will lose what we have earned, what we have fought for, what we believe in and about which we are passionate. Community. Conservation. Legacy. Fly fishing.
Why FFI?
Because we are fly fishing. And fly fishing needs you Perhaps this is what Lee Wulff intended when he put pen to paper on that late spring day in 1964. Perhaps this was the guiding light when those passionate angler-leaders met in Aspen on a brisk fall afternoon 60 years ago to join the angling communities of the East and West. And perhaps today it can serve as a mantra we can share with those who are considering committing themselves to our fly-fishing community, one based in passion, ethics and a respect for our invaluable natural resources.
The Realm of Michigan Monsters
Cracking the Code
Jon Osborn
Convincing a humpbacked old brown trout to eat a streamer is like trying to crack the code on a bank vault. Infinite combinations are possible, and all the tumblers must fall into place before the door opens.
In terms of flies, size, profile and color must be considered, of course. Then there are other ambiguous factors, such as the speed and cadence of the retrieve, water temperature and clarity, and knowledge of the prevailing forage.
The prospects can be daunting. And yet, optimistic anglers return to the river time and again, with perpetual belief that today could be the day. Once in a blue moon everything lines up perfectly, but usually the trout either sulk beneath log jams or shy away at the sight of the fly.
When every effort is met with disinterest or contempt, doubt creeps in and you’re left scratching your head in search of answers:
Did I strip too fast and pull the fly away? Or maybe I stripped too slowly, and gave him too much time to ponder things… Perhaps there’s too much flash in this dubbing, or maybe the leader is too short… Why do I even try? I’m a sorry excuse for an angler anyway.
Then you remember the most overlooked variable in the world of fly fishing: the fickle temperament of trout, which defies all logic and reason. This subtle nuance has thrown the proverbial wrench into the gears of many an angler’s success.
Allen and I were reminded of this recently while fishing a favorite Northern Michigan stream. This water is known by only a handful of anglers and understood by far fewer. It’s a treacherous, soft-bottomed creek that’s too deep to wade, but far too narrow for a raft or drift boat. This leaves the lowly canoe as the only means for navigating its waters.
What’s more, the banks are choked with alders and deadfalls and the surrounding flora hums with bloodsucking insects. But time tempers memory and the perils from the previous season are quickly forgotten in favor of the obese, unbothered brown trout that live there. Fact is, this river holds more trophies per mile than anywhere else we know. It’s the realm of monsters,
Jon Osborn
home to portly, predatory fish that seldom come easily to net.
Then again, Allen is one of few anglers who truly appreciates this water and isn’t afraid to endure its hazards, mostly because he’s obsessed with catching big browns. Let’s just say that if these fish were fentanyl, he’d need to check himself into the Betty Ford clinic and yet, this fixation is what propels him to keep casting and paddling beyond the abilities of most mortal men.
Al’s the guy you want along when you’re bent on catching your best fish of the year – or maybe even the lunker of your life. He’s game for the duration – and then some. Plus, he’s a great friend – funny, loyal, contemplative and witty. Casting flies in his company doesn’t take much convincing, assuming you’re fit, heavily caffeinated, and immune to some level of suffering. Hoist the black flag and fix bayonets because there’s no quarter here.
Recently we made the annual journey north to fish this water, a four-hour drive that always involves coffee, nicotine, and copious chatter about tactics and fly selection. Maybe the trout will respond to the familiar old strategies, we muse, or perhaps we’ll need to try something new. Then again, maybe nothing will pay off. We’re both familiar enough with these outings to realize that’s just the way things go sometimes. But not often.
Not here.
Here, on this river, someone usually lands an enviable fish, although “someone” usually means Allen. He’s been blessed with the angler’s version of the Midas touch. Everything he catches turns to gold, especially trout. Thankfully, it’s just as enjoyable to watch this chaos play out from the stern seat. Having been there hundreds of times, I can honestly say that the anticipation’s the same, whether you’re holding the rod or not.
That morning, we pushed my battered old canoe into the turbid flow, just as the sun was rising over the cottonwoods. Ironically, Ol’ Al despises this nimble craft. He’d rather row or wade than paddle, and he’d rather stand to cast, none of which are possible in these precarious vessels. In fact, he fears only two things in
Jon Osborn started out fishing for brook trout in skinny creeks, but these days he also enjoys casting streamers for lunker browns in so-called marginal waters. When he’s not fly fishing or upland hunting, Jon writes for numerous national magazines and has authored six books, the latest entitled,The Lost Branch Sportsman’s Club.
this world: sharks and canoes. Unfortunately for him, this water involves both, although the “sharks” here are oversized salmonids. Fortunately, Al’s zest for brown trout supersedes his irrational anxieties.
The trusty canoe creaked under the weight of gear, which includes a single, seven-weight rod for the frontseat fisherman, and another outfit beneath the thwart. The second setup is there in case the primary rod snaps fighting a fish or sinks into murky depths when the boat overturns, both of which have happened. Additional equipment includes a handsaw to cut through fallen branches, a drybag filled with extra clothes, an oversized landing net, multiple boxes of streamers, and a cooler brimming with beers and sandwiches, for consolation and fortification.
Our morning began auspiciously. Clouds darkened the sky, and a recent deluge had the river running high and
off-color. Allen took a position in the helm, and it wasn’t long before a husky brown swirled at his articulated Sex Dungeon.
“Damn,” he grunted, strip-setting into nothing. “That was a good one.” Refusals are simply part of the streamer game. You simply accept them and move on.
In theory that is. Honestly, it’s easy to rationalize those misses on the first or even the 10th swirls, but a dozen short strikes later, the situation gets downright frustrating. “Get up here and see what you can do,” my flummoxed companion muttered in disgust, so we pulled off and switched positions.
I immediately knotted on a Drunk and Disorderly, although the action didn’t improve. In fact, a dozen or so flies later, nothing had changed. Maybe it was because the clouds had cleared, or the bite window had passed –or maybe just because Allen is a better angler than me.
Either way, I fished for hours with nothing in the net for my efforts, so we pulled off for lunch.
Our odds of success would improve as evening approached, so we lingered there on the bank, munching sandwiches and washing them down with cold beer. An hour passed, then two. We chatted about life, relationships, the recent misuse of public lands, and our mutual disdain for politics. Finally, we decided to shove off and see if the fishing had improved.
Is it better to be lucky or good?
It’s one of the eternal angling questions. Allen stakes his tent in the “luck” camp, holding fast to a long list of superstitions, including lucky fishing hats, lucky nets, lucky rod-and-reel combos and frequent rally-smokes to improve his fishing mojo.
I, on the other hand, believe more in the divine intervention/destiny category. In my understanding, the day’s action will either be hot, cold or somewhere in between, and there’s not a whole heck of a lot anyone can do to change that. You take the good days with the bad, and make the best of any situation, knowing some outings will be better than others.
Nevertheless, we both believe that persistence eclipses skill, which is why we’ll paddle and cast through sweltering heat, freezing cold, biting insects and all-day east winds. “Just keep fishing and eventually the trout will respond.” That mantra has proven to be effective for us – most of the time, anyway.
All things being equal (which they seldom ever are) it’s probably best to be lucky and good and occasionally that happens, too. Approaching the last leg of our float, we realized we’d run through almost all our options. We’d tried every combination of flies: large and small, flashy and drab, articulated and standard. Certain patterns had garnered more interest than others, and some had even elicited exciting swirls, but actual takers had been few and far between – and not very big.
In short, nothing had been working. Nothing that is, until Allen reached into his duffle and tied on a Supernatural Peanut he’d bought earlier in the week. This riff on Russ Maddin’s famed Circus Peanut wasn’t part of our normal rotation, but we agreed the combination of rubber legs, marabou and flash looked convincing. We were desperate and besides, a fresh fly offered renewed vigor as we approached the ninth inning stretch of the float.
Evening was coming on fast, and by that time it had grown almost too dim for sunglasses. Still, polarized lenses offered a marginal advantage over naked eyes. The line swished as the streamer carpet bombed the banks. Nothing had happened yet, but it felt like something could at any time.
Suddenly, something did.
The trout materialized almost magically from the substrate, as if the sand and rocks morphed together into flesh and spotted scales. The strike was savage and absent of any hesitation. Even from the stern, there was little doubt that fish intended to kill and eat the combination of fur, feathers, tinsel and rubber.
We gasped as the brown seized the fly and doubled back on itself. Violence at that volume always comes as a surprise. Allen instinctively set the hook, and his Helios rod bent double. We both knew it was the fish we’d been waiting for all day – all season, in fact – and we desperately wanted to land it. Splashing chaos and no shortage of swearing ensued as the fish ran for cover and the rod bucked wildly.
Finally, Allen recovered some line and a lucky stab with the net brought the trout thrashing alongside the gunwale. We both breathed a sigh of relief. Gently hoisting the brown from the rubber mesh, it was obvious the old hen hadn’t missed many meals. Her belly distended awkwardly like she’d recently consumed an unfortunate muskrat or duckling. She was a beautiful fish, with cobalt-blue cheeks and perfect black and red spots. Slipping her back into the river, Allen stood on the bank quivering with adrenaline.
I spoke first: “What do you think finally convinced that trout to eat?” Obviously, it was a loaded question, and we could only guess at the answer. “Was it all the UV flash in the dubbing, or do you think that craft-fur head moved enough water to make a difference?”
“I’m so rattled right now, I don’t even know where I am,” Allen exclaimed, shaking his head. Sometimes he mutters things like that after playing large trout. Having seen him in this state before, I rummaged through his boat bag and retrieved a flask.
Allen closed his eyes as the whiskey went to work. Only then did he pause to consider my question.
“I’m not sure about the trout,” he mused, holding up the flask in feigned salute, “but this, my friend, is the perfect end to the day.”
Cathy Beck
Teacher, Mentor, Adventurer, Ambassador
Barry Beck
Will you marry me?” I asked.
The girl across the table from me looked puzzled. After all, we’d been introduced to each other less than two hours ago. A smile formed across her face and she said, “We will see.”
There are many people who believe in divine intervention, but at that moment I was not one of them. In time, Cathy would change my mind about that, as she did with many people. I’ve been asked over and over again how Cathy and I met, and I’ve always said I was “lucky.” Maybe there’s more to it than that. When you hear our story, you can make up your mind whether Godintervenedornot.Ibelieveshewassentbyahigherpower.
Chance Meeting
In1980Iwasreboundingfromabaddivorce.Itwasamarriage that started when we both were way too young, and it was destinedtofailbecausethemostimportantthinginmylifewas fly fishing. At the time, I was tying flies professionally and working for the H.L. Leonard Rod Company. When I wasn’t working, I was on the water. Being a husband simply was not in the equation.
One day a marriage counselor told me that my fly-fishing addiction had to stop. I told him if fishing was an addiction, then I had it all my life. As a boy I constantly skipped school to go fishing. One day my guidance counselor informed my parents that if I continued with these unlawful absences, I would grow up to be nothing but a fishing bum. He was right, and it also ended my first marriage.
After my divorce I had plenty of time to fish. I started dating again, only this time telling myself I would never marry again or jeopardize my love of fly fishing. I was happy as a bachelor. During breakfast with a friend in my hometown of Benton, Pennsylvania,IevenmadetherashverbalstatementthatIwas done dating. My friend Jim laughed and said “Sure you are.” At that exact moment I looked up and noticed a waitress walk by. I had never seen her before, and I was instantly captivated.
As we left the dining room that morning, I looked back to get onemorelookatherandwalkedintothedoorjam,splittingmy head open. That last look cost me three stitches in an emergency room.
Thenextday,Ireturnedtotherestauranttotalktotheowner. Iinquiredaboutthewaitresswhohadcaughtmyattention.She told me her name was Cathy Campbell. She had been helping out at the restaurant Mortgaged Inn the day before, but was returning to her home in Sea Isle City, New Jersey that day. I immediately asked, “Is she married?”
She was single, but was not returning to Benton until the night before Thanksgiving. It was June, and Thanksgiving was five months away.
At that time I was tying a lot of fully dressed Atlantic salmon flies and the owner saw them at a local art show. She said that if I gave her some flies, she would introduce us in November. I went home and immediately brought back a frame of flies and hung them in the restaurant.
As I waited for November, I constantly dreamed of this girl. I stayed busy working and fishing, but I had a hard time keeping her out of my mind. I began to think I was losing my mind because nothing in my entire life had ever affected me like this—not even fishing.
When November finally arrived, I found myself parked in front of the Mortgaged Inn. I went in and sat down. At first I only saw the regular waitresses, but Cathy came out of the kitchen and brought me a glass of water and a menu. I asked her if the owner was in, and she said no. I asked if she will be back later, and again Cathy said no. I panicked!
Cathy said she would be back to take my order and walked away. Suddenly, I wasn’t hungry and found myself lost for words. When she came back all I could do was order a burger and fries . . . how original!
In the end, I bypassed a formal introduction and simply blurted out “Hey, I’m Barry Beck and Sally was supposed to introduce us. Would you consider having a drink with me?”
She smiled in a way that I would learn to love and said “Yes.” Two hours later, we sat across from each other a table at the CentralParkHoteltalkingaboutourlivesandwhateverelsewe could think of. I was in awe of this girl, and I proposed. At that point neither of us could have ever imagined what our future held for us.
In April 1981, Cathy finally said “yes” and after a small wedding we packed our bags and headed to Slate Run. I hoped to introduce Cathy to a mayfly hatch and some rising trout.
Barry Beck
Barry Beck lives in Benton, Pennsylvania, where he offers fly-fishing schools and guided fishing on Fishing Creek. For more than 40 years he has traveled the world with his late wife, Cathy, with fly rods and cameras, documenting everything from African safaris to South American golden dorados and New Zealand brown trout. Reprinted with permission from Fly Fisherman Magazine and Barry Beck.
Cathy Beck
Cathy grew up on a farm in a family with eight children, and they had a springhead that became Raven Creek in her backyard. In those days Raven Creek held a healthy population of wild brook trout, so Cathy fished for most of her life but not with a fly rod. For the next year we spent every minute we could on a trout stream. Casting came easily to Cathy, and it wasn’t long before she was outfishing me. Soon afterward, we bought my father’s tackle shop and turned it into a fly-fishing-only store. What would happen next would change our lives forever.
LeftyKreh
Lefty Kreh and I had been friends for many years. After we opened a fly shop, I decided it was time to take Cathy to meet Lefty and receive some advanced casting lessons. Lefty immediately took Cathy under his wing and spent hours upon hourscoachingherandtweakinghercastingstyle.Shelearned from the greatest teacher of all time.
At one point a few months later, we were both watching Cathy cast and Lefty looked at me and said, “Do you see it? Her loop . . . it’s my loop.”
He was right. We were watching the arrow-point, perfectly formed loop that Kreh was famous for, but Lefty wasn’t casting.
Lefty took Cathy aside and gave her important advice she would live by the rest of her life. He said, “Cathy, there are peopleinoursportwhoshowofftheirskills,andthenthereare people who share their skills. I always want you to be the latter.”
Years went by and Lefty and Cathy’s friendship continued to grow. We moved our fly shop from Berwick to Benton, Pennsylvania, near Fishing Creek where we became a destination and mail-order fly shop.
Our business grew, and soon we received a letter from The Orvis Company offering us a job in marketing. They wanted us to promote Orvis products in our schools, casting clinics, and in our hosted travel, which we were doing on our own at that time. My father’s original tackle shop was one of the first Orvis dealers in the state and our fly shop was an Orvis shop and we already sold a lot of Orvis gear. The contract sat on our kitchen table as we kicked the idea around. We were elated. We always had a good relationship with the company and with the Perkins family. At that time, Orvis was doing more than any other organization to promote our sport, and we felt honored by the offer.
The next morning Lefty called Cathy just to say hello. She excitedly told Lefty about the Orvis offer, and he immediately
asked her not to sign it. She was surprised. Lefty had great things to say about Orvis, but he wanted us both to join him at Sage.
Lefty asked us to give him 24 hours, and the next day, Marc Bale, vice president of marketing and sales at Sage, called and madeacounteroffer.Intheend,ourchoicewasn’tbasedonthe money, it was about friendships. Cathy needed to be with Lefty, to be on the same team, attend the same events, be aligned on the same products, work with the same designers. Lefty chose us to be on his team, and we trusted his judgment.
A few years later, another call from Lefty changed our lives. Lefty had been hosting trips for a Pennsylvania-based company called Frontiers International, but was unable to continueashehadjusttakenajobworkingforhisgoodfriend Johnny Morris at Bass Pro Shops. Lefty said it would be a personal favor to him if we would consider filling his role at Frontiers, as he had deep respect and admiration for the Fitzgerald family and wanted to make sure they continued to thrive. We happily filled his shoes at Frontiers and have enjoyed 31 years of hosting trips for them around the world. Cathy passed away suddenly in February 2024 while we were hosting a trip for Frontiers at Estancia Laguna Verde in Argentina. She spent the day helping others, and on her last day of fishing caught a gorgeous rainbow trout herself.
Cathy always said that taking the job at Frontiers was one of the best decisions that we had ever made. She had the greatest respect for the Fitzgerald family and the whole team at Frontiers as it evolved over the years.
Author/Photographer
After we started working for Frontiers, Nick Lyons from Lyons Press called Cathy and proposed that Cathy write a fly-fishing handbook. She had never done such a thing and told Nick that she was not the right person. “I wouldn’t even know how to start,” she told Nick. He replied that writing a book is just like fishing a pool in a large river—you get in and take one cast and one step at a time.
That evening, the pressure mounted. Lefty called and said “Cathy, you need to write this book.”
“Lefty, I don’t even know where to begin. I don’t even own a computer.” Two days later, Lefty showed up at our house, unloaded his own computer, and said “Okay, you need to get to work.”
The result was Cathy Beck’s Fly-Fishing Handbook. Together we also published Fly-Fishing the Flats, and collaborated on many other book projects.
A lot of people were not aware of the fact that Cathy was an excellent photographer, and that she was as comfortable with herNikonasshewaswithherfavoriteSageMethod.Oneofher favorite images was a silhouette of a grizzly bear in Alaska that appeared in the Patagonia catalog. Cathy was a huge fan of Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard, and for his commitment to protect our wild places. Nothing is more important. Our rods, reels, and everything else are useless if we lose the beautiful places where wild fish and animals can thrive.
Cathy’s closet is full of Patagonia clothing—some of it is so ragged and worn out that I begged her to throw it out, but she always said, “The more worn they were the more character they have.” Who was I to argue?
Cathy loved Africa. Every photo safari we hosted there was a new adventure, a chance to immerse ourselves in the culture and photograph some of the most majestic animals in the world. Our Africa wildlife image file now holds over 200,000 images. Africa was a breath of fresh air to Cathy that gave her a chance to reset and recalibrate for another year of fishing trips.
GrowingandNurturing
She rarely missed a game when she was home. Her greatest wish was that she could watch the boys grow up and someday be a great-grandmother.
Faith was always a significant part of Cathy’s life. When we were home, she taught an adult Sunday school class and she was always involved in church projects. In the last month of Lefty Kreh’s life, Cathy and Lefty had many long talks about faith and God. Lefty was agnostic through most of he life. He had questions about God and an afterlife. He just wasn’t surewhatwouldcomenextforhim.Cathy offered any advice she could, and shared her own personal beliefs, trying her best to put Lefty’s mind at ease. In her last conversation with Lefty, she hung up the phone and just sat and cried. I asked her, “What’s wrong?” She smiled at me through her tears and said, “Lefty’s going to be all right.”
Whenever we were home, Cathy found time to work in her flowergarden.Itwasaplaceofsolitudeforherwhereshecould relax and think about how blessed we were by our friends, our family, our career, and the opportunities we’ve had to see the world.
She learned her love of gardening and nature from her mom, Lavenia, who she was close to all her life. We built our cabin on apieceoflandweboughtfromCathy’sparentssowe’vealways lived adjacent to their farm, and were both deeply involved in caring for our parents until the ends of their lives.
There’s no question in my mind that Cathy’s greatest joys were her grandchildren. Ethan and Henri live in New England, and Bridger and Colter live on a horse farm 50 yards from our cabin in the woods. When we were home, Bridger and Colter were always with Cathy, and she absolutely loved it. She loved to go fishing, sledding, ice skating, swimming, and playing in the creek with the boys and prized that time above all else. Her grandkids also played soccer, and Cathy was their biggest fan.
Ego was simply not in Cathy’s vocabulary, in fact she preferred not to talk about herself. She would talk to anyone about anything from farm equipment and Range Rovers to birds, children, butterflies, or any other of God’s creations. I always admired how she was such a good listener, and could carry on a conversation with anyone from any walk of life or any part of the world. Her ability to “connect” was one of her bestattributesandtheprimaryreasonshehadsomanyfriends who could confide in her.
We were often wrongly referred to as fly fishing’s “first couple.” That bothered her when she heard it, and whenever she could she’d say, “Thank you for the thought, but Lee and Joan Wulff will always be fly fishing’s first couple and Joan Wulffwillalwaysbethefirstladyofflyfishing.”JoanWulffwas one of Cathy’s heroes—a person she always looked up to. Cathy was always quick to give credit where credit was due, whether it was to other fly tiers, guides, casting authorities, or authors. She spent her time building up her peers, and was well aware ofthehistoryofoursportandthegreatmanypeoplewhomake it special. When she taught, it wasn’t just about the fly casting, it was about the history and traditions of our sport, the people init,andtheopportunitieswehavetoenrichourexperienceby learning our own history.
Cathy’swisheswerecremationandacelebrationoflifewhen the flowers are in bloom. That wish will be honored. Cathy touched a lot of people and will live in our hearts forever.
Fly Fishers International (FFI) isn’t just a fishing group; it’s a community that celebrates everything I love about fly fishing. I’ve been a member of FFI for the past 10 years, and I’m happy to be an active part of the organization! I’ve found great value in; connecting with other anglers who share my passion, picking up new skills, and being part of a group that promotes unity in the sport.
One of the best parts of being involved with FFI is connecting with other fly fishers. I’ve met people from all over the world that I would otherwise never have the opportunity to meet. There’s something special about being
around people who share that same spark for the sport. The first casting event I attended was in the U.S., and I had a teacher named Rod McGarry. His enthusiasm for FFI was so strong that it made me stop and watch. I had seen people get excited about fishing before; I had watched some great casting videos online, but I had never met someone who exuded such passion and confidence with a fly rod that it made me want to stay in that moment and learn forever. Rod’s laughter resonated through his fly line, through the leader, until that little red yarn-fly landed squarely in the center of my soul, where it will live forever. Since then, I’ve made wonderful, lasting friendships through virtual meetings and
in-person events, learning a great deal from seasoned anglers and instructors within the group. It feels good to be part of a community where learning never stops, and everyone is willing to help and support each other—whether it’s offering tips, sharing advice about gear or simply celebrating our victories—big or small, just like our catches!
FFI promotes learning and growth, which I believe are important in the ever-changing world of fly fishing and fish handling. I’ve attended workshops that have helped me improve my casting and my teaching skills and I’ve learned techniques that have made me a better angler on the water over the years. Guest presenters from leaders in the industry, such as Keep Fish Wet, have helped bring people information on the latest science-based practices for fish handling. FFI provides a ton of resources—like monthly Zoom presentations, articles, newsletters, and online videos—that continually keep me up to speed on the latest trends in the sport. I love having access to this year-round, so even during the winter months when I’m not on the water, I’m still learning and growing as an angler.
Another part of the FFI community that excites me is learning firsthand about different fish species and incredible fishing destinations around the world. Each type of fish brings its own unique challenges and rewards, whether it’s battling a tarpon in the Caribbean or trying to outsmart a clever trout in a city stream. The International Programs Committee is making great strides to involve anglers and industry members around the world and today have ambassadors in 12 countries! I love hearing from members about amazing places to cast a line, from hidden gems like fishing Mahseer in Bhutan, to Yellowfish on the rivers of South Africa—and each of these opportunities offer chances to connect with FFI members, international ambassadors or guides while you’re there. It inspires me to dream about future adventures, planning where I might head next to test my skills against new fish species in breathtaking locations.
For the last 10 years, I’ve been organizing events that introduce newcomers—especially women and kids—to the joy of fly fishing. There’s nothing quite like watching a new angler tie on their own fly or hook their first fish and feeling that excitement. It immediately brings me back to how I felt during that first casting lesson with Rod McGarry and renews my passion for the sport. I’m a member of the Women Connect committee in FFI, and it has been incredible to work with a group of people whose commitment to growing the
sport in ways that make fly fishing inclusive and accessible is inspiring. The network of women anglers, guides, business owners and experts in the field is growing daily and the group is a great resource for women. Over my years with the organization, I have seen a diverse community where everyone can grow with the sport they love.
IfIhadtosumitupinonelittleflybox,I’dsaymytimewith FFI has brought out my love for fly fishing by connecting me with wonderful people and offering incredible opportunities to grow and learn in the sport. It’s transformed my experiences on the water and helped me grow as both an angler and an instructor. I highly encourage anyone who shares this passion—whether you’re new to fly fishing or a seasoned pro—to join FFI and experience all the great things this community has to offer. Together, we can keep the spirit of fly fishing alive for future generations!
I support FFI because it upholds the integrity of fly fishing through education, connection, and conservation. In a sport rooted in tradition and passed down through mentorship, FFI plays a vital role in ensuring that knowledge is accurate, accessible, and responsibly shared. It brings people together, builds confidence on the water, and helps create a stronger, more informed community. Fly fishing has given me so much over the years—supporting FFI is one way I can help give something back.
April Vokey, FFI International Ambassador Australia, Casting
Why FFI? Because it provides us knowledge, tools and fun. For more than 30 years I have been a fly-casting instructor certified by FFI, and I quickly discovered that it is a unique community. Many casters and anglers belonging to FFI have analyzed the literature, studied successful teaching methods and myths, compared various styles, and explored even the realm of physics to demystify one of the (arguably) most difficult discipline of any throwing activity, fly casting. It is our achievement and now, people can learn or improve fly-casting skills in a very logical way through our certified instructors. We have groups of capable talents in numerous places in the world, including my home turf of Japan. We feel proud that we contributed to the improvement in how fly casting is taught. And we still have a lot of fun by simply casting together. Come join our group!
Tomonori “Bill” Higashi – Casting, Japan
That’s an easy question for me. Over the past 20 years, my involvement with FFI has brought me experiences that have deeply enriched my fly-fishing journey—experiences I never would’ve had without FFI. Most importantly, I’ve become part of a vibrant community of friends and fishing buddies through my local club and council—people I never would have met otherwise. Through FFI’s conservation initiatives, I’ve had the chance to give back by helping protect the waters and habitats we all cherish. And thanks to FFI’s educational programs, I’ve grown as both a fly fisher and a fly tyer.
I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of an organization devoted to preserving “the legacy of fly fishing for all fish in all waters through conservation and education.” I hope you’ll give FFI a try and discover how it can shape your own fly-fishing journey.
Dave Peterson - FFI Board & Conservation
FFI is an encouraging educationbased organization. At first, I joined FFI to become a better caster and an instructor, but as I’ve become more involved it’s become more about camaraderie with other like-minded fly fishers. It’s a group of people who are, in general, willing to explore new ideas and theories about casting, who are willing to learn what is most effective and efficient but who recognize it might not work for everyone.
Carol Northcut – Casting, FFI Women Connect
Historically, FFI has set clear standards in fly fishing education, casting, fly tying and conservation. FFI offers certification for anglers, Casting Instructors and fly tyers, and annual national and international awards, thus maintaining the integrity of the sport.I’m passionate about helping women discover the joys of fly fishing, gaining confidence in the process. My involvement with FFI Women Connect, the women’s arm of FFI, has made me especially appreciate the support FFIoffers women anglers.
When people spend time outdoors, fly fishing, they learn to value the importance of healthy river systems and the need to protect the fish that populate them. FFI encourages conservation and respect for the environment via catch and release and Keep Fish Wet practices and conservation grants.
FFI has built an invaluable networking structure via local clubs, regional councils and international ambassadors, bringing fly fishers throughout America and the world together for fishing and friendship.
Karen Hall – FFI Women Connect
FFI is theonly,truly international organization dedicated to preserving any waters and Inspiring Generations—the very mission of FFI. I am truly proud to be part of this wonderful organization. As a global entity, FFI "Preserves the Legacy of Fly Fishing" for its members in over 40 countries around the world, including the United States of
America (USA). FFI is committed to the conservation of aquatic habitats and the education of future stewards of the environment. Through its worldwide network, FFI promotes sustainable fly-fishing practices while actively protecting rivers, lakes and oceans from ecological harm. Education lies at the heart of FFI’s mission. The organization hosts workshops, youth programs, and community events that teach not only fly-fishing techniques but also the science of ecosystems and the crucial importance of conservation. By blending tradition with environmental advocacy, FFI connects people to nature in meaningful and lasting ways. Furthermore, FFI empowers individuals and communities to become active guardians of aquatic and marine environments, ensuring that clean waters and vibrant fish populations endure for generations to come. For FFI, fly fishing is more than a sport—it’s a path to preservation. I joined FFI to give back the encouragement and knowledge I received from its members. It’s my way of saying thank you to the fisherman in the wool cap and canvas vest who helped me and played such an important role on that long-ago afternoon on Silver Creek. He was a member of FFI.
Kuni
Masuda – FFI Board & International Programs Committee
Why not engage with a true fellowship of anglers spanning all parts of the planet? Why not be part of an organization that serves as the primary voice for fly fishing on a worldwide stage? Why not learn directly from some of the world’s foremost experts in fly casting, fly tying and fishing techniques? Why not add your voice to the efforts aimed at conserving our natural landscapes and preserving the world’s stunning waters and the fish that live in them? Why wait? If you’re passionate about the future of our cherished sport - join us today.
Paul Brown – Casting, UK
FFI has long been the primary and most important support organization for the sport of Fly Fishing and all the essential activities that make the sport fun and productive for fishing for all types of fish in all waters. 'All fish, All waters' is the driving attitude used by FFI to ensure they are supporting all types of fish in all aquatic environments around the world.FFI has a structure and system to train fly-casting and fly-tying instructors and they then share their knowledge withothers interested in learning the sport.FFI alsohas an organizational structure around the world made up of local and regional fly-fishing clubs that connect fly fishing to their communities.Part of this highly organized structure are 17 regional Councils
thatconnectthe home office of FFI to the hundreds of flyfishing clubs around the world.This structureprovides the teaching and experience of fly fishing and ensures the expertise & knowledge needed to be a competent angler can be obtained easily and locally within our communities. In addition to promoting the sport and its necessary expertise, FFI has a strong focus on teaching the importance of conserving our natural world and the watersheds necessary for fishery health and survival.Without fish, fly fishing would be a sport with no real purpose.Protecting our fisheries and watersheds was the primary driving force behind the creation of FFI back in 1965, when representatives of 14 fly-fishing clubs from around America came together in Eugene, Oregon.From that beginning, FFI has grown to hundreds of clubs around the world, 17 organizing FFI Councils and thousands of members.The focus is on teaching fishing skills and protecting our natural world.It provides a process and method to teach fly-fishing to all generations, with a focus on getting people outdoors. It is critically important today to learn about and understand that healthy watersheds are an essential part of what makes planet Earth our home.Water is essential to life, and that water needs to be pure, un-polluted, and freely available to all of us.FFI feels strongly that caring for our planet is a primary part of understanding and participating in the sport of fly fishing.Connecting with our local community through fly fishing is a primary goal of all the FFI member clubs.Getting outdoors and appreciating the world we live in can make all the difference to a healthy future for everyone.
Mark Rockwell
- Conservation
In the spring of 2000, my family and I moved from Salt Lake City to Livingston Montana. I was to become a guide on the Yellowstone River. One day in August, I was driving by Park High School and saw a sign that said, “Federation of Fly Fishers”. I stopped in to learn more about it. The first person I met was Darwin Atkins. Darwin welcomed me with open arms. Over the course of the weekend, I met Joan Wulff, Mel Krieger, Lefty Kreh, Maggie Merriman, Gordy Hill and Tom White—I walked straight into
Why FFI? That’s a great question and one that deserves a considered answer.
In the world of fly fishing, there’s no shortage of special interest groups one might join – but FFI has it all. FFI’s “ALL FISH, ALL WATERS” umbrella embraces all fly-fishing activities ranging from local club’s social, fishing and conservation outings, to talented fly tiers and world-class fly-casting instructors who love to teach, and our many conservation partners who advocate with us to protect fisheries and habitat.
FFI has created a ‘community’ of fly fishers – one that has enriched our lives for nearly 30 years. We’ve formed lifelong friendships, advocated for and written about conserving native trout, salmon and steelhead and traveled the world fly fishing, training fly-casting instructors and most recently, teaching fly casting skills in Japan. Join us in FFI and become part of this amazing and wonderful community! Rick & Shauna Williams – Rick is a Senior Advisor for Casting & Conservation
the fly-fishing Hall of Fame. My goal was to build a successful business and offer the greatest value to my clientele that I could. I could not have been in better hands. Over the years I learned from these greats, and made many new friends as well, all of whom offered amazing support. I guided for 14 years and built up a loyal customer base. Today I live in Washington state. I no longer guide, but I keep busy teaching and volunteering for FFI.
I now have my MCI in both Single Hand and Two Hand casting. Because of FFI, I have friends and colleagues literally around the world and continue to learn to this day. Molly Semenik - Casting
FFI is looking to the future by teaching fly fishing, fly tying, casting and conservation. Now is the time, no matter what your age, from five to 95, to learn fly fishing. Join FFI in continuing to enrich our fly-fishing waters around the world. The more fly fishers who join FFI, the stronger our voice becomes. This will ensure that waters will always be available to enjoy this sport. Join now, or if you are currently a member, please don’t hesitate to renew your membership. I started fly fishing when I was 14, learning on the rivers of eastern Oregon. Since then, I have mostly fly fished in the great northwest, including Washington, Oregon, Montana and British Columbia. I have also fished in Wyoming, Ontario and Florida. No matter where I go, I meet a great group of people, mainly fly fishers.
Larry Gibbs – Life Member of FFI
Trout, bonefish, tarpon, and even redfish have a voice, but who speaks for the others? Who speaks for smallmouth or largemouth bass? What about the shad runs or white bass runs? Who is looking out for the bluegill or even the carp? Who can speak for all fish, all waters? I’ve been privileged to catch 64 different species on the fly. I hope to add more to my life list. I am an all waters, all fish kind of fly angler, so I do my best to speak for all of them, but I can’t do it alone. It takes a community … a community that teaches, provides resources and can pull together all fly anglers to speak for all fish, all waters. That’s why I’m FFI.
Terry Hackett - Lifetime FFI Member & VP Conservation, Southeast Council
I support FFI because I’ve worked a career as a Certified Wildlife Biologist researching and conserving species and their habitats. A question others have often asked of me is “How can I as one person with conservation concerns make a difference?”. I always recommend they fully inform themselves by joining a conservation-based organization that represents their personal interests and conservation values, and their chosen organization will in turn invest their support with conservation concerns of others and deliver a more powerful conservation voice to policymakers. FFI and their conservation programs do this for me. Conservation of wetlands is fundamental not only to quality fisheries but more importantly to the health and function of all natural systems that remove carbons from our atmosphere, maintain our rain cycles and produce the oxygen and freshwater that are essential to all life, including human life. FFI protects my fly-fishing opportunities but their actions also represent my conservation values in a more powerful way than is otherwise possible. Supporting
There aren’t too many absolutes in life, but it seems that every time I mention that I like fly fishing, the person I am talking to will say “I would like to learn how to fly fish!” That’s when I introduce people to FFI as the place to learn about how to fly fish. FFI’s website has educational materials and videos on fly-fishing skills, fly casting and fly tying. FFI has councils and clubs across the nation and internationally where you can connect with experienced fly fishers, certified fly-casting instructors and top-notch flytyers to learn the skills and art of fly fishing. And true to the FFI’s motto of All Fish, All Waters, fly fishing can take you to some of the most beautiful freshwater and saltwater places on earth. When people ask “Why FFI?”, I say, “it will change your life forever!”
Todd Heggestad- Casting, Council President’s Committee Chair, FFI Board, Upper Midwest Council
FFI makes stronger the difference I personally make in the conservation of natural systems and my own quality of life.
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Upper Midwest Council October 6-12
Learning to Fly Lessons from the Casting
Field
Scott Zarenchansky
Let’s start with a deep truth that’s revealed in jest. Just like everyone else, I’m entitled to my wrong opinion. The ideas and advice that follow are what I learned to be of great value to me and I hope they are of some value to you, too. I wish you success on the path to becoming a Fly Fishers International Certified Casting Instructor (FFI CI). Have fun! Becoming a CI is a journey of discovery, enjoy the ride.
Be Kind to Yourself
Every CI, MCI, and awesome caster you have ever seen started exactly where you did. You are competing against yourself. You will move at your own pace. Comparing yourself to others is folly. Your goal is to meet and exceed the exam standards, not other candidates.
Anyone can be cool. Being Awesome Takes Practice
Settinguparegularandconsistentstudyandpracticeschedule is one of the keys to success. As they say, “the quickest way to Carnegie Hall is practice.” Study and practice! Learning and being a student is hard work; however, it can also be exciting and invigorating. It’s all in how you frame it. Becoming a CI is a journey of continual learning and improvement.
Set the field as described in the exam every time you practice. Over time you will know the distance of each cone. Take a few minutes each day to visualize your casting and teaching tasks. This will help you visualize your success. Along with visualization, I can’t emphasize enough the importance of filming your casting sessions followed by analysis. The more loops you see, the easier it will become to identify them. The feeling and realization of seeing your loops on video will change your whole perspective on what happens when you cast. There are many things to being successful and accurate on Tasks 12 & 13. They all boil down to “aim small, miss small.” When I studied for the CI exam, the performance standard was 15 to 18 inches from center of the cone depending on the distance of the target. I didn’t have hoops, so I used orange soccer cones and over time completely forgot about the 30” to 36” zone around the cone. A couple of months before my exam, I was reminded about the margin of error from the center of the target circle around the cone. It didn’t matter because I
practiced aiming and missing small.
Read the exam and study guide regularly. Yes, read them repeatedly. All the exam answers are on the exam and in the study guide.
You will be your own best student. Give yourself the only true gift, the gift of time, time to learn and become excellent. For some, the path will be short. But for those whose path is longer, enjoy the process. Be proud of small increments of success. For example, when learning the distance cast task, the secret is to learn it a foot or two at a time. Be patient with yourself, this process takes time. Before you know it, you’ll be casting 75’ and more.
Being a good student is hard work and requires preparation, attention and follow through. Take notes during class, your practice sessions and when you meet with your coach. Afterward type your notes in a word document so you can organize and search your notes. Take time to reflect on what you’re learning and how it relates to casting, teaching, and fishing.
Be open to learning. Sometimes as adults, it’s hard to be criticized, especially when learning new things. Leave that idea lost. Instead, reframe it something like this: It’s not criticism, it’s
expert analysis of your casting skills so you can improve and be excellent. It’s not criticism of your teaching task rehearsals; it’s expert review and direction to help you become a better teacher. Just like any other professional sport.
Fresh or Salt, It’s All Casting
My cohort had two freshwater anglers, one fresh/salt angler and one salty dog. I’m the salty dog in the group and was initially frustrated with learning the “trout casts.” At the same time, I went through the trout cast learning curve my fellow candidates experienced a salty cast learning curve. Initially I was somewhat resistant to the wiggle cast, the reach mend and the rest, but then it occurred to me that learning new casts and techniques and being able to teach them was what it’s all about. I found that many of the trout casts were useful in salty situations and more than that my future students may want to learn trout casts. The more casts you know and can teach the better fishing experiences you and your students will have. I’m living proof that you can teach an
Scott Zarenchansky
Scott is a FFI Certified Casting Instructor. There is more to fly fishing than going faster. Fresh or salt, it’s all fly fishing.
old salty dog a new trout-cast. I’m living proof that you can teach an old salty dog new trout-casts. Remember, fresh or salt it’s all casting.
Practice, Practice Exams
Give yourself practice tests and if you’re lucky, have a friend be the “examiner” and read the tasks to you. Simulate test conditions including getting up and being ready for an exam, same time of day, trying no more than three times to complete a task, setting the field with a tape measure and cones as described in the exam, and driving to a practice exam site. Video record the practice exams and review the film for areas of improvement and refinement. These practice exam simulations will go a long way to helping you on your actual exam day.
Let It Roll
I purchased an Echo micro practice rod, and it made all the difference in my successfully learning the roll cast. Whether it was crazy hot or cold, raining, or I just felt like practicing, I could practice the roll cast in my house. And when rehearsing the teaching tasks indoors, I also used the practice rod. It has and continues to be a great teaching tool. As Don Simonson, FFI MCI says about learning and teaching the roll cast, “stop high and let it fly.”
You And Your Students Are One
Students may forget the lesson, but they will never forget how you made them feel. No one knows everything. The best instructors and anglers know that the more they
know, the more there is always something new to learn. They also remember that they were once a newbie like their students, and they remember what it felt like. In these ways and many others, we are all the same. When learning to meet the casting standards, remember to think about how it relates to teaching and fishing. Your struggles will also be your student’s challenges. Be kind to yourself so you can be kind to your students and encourage them.
Remember Your Favorite Teachers
The best teachers are patient, kind, empathetic, encouraging, effective, and generous with time and resources. They inspire us to reach beyond ourselves and achieve what we thought was impossible. They earn
our respect. Treat yourself this way when teaching yourself so you can be the kind of teacher that inspires.
Learn the Lingo
Get a set of index cards and make a couple sets of vocabulary flash cards. Hand write the words on one side with the definition and illustration on the other. Writing them out will help you learn them. Review your cards out of order before and after you cast and use these words when you talk about casting. Have a friend quiz you and carry a set and quiz yourself in spare moments.
The Zen of Casting
I was once told that one can make fly fishing as complicated or as simple as you want. However, I believe that the essence of all things fly fishing is, less is more. Casting takes way less effort than most of us realize. Let it flow.
Substance Over Style
As my wise coach says, “It really is that simple, it’s all about the five essentials of fly casting.” Many of us have our own ideas about fly fishing and casting and that’s great, think of it as style. However, the five essentials are the substance of fly casting. Think of the essentials as the foundation that remains the same. Your style is your style. If the five essentials are solid, your casting and teaching styles are exactly that, your style. The same is true for your students.
Learn Something, Teach Something
Sometimes it will seem it’s all about casting. Well, my friends, it’s actually all about teaching even if you’re teaching yourself a new casting skill. It’s also about teaching better casting for a better fishing experience. When you teach and rehearse the teaching tasks, all your casting knowledge will come alive. You can teach a friend how to perform the PULD, roll cast, false casting and other casting skills. We have all seen casting videos on YouTube, a select few better than most. Well, film yourself rehearsing the teaching tasks. The camera is your student. Yes, this will seem awkward and uncomfortable but over time you will become comfortable with the material, you will be using the vocabulary words, your demonstrations will match your
explanations and you might even be surprised by how good your videos become. You will find yourself using these teaching scripts, in whole or part, as you teach students. Rehearse, rehearse and then, rehearse some more.
Less is More
Perhaps a metaphor for life or the mantra for all things fly fishing, “less is more.” I’m paraphrasing Macauley Lord’s quote, “The quality of instruction is inversely related to the amount of talking by the instructor.” My mentor, Jonathan Walter, would tell our cohort, “Be clear, simple, concise and precise.”
Invest in Your Success
My coach would say, “Casting is a perishable skill.” His advice was to practice regularly versus once a week. The
most valuable investment you can make is time. How much time? Only you can decide that.
Use a pad device for filming your practice sessions, editing your video and reviewing your casting. You can do the same for your students. Purchase a tripod and mount for your phone/ pad/video camera and use it to record and analyze video of your practice casting sessions and teaching task rehearsals. Edit out all the superfluous footage, like setting up, walking back and forth to the camera, stuff like that. Your editing goal is to have a video of just you casting. During the editing process you will have reviewed your casting and will start to see where you can improve. And if you are sending your video to your mentor, you will be doing them a solid by not making them watch you walk back and forth to the camera and other non-casting footage.
Get a double-sided tape measure for the field that has
measurements in feet and easy-to-read numbers on both sides of the tape.
7 wt. rods make distance casting way easier, get one! You’ll need a fly line too, an orange one with a distance taper will help you with your tasks and be easier for you and your students to see when casting.
Have multiple locations for your practice sessions. When choosing a practice field, find a space that has minimal distractions and a background like trees or a dark fence or wall, so when you film your sessions, you will be able to easily see your loops. You never know when the place you practice might not be available and having an alternate location is clutch in that situation.
Use a bucket, backpack or some other pack for your CI kit. Your kit should contain, a tape measure, cones, study guide, a set of vocabulary flash cards, notebook and pencil for notes, tripod, camera mount, flashlight, your teaching scripts, band aids, snacks, water, sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, roll cast tool, a zip lock bag with yarn, leaders, tippet and hemostats with scissors. Additionally, having a lightweight camping chair is a sweet way to take a break between practicing tasks. Most importantly, take a positive mental attitude.
Learn to Draw
As a new CI candidate, I struggled to figure out how to lay out a loop on the ground for the teaching tasks. I tried many different methods and all of them lacked a sense of professionalism and competence until I learned how to draw a loop. Yes, draw a loop but with a fly rod. First clear your line and have it laid out straight in front of you, parallel with the tape helps. Then with the rod tip pointing at and very near the ground begin to draw a loop using the rod as a giant pencil. While drawing, the same principles of loop formation apply, if you move the rod tip in a doming path, you will draw a wide loop with the fly line. And if you keep the rod tip on a straight-line rod tip path, you will draw a narrow loop. As all things worth learning, this skill will take practice but in time you will be able to draw the loop so your students can clearly see it.
It’s a Mental Game
Embrace the philosophy of elite athletes in competition. It’s called precursive faith: yesterday’s loss doesn’t prevent me
from winning today. We all have good days and not so good days and so will you. Take it all in stride and believe in yourself.
Competence Breeds Confidence
We all have had the day when we think we can’t do it, we all have wondered if we are good enough to pass a test, meet the mark or be just good enough. Often, we are experiencing what researchers call the impostor syndrome. Yes, even the people you think are the rock-n-roll legends of fly fishing have felt this way. It’s called experiencing the human condition. My mentor used to say, “competence breeds confidence.” He was right. If you can put your ego aside and be completely honest with yourself, you will know when you have reached the point of confidence that was bred from competence. There was a time when I wasn’t sure when there would be a test site for the exam, when I was tired of the hours of practicing casting, studying, rehearsing teaching tasks and wondering if I would ever become a CI. My coach said these words, “Wouldn’t you like to be walking around and, on any day, know you could pass the CI exam”? The answer was yes! And now I ask you…Wouldn’t you like to walk around knowing that on any day, in any place, you could pass the CI test?
I Get Fly with a Little Help from My Friends
No one becomes a CI alone. All of us have the support of a spouse, friend, mentor and/or a community. Your inner circle will generously invest their time in you. How do you repay this debt? You repay the debt in two ways: by being a prepared and dedicated student and instructor, and by paying and teaching it forward. Whoever these people are in your life, remember that they and the examiners want you to pass. Yes, only you will spend countless hours studying, practicing casting and teaching tasks, reviewing and analyzing video of your casts, and thinking about all things CI and the exam. But you are not alone—all your support team are with you and for you. Take the time to thank them and celebrate your progress with them.
Scott Zarenchansky, FFI CI “There is more to fly fishing than going faster.”
This article is dedicated with gratitude to my loving wife Andrea and my kind mentor Jonathan Walter, M.D., FFI MCI. Without them, none of this would have been possible.
FFI GUIDES, OUTFITTERS AND BUSINESS LISTINGS
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FLY TYING FOR ALL FISH ALL WATERS
Flies, Recipes and Tying Guidance
From The Fly Tying Group of FFI
Larry Olson
This new hard cover, 350-page book, is packed with high quality photos and articles from some of thefinestfly tiersintheworld. Allprofits from the sale of the book will benefit the further development of the Buszek Library of Fly Fishers International. This library is the online resource where educational and instructional materials created by recipients of FFI’s Buz Buszek Memorial Fly-Tying Award are memorialized and available to all.
In the fall of 2024 tiers gathered for an annual rendezvous in Dallas, Texas and 30 tiers who fish all waters for all fish share their favorite patterns. You will learn not only how to tie the flies but some of their history and tips on how to fish them.
A“LookingBack”chapterfeaturestiers
Larry Olson
from the conclaves of FFF over thirty years ago. Wayne Luallen, Craig Mathews, Bruce Staples, Scott Sanchez, Masao Sakaguchi, and Al & Gretchen Beatty revisit their patterns and experiences.
Renown fly tiers show you how to improve your game in, “How can I become aBetterTier?”Articlesandphotosthatwill takeyourtyingtothenextlevelfromHans Van Klinken, Charlie Craven, Skip Morris, Dave Whitlock, Craig Mathews, Al Ritt, DutchBaughman,JerryCovielloandmore.
Two excerpts from the book will give you an idea of the unique and valuable content on fly tying. Texas tier, Rocky Gribble,sharesoneofhisfavoriteties,the Soggy Stone. Kelly Galloup provides some tips on improving your tying. The book is available for purchase on the FFI website
at flyfishersinternational.org/store. For more information contact us at FlyTyingBook@gmail.com.
Improve Your Tying With These Tips
Kelly Galloup
Today’s tyers have a luxury unafforded to thetyersofmygenerationwhowerestuck withbooksthatfeaturedsimplepicturesor handdrawings.Today’styershaveliterally thousands of free videos from the world’s best tyers showing every single aspect of theprocess.IthinkIhavelearnedmorein the last ten years of tying than I did in the first fifty, simply from watching all the greattyersoutthere;itistrulythegreatest learning tool in history.
Repetition is the key to great tying, but as Bruce Lee once said: “Practice does not
Larry Olson is the Managing Editor of the Whip Finish Journal, a quarterly publication of the Fly-Tying Group, and the new book, ‘Fly Tying for All Fish All Waters’. He is also Communications and Publications Director for the Upper Midwest Council of Fly Fishers International.
make perfect, perfect practice make perfect.”
All fly tying starts with thread control, meaningeveryturnofthreadhasthesame amount of tension. This does not mean the wrap cannot be loose on purpose. For example, the first turn on a wing set may be loose to get the thread in position, but theactualsettingwrapwillallbethesame eventension.Threadtensionisparamount tobuildingtightbodies,butdonotconfuse this with having a shaggy body on purpose. Bodies that are made to look loose or shaggy are still put on the hook tight; or in other words, with tight, even tension.
Basically, all materials go on the hook with the same tension and they only need three wraps maximum to be secured: The set, the anchor, and the finish. This goes back to that perfect tension. Excess thread wraps build bulk and bulk is your enemy. Bulk on a fly makes it hard for your next material sets and ultimately creates unwanted extra material that will change the look of your fly. Building bulk with excess turns does not help secure your material. If you are one of those tyers who throws two or three wraps after every set forsecuritypurposes,understandthatthis is not building structural integrity into your fly but doing the opposite.
Second to thread control is control of your materials. Many tyers manhandle their materials or have way too soft a grip to maintain proper position of the materials. Each tyer’s technique can be different, so it is best to experiment with the amount of pressure you put on a particular set. If it rolls off to one side, it is likelyyouneedafirmergrip.Ifitisalways off on the side you are setting on, you likely need less grip or you need to relax over the vice. I often see tyers contorting themselvesoverthevicetryingtogettheir
shoulders or heads over the hook. If you are one of those contortionists, try to relax a little. Some steps will be done a little bit blind and whatever hand you use to manipulatethematerialsneedstoholdthe set while the thread hand secures it—This is usually just a matter of a slightly tighter hold and believing in your thread control. Practice the set that is not behaving.
Tips:
Practice tying a step, not an entire fly. If you struggle at tying a particular step in a fly, like a deer hair collar or a bronze mallard wing set, whatever it is, choose that single step and practice it over and over until you master it. My suggestion is to tie the fly to the point of the problem. For example, if you need to practice the collar, you will complete the whip finish andthensupergluethe thread. When the glue is dry, begin to tie the collar. Tie in the collar only and then pass judgment on your work. Take a good honest look at it. Is it what you want? Is it perfect? Is it loose? Is it lopsided? Get a good idea of what you did wrong, and now you can cut it off. Just cut the collar-- that is why you super glued the thread.Thendoitagain nine more times, just the step you are practicing only. When you can do ten in a row perfectly, you should never make the same mistake again. At all costs never say “That
will do,” or my absolute most hated statement, “It’ll fish.” In other words, you are really saying you are not really interested in mastering this!
Starts and finishes.
The two most common problems in fly tying are rushing the head, which is not leaving enough room for the head, and inconsistent tails sets, where they are too far back or too far forward. To combat this, use your thread and your hook as a guide to where you start and end things. For example, if you never leave enough room for the head, first ask yourself how long of aheaddoyouwant?Ilikeafour-wraphead on my dries, so that is where I start my thread and then move back to the bend of the hook to begin the fly. I am comfortable knowing that spot, so I simply start my
The Soggy Stone
Rocky Gribble
This fly comes to us via Idaho’s Snake River Fly Shop after the need arose for a dry stonefly pattern that didn’t sit in the surface quite as high as other stonefly dries. In the summer of 2024, I decided to fish some
Step 1
Begin with a bent-shank streamer hook (straight hooks may be carefully bent with pliers). Attach thread to hook shank approximately 1 eye length behind eye. Clip off the thread tag, wrap the thread to the hook bend with open wraps, then wrap the thread back to the elbow of the bent shank. Tie in the rubber leg tails at the elbow. Pull one tail to the near side of the hook & secure with thread wraps to the hook bend. Return the thread to the elbow of the bent shank & repeat the process with the other tail on the far side of the hook. Trim the tails to length. Next, wrap the thread forward to behind the hook eye.
fairly swift water on the Rio Grande in Southwest Colorado. I had seen several BIG stoneflies (I’m talking a size 4!) fluttering across a nearby smaller river and, with the Rio being great for stones, I decided to pull this fly from my fly box.
Step 2
Tie in a bundle of wing fibers at the hook eye & securewiththreadwrapstothehookbend.Clip the tail end of the fibers for a tuft that extends approx. half the length of the tails. Return the thread to the elbow of the bent shank.
Step 3
At the elbow of the bent shank, tie in the chenille & secure with thread wraps to the hook bend. Return the thread to the elbow.
RECIPE
Abdomen & Thorax: Small Pearl Chenille, yellow
Thorax Underbody & Head: 2mm Craft
Foam, tan
Legs: Medium Rubber legs, yellow barred black
Eyes: Black marker & UV Resin, thick
Hook: Daiichi 1730, sizes 10-4
Thread: Uni 8/0, yellow
Tail Tuft & Wing: EP 3D Fibers, gray
Tails: Medium Rubber Legs, yellow barred black
Although I tied the fly with Pearl Chenille instead of the original Elasticore body, it took only 3-4 casts to hook and land a nice Rainbow on my #6 Soggy Stone. Thisflycanbetiedinavarietyofcolors & materials.
Step 4
Fold the wing fibers rearward & tie down at the elbow.
Step 5
Attheelbow,tieintheendofacraftfoamstripin front of the wing & secure to the hook eye.
(Note: To improve the buoyancy of the thorax, donotbindthissectionofcraftfoamtootightly.)
Step 6
Fold the wing forward over the hook eye & tie down. Move the thread to the mid-point of the thorax.
Step 7
Tiein3strandsofrubberlegsatthemidpointof the thorax. Use X-wraps to position the legs atop & perpendicular to the thorax area. Move the thread forward to the hook eye.
Step 8
Now wrap the abdomen & thorax with chenille. Use the chenille to position the legs, i.e. rear legs facing rearward, middle legs perpendicular to the thorax, front legs facing forward. Tie off behind the hook eye & clip the tag.
Step 10
Pull the wing & excess foam strip rearward over the back of the fly and form the head by tying down behind the hook eye.
Step 9
For the head, fold the foam strip at a point extending beyond the hook eye as depicted in this pic of the underside of the fly.
Step 11
Lift the wing & foam in order to move the thread rearward with very open wraps to a point immediately in front of the rear legs. Pull the wing &foamstriprearward,thenusethreadwrapsto create the middle section of the thorax.
Step 12
Whip finish around this section & clip the tag. Trim the wing & foam strip to length.
Step 13
Use a small hair clip or wire wraps to hold back the legs of the fly. Create eyes on each side of the head with a black marker.
Step 14
Place a “dome” of UV resin on each eye & cure. UseatinysmearofUVatopthethreadwrapson the thorax & cure.
Step 15
Remove the clip & trim the legs to the desired length. Use a marker to darken the top & sides oftheabdomen.Ifdesired,useamarkertoadd color & character to the foam thorax.
thread there. If you are not aware of the proper spacing, start the thread right at the eye and go back four turns, look at where you are, then reset and leave a fourturn gap of no thread. You will learn the right spot over time. Alternately, it is very easytostartyourthreadatthe¼markand move forward to the eye and then simply unwrapfourturnswhenyougettotheeye of the hook (or whatever amount you want your head to be). This will leave you the exact number of thread wraps you want to finish the head. There will be a bare or threadless portion of the hook when you are close to finishing the fly. It is that bare
spot near the eye of the hook that will tell you that nothing gets to go there except the thread to build the head.
On the other end of the hook where we setthetailcanoftenbethesecondbiggest problem area. To make your tail sets very consistent, use your hook as a gauge as to where your tail will set. You can use several parts of the hook as your gauge: the point of the hook, the beginning of the barb where it goes up, or the tip of the barb. It is up to you to decide what is best foryoutouse,butpickoneonpurposeand always check to see after you put your tail set on that your thread is in the same spot every time. If for example you picked the tipofthebarbasyourstartpointwithyour bobbinhangingstraightdown,yourthread should be right in front of the tip of the barb. If you put anything else on after the tail(rib,bodymaterialetc.),everytimeyou finish with a new material, check to see if your thread is in right spot by simply letting the bobbin hang down the side of the hook and look at where your thread is hanging in relation to the tip of the barb. Thiswillgiveyoumoreconsistencytoyour flies which is the true desired result.
Do not be afraid to go backwards.
Iseldomseetyersremoveamaterialifitis not looking right. If it is not right, do not fall in love with it! Simply undo what you putonanddoitoveragain.Ihavesaiditin manyvideos:Ifyouaredonewithaflyand it does not look right, take a razor blade to it, and start over! Your brain does not like failure, so you will be much less likely to make a mistake twice if you punish yourselffordoingitwrong,andcuttingthe fly off is the ultimate punishment. For those who do not choose to lob the fly off you will see that fly sit in your box for years unused because you can see there is
somethingwrongwiththeflyandlikelyso willthefish.Fliesnottiedcorrectlyarenot worth fishing and therefore never see water. It will be more painful throwing the rusty little space takers out than it would havebeensimplytakingthemtotheblade.
Tie multiples and compare.
Lastly, I would encourage you to tie six or more of the same fly as often as you can andlinethemupnexttoeachother.Seeing them all together tells you if you are learning and developing consistency in your fly. Are all the tails the same number and length? Are the bodies the same length and taper? Do they have the same number of ribbing wraps? Are the wings the same length and shape? And the crescendo, are all the heads the same number of wraps?
Drifting in Boats, Casting Flies
Simple Principles to Cover more Water
Walking and wading is probably the most common method of exploring moving water. Often there are more miles of stream available for wading than for floating, so the likely reason we hear so much about the difficulties in fishing from a drifting boat is anglers’ general inexperience in doing it.
It’s true it can be a challenge with so much going on. The boat is moving, the water is moving, someone is rowing and there’s probably another angler casting. And there’s your own fly line laying at yourfeet.You’retryingtolookdownstream tofindthenexttarget,you’retryingtostay stable on your feet through rough water, and all the while you’re trying to catch fish. But, it is a great way to fish despite the challenges. You can cover far more water than you ever would from your feet, and you can fish the most productive water. It really isn’t that tough, especially if you follow a few simple principles.
1. Keep a Clean House
Beforeyoubegin,takeaminuteandlookat your area in the boat. Be sure it’s well
Jeff Wagner
Jeff Wagner
organized and free of potential line-snags like boat bags, extra rods, and clothing. When the fishing gets hot you don’t want to be fighting an obnoxious line snag that prevents you from focusing on your next cast.Occasionallycleanup,reorganizeand even ask to pull the boat over for a quick break so you can organize and not be rushedorfeelinglikeyouaremissingfish.
2. Play Well With Others
The key here is not poaching the other angler’s water. The front angler generally has the advantage as he gets the first cast into new water. From the front of the boat, they can cast in front of the boat and back as far as perpendicular to the bank. Better yet, both anglers cast in a lane forward thatallowsfishingofwaterinfrontoftheir position and getting a full drift. Water behind that point (upstream) is the rear angler’s water. Most of the time both anglers should cast ahead of the boat so that as the boat moves, the fly line becomes shorter and the fly’s position more perpendicular to the angler.
Most anglers get into a regular casting rhythm if the water is somewhat
homogeneous.Payattentiontothisrhythm and to that of the other angler. This prevents losing time to tangled lines. If possible, alternate casts so you have clear air space. Mid-air collisions cause tangles, lost time, and lost fish, and are frustrating for the person rowing the boat who must inevitably play the role of referee. And, better yet, get into the same rhythm of casting and presenting and at congruent angles so your back casts are parallel to each other and at the same time.
3. Communicate
Talk to each other and listen to the guy at the oars. Not only is this a good safety measure but it’s also a great way to know when and where to cast. The other day while watching my daughter play tennis, thisskillwasdemonstratedwell.Justmake an audible “casting” and “fish” or “snag”. Eventually the patterns of each angler will become apparent.
4. Choose a Target
But what about the actual casting? As noted earlier, most casts will be made quartering downstream. But casting at
When he’s not fishing or casting you’ll find Jeff hiking or biking the back country with his family. They also volunteer their time to conservation efforts with groups such as Fly Fishers International. Oh, and during business hours Jeff does business stuff.
general or random water is a sure way to reduce the number of fish you catch. Instead, choose a specific target. This not only increases your accuracy but also the effectiveness of your presentation. The target may be a rock under the water, a seam of current, a shadow, a branch. Consider the movement of the boat, the speed of the current, and if you’re fishing with sunken flies, the sink-rate of the flies and the depth of the water where the fish are holding. The faster and deeper the water the more time you need. And in this case,timeisdistance.Ifyouwanttheflyto sink to a depth of four feet by the time it reaches a particular spot, you need to cast farther above that spot than if you wanted the fly to sink to just two feet.
5. Cast Short and Straight
I know, I know… I’m the guy who constantly stretches the distance and pushesformore.However,you’reinaboat, souseit.Withtheboatinthebestposition, a shorter cast requires less line and this reduces potential slack, improves line control and increases hook-ups. Along with this, fish a straight line. I know, I know… I write about fancy casts, aerial mends, and all kinds of non-straight-line casts. In a boat though, there’s a lot going on and all the variables increase the potential of unwanted slack and poor presentations.Asimpleshort,straight-line castistheticket.Waitforthestructureand the fish to come to you.
6. Control the Line
After you’ve made a cast to the right location with the proper lead-time, you need to manage the fly line. This is also where making a short cast at a consistent distance can be important. Casting nearly the same amount of line every time reduces the amount of line you need to
handle. Having line at your feet that may getcaughtonthesideoftheboat,wrapped around an ankle or otherwise tangled will frustrateyouandreduceyourfishingtime. It may also reduce your reaction time if after every cast you must clear your line fromthedeckorunwrapitfromthebuttof the rod. It’s common to have fish eat a fly only moments after the fly enters the water. Keeping the line under control with little slack increases your hook-up rate.
7. Don’t Cast
Oratleast,castaslittleaspossible. Oneof thegreatadvantagesoffishingfromaboat is the fact that we’re moving with the current, drifting at the same rate as our flies. Every time we pick up to recast, we waste valuable fishing time. It takes time topickupfromthewater,makeafalsecast or two, and finally deliver. So don’t re-cast until necessary, and limit the number of false casts between deliveries. Remember to look downstream, choose a landing spot
that will give the longest drift, and then milkitforallit’sworth.Youcanonlycatch fish if your fly is in the water. If you’ve retrieved quite a bit of your line during its drift, one way to limit false casts is to let two to four feet of line slip into the rod as you begin your backcast/pickup. Then pinch the line with your rod hand and continue your backcast. This way you can add line before making the forward cast. And just limit your backcasts in general. Evenabadcastfishedisstillfishingrather than making another cast and missing more water.
8. Stop, Look and Listen
Fishing from a boat is a special way to enjoy our sport, but not all the entertainment is in the water. Stop casting occasionally, look up, take a deep breath and soak it all in. Most people remember the wildlife, the conversations, and the beauty of the day more than the fish they catch - unless of course it’s a big fish.
Photo: Fly Fusion Series
The Next Generation of Catch and Release
Handle Fish Safely for Soft Release
Tom Logan & Dave Peterson
Areyoureadytotakethenextsteps toimprovethesurvivalofthefish you catch and release? FFI’s new initiative, “Handle Fish Safely for Soft Release” provides every fly fisher with new opportunities to make a personal commitment to conservation of our valuable fishery resources.
FFI once again leads the way to protect fish with the adoption and publication of “Handle Fish Safely for Soft Release,” a program and accompanying brochure recommending specific actions that fly fishers can take to improve the survival of thefishtheycatchandthenrelease.These new recommendations continue FFI’s leadership in promoting safer and scientifically sound catch and release practices.
Did you know that FFI was one of the pioneers in “Catch and Release” fishing?
Tom Logan
First, a little background. Catch and release fishing practices date back to 19th century Britain where anglers released fish to maintain heavily fished populations. Catch and release fishing likely got its start in in the United States during the 1930s when famous fly fisher and conservationist, Lee Wulff, promoted the practice, saying, “Gamefish are too valuable to only be caught once,” Partially due to Wulff’s advocacy and other early leaders, FFI became an early proponent of catch and release.
Tom Logan, FFI Chair Emeritus and Senior Conservation Advisor, initially conceptualized the new initiative, using currentresearchandbestpracticestodraft the key components of the program. FFI’s early leaders recognized “Catch and Release” as a conservation practice that “every fly fisher could use to reduce
fishing-related mortality and sustain healthy fish populations.” Fly Fishers International continues to strongly advocate the safe release of fish. “Catch and release” has become a popular, accepted practice throughout the world. Many state management agencies are now alsoregulatingthereleaseofcaughtfishto reduce “take” where “over harvest” of fisherieshasbeendocumented,toassistin restoration of sensitive fish populations and to optimize recreational opportunities.”
Research has shown that native game fish in cold, warm and salt waters can be safely returned to the water with the expectation that they will not only survive but also reproduce. Still, post-release mortality can be as high as 18%, depending upon the species and environmental circumstances, but
Tom H. Logan, a retired Certified Wildlife Biologist, conducted research and management of endangered and other wildlife for 48 years. He is a life member of Fly Fishers International, Chairman Emeritus of the FFI Board and it’s Conservation and Fly Tying Programs Committees and currently serves as Vice President of the Florida Council. Tom is a FFI Certified Casting Instructor, teaches fly casting and tying and writes articles on the Biology of Fly Selection and Natural Resource Conservation.
especially how the fish is handled prior to release. As a result, FFI is implementing the new program to improve the survival offishwereleaseforconservationreasons. (https://www.flyfishersinternational.org/ Conservation/Ethos/Soft-Release)
Key Elements of the Initiative
Handle
Fish Safely
•Fish with barbless “Single Hooks,” or hookswithbarbsbentdown,tominimize tissue damage during removal.
•Land fish quickly in a rubberized net.
•Wet your hands before handling a fish, don’t squeeze the fish and keep them in the water and wet to the extent possible.
•Do not support fish by the jaw for any reason.
•Use hemostats or dehooking devices to remove hooks while the fish remains in water or net.
•Never lay fish on rocks, bank or boat or
keep them out of water for an extended period to photograph.
•Watch for predators that may take a fish on your line and stop fishing or move from the area if necessary.
•“Keep Fish Wet”
Soft Release of Fish
•Minimize the time your fish is out of the water.
•Wetyourhandswhenhandlingyourfish.
•Keep fingers away from gills and eyes and never support fish horizontally by jaw.
•Never squeeze your fish.
•Cradle fish gently in hand or net and in the water until the fish swims away freely.
•Fish native to cold and/or moving water may need to be held with their nose upstream to sufficiently recover before release.
Photograph Fish Safely to Improve Survival
The high-quality digital cameras in our smartphones take excellent photographs of fish, other wildlife and the wetlands where we fish. The fly fisher can take multiplephotographs,quicklyreviewthem, and edit and discard them later. Be sure to secure your camera with a lanyard when overwater.
Excellent photographs can be created in severalways,whetherstandinginthewater with the fish or photographing it from a boat. Photographs of smaller fish can be easier to compose; while photographing largerfishsafelycanbemorechallenging. Handling fish safely and softly releasing larger and often heavily harvested trophy species is especially important to postrelease survival. The popular practice of photographing fish in hand is another reason for handling fish safely and releasing them softly. The following practices will help ensure the fish you releasesurvive.
General Tips for Safe Fish Pictures:
•Ask a partner to assist in taking the picture, this is especially helpful when photographing larger or very active fish.
•Don’t photograph every fish; be selective.
•Avoid holding fish completely out of water and never lay fish on rocks, shore or boat.
•Leave fish in water on the line or in a rubberizednetwhileturningthecamera on and planning the photograph.
•Avoid photographing highly active fish; wait for the next fish.
•Fish will often calm when pressure on the line is slackened, making natural photographs in water possible.
Taking the Picture:
•Wet hands before handling a fish.
•Have your camera ready before handling the fish for the picture.
•Compose the picture, take photographs quickly and softly release the fish as soon as possible.
•“Keep Fish Wet” at all times as you prepare to take your photograph.
•Calmed fish can be photographed cradled in hand or in a net.
•Larger fish can be photographed in wet
hands,partiallyoutoforjustabovewater with water dripping, as well as when they are being released softly from hand into the water.
•Avoid retaining fish longer when trying for the perfect photograph.
•Take several successive photographs of moving fish and review them later to avoid holding fish for extended periods. Wide scale adoption of the “safe handling” practices outlined in the new program and brochure will help to
safeguard the fisheries we enjoy and treasure. We hope that you will join us in embracing this new program by making your personal commitment to adopt and promote safer and scientifically sound catch and release practices. Help spread the word to your fellow fly fishers and let’s all promote “Handling Fish Safely for Soft Release” to improve conservation of all fish in all waters across the globe.
The Joy of Learning at the Fly Fishing Show
Atlanta, GA
Bill Jewett
There’s something incredibly special that happens when a person ties their very first fly. Maybe it’s the quiet concentrationastheywrapthreadaround ahook,thewaytheirfingersfumble,then suddenly find rhythm. Or maybe it’s the wide smile that breaks across their face as they hold up their creation—flawed, unique and entirely theirs.
At this year’s Atlanta Fly Fishing Show that magic was everywhere in the education section.
From the moment the doors opened, our tying tables were full of curious attendees—some seasoned anglers wanting to try their hand at a new pattern, and others stepping into the fly-tying world for the very first time. What unfolded throughout the weekend was more than instruction; it was transformation.
We saw children and adults alike, beam with pride as they finished their
first Woolly Bugger. Volunteers and educators leaned in with encouragement and gentle guidance, sharing not only techniques but stories of fish caught, waters explored and friendships made through this timeless craft. Each fly was more than feathers and thread—it was a symbol of new beginnings, selfdiscovery, and connection.
One of the most heartwarming aspects was watching families tie together— parents helping children thread a bobbin, grandparents passing down tricks learned over decades. First-time
Chesapeake (WV-VA-MD-DE)
Eastern Rocky Mtn (WY-CO-NM-AZ)
Eastern Waters (NY-NJ-PA)
Florida
Great Lakes(MI-IN)
Gulf Coast (LA-MS-AL)
Northern California (CA-NV-HI)
North Eastern (VT-NH-ME-MA-RI-CT)
Ohio
Oregon
South Eastern (KY-TN-NC-SC-GA-AL)
Southern (NE-IA-KS-MO-IL-OK-AR)
Southwest (CA-NV)
Texas
Upper Midwest (MN-WI-IL)
Washington (WA-AK)
Western Rocky Mtn (UT-ID-MT-ND-SD)
tiers who had never picked up a bobbin before left not only with their own handtied flies but also with a spark of excitement and confidence. The room buzzed with energy, laughter and genuine joy.
The smiles on their faces told the whole story.
Education is a cornerstone of our flyfishing community, and events like this remind us why. It’s not just about teaching someone how to tie a fly—it’s about inviting them into a larger family. A family where skill grows through
patience, where passion is shared freely, and where joy is found in the simplest things: a well-tied fly, a word of encouragement, or a new friend made over feathers and hooks.
We are deeply grateful to all the volunteers, instructors, and attendees who made the education section such a welcoming and memorable part of the Atlanta Fly Fishing Show. Your spirit, generosity, and enthusiasm brought joy to so many—and we can’t wait to see what flies (and smiles) you’ll create next.
George Sylvestre george.sylvestre@sylvesteroutdoors.com
Northern California
Clay Hash clayhash.fft@gmail.com
Ohio
Cari Vota Carivota267@gmail.com
Oregon
Sherry Steele orcffi@gmail.com
Southeastern Brian DeLoach (Interim) casting@secffi.org
Bellevue, WA
Jim Black
The relationship between The Fly Fishing Show and FFI is rewarding for both groups. Let’s look at a few examples.
Many of the fishers who stopped by the Learning Center were, for the most part, new to fly fishing. We had a long line of folks looking to receive a free casting tune up. "Would you like to get some free advice about your casting or maybe learn a new cast? We have some Certified Master Casters who would be
Southern Chris Allen callenshooter@aol.com
Southwest Leigh Ann Swanson president@swcffi.org
Texas
Russell Husted president@texascouncilffi.com
Upper Midwest Ray Morris raywmorris@gmail.com
Washington State Steve Jones president@wscffi.org
Western Rocky Mountain Dave Londeree dlonderee@roadrunner.com
Council Presidents
happy to help you.” This question started rich conversations that covered casting and what the local fly clubs had to offer. We would talk about what the FFI was and what it had to offer. Everyone we helped was grateful for our efforts. We made sure that they understood that The Fly Fishing Show provided the space to provide free help and advice.
Fly tyers were of all ages with a wide range of topics were discussed. What it takes to tie flies, when to use them, what's important, what local fly clubs offer help with fly tying and so much more. Young kids were fascinated by being able to build their own fly. Older tyers were shown new ways to use different materials. Our local fishers were very generous with their time and sharing their talents. We could not have done this without them.
Edison, NJ
Johnny K
"The Edison Fly Fishing show is a large event that has something for everyone. Its size alone can be quite daunting for new Fly Fishers, so a good rule is to look for the FFI Learning Center booth. This is an “aisle of stability” where both new and experienced Fly Fishers can stop and have their questions answered.
This year members from the Delaware Valley Fly Fishers (DVFF), a charter FFI club from the Bucks County area in PA, partnered in with FFI and ran a TyeYour-First-Fly table open to all who stopped by. DVFF members Rob Huebner and Johnny Kaminski were the members
on hand giving the instruction. Of note were the children they worked with. The parents were ecstatic their children were tying their first fly and many videos/ photos were taken.
There were quite a few adult beginner fly tyers who stopped by and had many questions. One gentleman, who had taken a beginning fly tying class, was overwhelmed with the choice of vices, toolsandmaterialtochoosefrom.Johnny walked the floor with the man and helped him pick out a new vice, basic tools he would need to get started, and material for the flies he was interested in tying.
Both Rob and Johnny found the experience to be very rewarding."
Lancaster, PA
Sam Decker
We had a great location at the Lancaster Fly Fishing Show, right out front so everyone saw us as they entered or took a break from the show. The women’s group had 75 Women signed up for preshow access with an introduction to various organizations, in which FFI was included, visited the booth. Many of them took information about FFI and asked questions about us. Kids were nonstop at the tying table. All leaving were very proud of their accomplishments at the vise. The volunteers at the tying table were kept busy.
Reflections
Lane Thurgood
As a boy, my family made annual trips from our Utah home to the Fort Bridger
Rendezvous in Wyoming. Beginning in about 1843, Fort Bridger represented a gathering place for trading, entertainment and much needed socializing for many folks who spent a lot of time alone.
All that can be said of today’s Fly Fishing Show, Virginia Fly Fishing & Wine Festival and other such rendezvous. In multiple locations around the country, we have gathering places for the same reasons folks needed them in the 1800s.
Over the years, my daughters accompanied me many times from our Virginia home to Somerset, New Jersey and Lancaster, Pennsylvania. They loved watching legends like Lefty Kreh cast and Bob Popovics tie flies. They took it hard when these greats passed on. We treasure the moments we shared together.
Over the last few years, I have been volunteering at the Fly Fishers International table at the shows. Sometimes folks pop by and aren’t even quitesurewhattoaskorwheretostart,so we just chat and find the direction.
This year, a mother and daughter showedupatthetablewantingtofish,but not knowing where to start, so we talked it through.IsuggestedthePotomacshadrun at Fletcher’s Cove in April. Another gentleman stopped by lamenting that the only trout fishing was out West. I pulled out my cellphone and assured him that was not the case, sharing pictures from New Year’s Day brook trout from a tiny Virginia mountain stream. Another lady stopped by to see the fly-tying instruction, but sighed, “I already know-how to tie a woolly bugger.” So, I asked if she knew how to tie a Grassett’s snook fly. Sheallowedthatshedidn’t.So,wedidjust that. “That’s a cool fly!” she said as we parted. I agree.
See you at the rendezvous.
New International Ambassador
Simon Kay Simon focused his career in fly fishing mainly on the media side, having directed and filmed 2 film festival selected fly fishing films. Before starting a career in fly fishing, he worked in the financial markets, trading currencies and derivatives on the buyside and sell-side. During his time behind screens, something always drew him towards the outdoors and when he picked up a fly rod his world was
changed forever for the better. The medium of film and photography, combined with fly fishing, allows him to express his creative side. More recently, his focus has shifted towards destination travel but his cameras are still thoroughly used. Simon grew up in the Western Cape, South Africa and fly fishing is something that he wishes to share the love of across a diverse range of people. Showing the transformative power fly fishing has to bring joy to one, both on an individual as well as an interpersonal level thanks to the wonderful community that fly fishers tend to be.
Simon is a media creator and travel curator with Fly Fishing Nation Media, founded by Stephan Dombaj Jr. and has a passion for not only for destination travel, but back-yard adventures too. Whether wading the flats of a remote island or fishing a tiny trout stream right near home, he believes one can find as much joy in both.
SimonmovedbacktoSouthAfricain2024 after 4 years of living in Germany and has a drive to share the wonders of Africa, its people, places and fishing with the world. Simon is a father of a young girl and loves sharing outdoor adventures with her and his partner more than anything.
Armond Carmon “Bud” Frasca III Armond C. Frasca III fondly known as "Bud", 77, lived in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho for the last 30 years. Passed away February 28th, 2025. Born June 30, 1947 in Brooklyn New York to Marie Van Jones and Armond C. Frasca II. Bud grew up in Brooklyn New York graduating from Xavierian High School, attended Hofstra University and Arizona State where he earned a master’s degree in business and psychology.
Bud served in the Army piloting helicopters during the Vietnam War.
Bud later moved west, where he met the love of his life and married Claudia Hovland on December 3, 1983 in Vacaville California. He owned and operated Central Pacific Mortgage in the 1980s through early 1990s. He moved
with his family to Coeur d'Alene Idaho in June 1995 and continued in the mortgage business for a few years before opening North West Classic Tackle in 2006 and became very active in various local clubs.
Bud was an Arizona State champion in pool during his years attending university, won various awards with Fly Fishers International, Eagle Scout, Boy Scout Leader, a former President of North Idaho Fly Casters, taught fly fishing, fly tying, and casting throughout the years with various clubs including Casting for Recovery.
Bud served as the Western Rocky Mountain Council president for a number of years and was given three awards during this time, including Fly Fisher of the Year in 2012, Charles E. Brooks Memorial Award in 2017, and the Western Rocky Mountain Council Award of Excellence in 2019. Bud also served on the FFI Board of Directors for many years.
He enjoyed reading, fishing, hunting, pool, camping, and teaching the art of fly fishing. He went to Yellowstone National Park almost every year for the majority of his life and loved showing his family and friends the majesty of the park and wildlife. He cared about conservation and protecting national forests and rivers.
He was a member of ATO fraternity, Theodore Gordon Flyfishers, Fly Fishers International, North Idaho Fly Casters, Ducks Unlimited, Trout Unlimited, and Knights of Columbus.
Bud is survived by his daughter, Brittany Frasca, of Coeur d' Alene Idaho. Son, Armond Frasca IV, of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. His siblings; brother and
sister-in-law, Arthur and Lorraine Frasca, of Waterford Michigan; sister and brother-in-law, Helen and Raimo Finnila, of North Chesterfield Virginia. His siblings-in-law; Bruce and Patricia Hovland of Whitney Texas; Tanya and Paul Duffey of Flowery Branch Georgia; Ron and Gloria Hovland of Minneapolis Minnesota; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends all of whom will miss him dearly.
Bill Blackstone
Bill Blackstone June 11, 1933December 5, 2024. Bill was 91 at the time of his passing. Born in Illinois, but raised in Ventura, Bill Blackstone grew up during the Second World War. He attended school at Villanova and later UCSB, where he met his wife Joyce, He established a career as a mechanical contractor and lived for many years in Orange County before returning to Ventura.
He is best known for his exceptional skill as a fly-tyer, a skill he developed in his childhood. According to a 1994 LA Times article by Rich Roberts “when his father died, 10-year-old Bill Blackstone found solace fishing on the Santa Clara
River. It was there that he met Charlie Funk, who, with a quick lesson in tying flies, hatched the career of one of the world’s best fly tyers. For the next decade, the boy “pestered this man, this new father figure” about the finer points of winding feathers, furs and hackle around hooks.
Bill was a longtime member of Sespe Fly Fishers with his wife, Joyce. For many years, Bill was the Sespe Fly Fishers fly tying instructor and received honors for his skill in fly tying on an international level. Bill was worldrenowned for his realistic flies and his vast knowledge of fly tying in general. In 1985, Bill was presented the Fly Fishers International Buz Buszek Award for his accomplishments and contributions to the art of fly tying.
The retired mechanical contractor made more than 275 stunningly realistic fake bugs per year for decades. He was highly resourceful in his choice of materials for his flies. He used recycled manila folders, produce bags, wool yarn, vinyl and other materials to fashion lifelike dragonflies, crane flies, katydids, grasshoppers and his signature fly, the $300 black stonefly. “I started using synthetics in disgust at how expensive materials were,” Blackstone once said. “It stopped my heart. I decided, gosh, I could almost use the trash on the floor. I’m building beetles using artificial fingernails,” he added.
“He’s the best in the world,” once said Pete Parker, a former director of the annual International Sportsmen’s Exhibition. Blackstone’s greatest
compliment, said Parker, comes “when people reach for a fly swatter.” (LA Times, 1994).
Agenerous,andcreativeman,Billwas a master craftsman and artist in many medias. He made beautiful replica muzzle loaders, turned wooden bowls, created landscape paintings and more. His wife Joyce notes that “he never sought compensation for sharing his talents with others. “
Bill Blackstone left us a wonderful legacy through his creations. We are grateful for his many contributions of time and gifts to Sespe Fly Fishers. He is survived by his wife Joyce.
Credit: Sespe Fly Fishers
Rebecca Sue Klein
Becca Sue Klein was a pillar of the Southeastern fly fishing community. She embodied the values of conservation and community building. Becca was a past-
president of the Southeastern Council and a member of Georgia Women Fly Fishing. She worked for the Chattahoochee River Keeper for two decades,foundedtheBeccaSueKleinAll Kids Fish program and the non-profit Reeling in Serenity.
Theenergywithwhichsheapproached everything she did was truly an inspiration. Her memory will live on through her projects and the people she inspired along the way. Her friends in Georgia Women Fly Fishers will always remember Becca's fun spirit and enthusiasm for fly fishing and life.
In 2023 a photo of Becca was selected to be in the FFI Women Connect 2024 calendar. When she was told of her selection, she responded in traditional fashion for Becca…”How cool!!!”
...we will see you around the riverbend.
Credit: Southeastern Council of FFI
THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SUPPORTERS
FLY FISHERS INTERNATIONAL DONORS
We are proud to recognize donors who have donated $2500 or more. These funds help FFI continue our important work in conservation, education and as the voice of all fly fishers. These gifts may be dedicated by the donor to a cause they are passionate about.
PRESIDENT’S CLUB
The President’s Club at Fly Fishers International represents the highest level of financial commitment to the organization. Over the course of FFI’s history, the President’s Club has been instrumental in our ability to ensure the legacy of fly fishing for all fish in all waters.
PLATINUM $25,000+
Larry Gibbs
Keith and Mary Groty
Howe Foundation
Patty Lueken
Paul Moseley
Patagonia
GOLD $15,000+
Anna Atkin
Bass Pro Shops & Cabela's Outdoor
Fund
Ron and Betty Cordes
SILVER $10,000+
Anonymous
Patrick H Berry
Glenn Erikson
Thomas Gadacz
Gary Grant
Great Lakes Council of FFI
Tom and Patti Logan
M. V. Williams Foundation Inc.
Michael F. Nolan
BRONZE $5,000+
Robert Bencic
Tim Boyce
John Breslin
Bruce and Leslie Brown
Mark A. Brown
Richard and Mary Brown
Lew and Tilda Evans
Bud Frasca
Ronald Frerichs
Jack R. Gillis
David and Nancy Peterson
Ryan and Pearl Riney
Douglas Silver
Robert W. Uselton
James Wallner
YOT Full Circle Foundation
FFI 1,000 STEWARDS
You give back to the sport that has given so much to you when you become one of FFI’s 1000 Stewards. By donating $500 per year over 5 years, you join the ranks of supporters dedicated to the legacy and future of fly fishing, and can enjoy exclusive benefits and opportunities as a show of our gratitude. Reflect your passion for fisheries conservation, your commitment to providing learning opportunities for all skills levels, and your support to inspire and engage the growing fly fishing community by becoming one of FFI’s 1000 Stewards.
The President’s Club at Fly Fishers International represents the highest level of financial commitment to the organization and comes with exclusive benefits and opportunities as a way of thanking donors for this level of generosity. Over the course of FFI’s history, the President’s Club has been instrumental in our ability to ensure the legacy of fly fishing for all fish in all waters. Members of the exclusive giving circle can support any program or project at FFI that most inspires them, and at a level that recognizes their level of giving, including Platinum, Gold, Silver, or Bronze. Join the Fly Fishers International
Donor support has been key to our accomplishments – your generosity is making a difference. We’ve already started building on some of the accomplishments over the last couple years, a record of achievements worthy of reflection. So, what exactly have we done? We’ve created...
· a more diverse leadership
· a dynamic brand refresh
· a comprehensive learning center
· a groundbreaking virtual expo
· a thriving women connect program
· a commitment to conservation
· an enhanced membership experience
Thanks to everyone whose hard work made this possible. Looking toward the future—we are excited about the direction we are heading at FFI.
