Each year awards are given to various individuals and groups who exemplify the mission and values of FFI. Below is a list of past recipients for each award FFI has bestowed.
Awards Program
Procedures
Criteria
Nomination Form
1970
Ed Strickland
1971
Gene Andregg
1974
Lee Wulff
1975
Arnold Gingrich
1978
Jim Eriser
1979
Enos Bradner
1981
J. Stanley Lloyd
1984
Gardner Grant
1986
Lefty Kreh
1987
Bob Cuningham
1989
Gordy Young
1990
Bill Nelson
1992
Marty Seldon
1993
Keith Groty
1996
J.D. Skip Hosfield
1997
Joan Wulff
Fred Stevenson
1998
Darwin Atkin
1999
Ralph Moon
2000
Charles Nelson
2004
L.D. "Buck" Goodrich
2006
Mel Kreiger
Greg Pitts
2007
Jim Schramm
2008
Bob Jacklin
2011
Tom Jindra
2012
Ron Cordes
2014
Herb Kettler
2015
Philip Greenlee
Bruce Richards
Len Zickler
1966
Herman Kessler
1968
Philip Blazovic
1969
Gene Anderegg
Dr. James Gilford
Will Godfrey
1972
Phile Chase Ray Fisher
1973
Paul Collier
James Eriser
Stanley Lloyd
1976
1977
Steve Raymond
Errol Champion
1980
Karl Glander
1982
1983
Danny Beatty
Bud Lily Brian Anderson
1985
Virgina Buszek-Perry
Barbara Rohrer Keith Groty
Jean Young J.D. "Skip" Hosfield
1988
Joan Wulff Starr Thurston
Pat Moon Al Wilkey
Mary Black Allen Rohrer
1991
Jean Black Jim Schramm
Linda "Sam" Thomas Bas Verschoor
Judy Lehmberg Fred Stevenson
1994
Sally Ann Brown Al Beatty
1995
Maggie Merriman Terry Lyons
Joan Whitlock Darwin Atkin
Lovell Lawrence (Larry) Hampy
Dorothy Schramm Greg Pitts
Rhea Topping Tom Jindra
Tracie Maler
2001
Gretchen Beatty Keith Burkhart
2002
Steven Jensen
2003
Ruth Zinck Ken Jennings
Carol Staples Bob Jacklin
2005
Pat Smith Ron Cordes
Carol Oglesby Roger Maler
Judy Boston Pete Greenan
2009
Rick Williams
2010
Phil Greenlee
Carl Johnson
Bud Frasca
2013
Carl Zarelli
Sherry Steele Russel Husted
Ron Winn
2016
Tilda Evans Kyle Moppert
Thomas "Tom" Gadacz
Patty Lueken
United Fly Tyers of Boston – MA
Pend Oreille Fly Fishing Club – ID
The Steamboaters – OR
Indianapolis Fly Casters – IN
Washington Fly Fishing Club – WA
Theodore Gordon Flyfishers – NY
Green Country Fly Fishers – OK
Connecticut Fly Fisherman’s Assoc – CT
Boise Valley Fly Fisherman – ID
Pasadena Casting Club – CA
Diablo Valley Fly Fisherman – CA
Inland Empire Fly Fishing Club – WA
Fontinalis Fly Fisherman – NY
Rogue Flyfishers – OR
Red Cedar Fly Fishers – MI
Flycasters of San Jose – CA
Kaweah Flyfishers – CA
Clark-Skamania Fly Fishers – WA
West Slope Chapter TU – Montana
Upper Snake River Chapter TU – ID
Aquabonita Fly Fishers – CA
Mid-South Fly Fishers – TN
Central Oregon Flyfishers – OR
Greater Flint Muddler Minnows – MI
North Idaho Fly Casters – ID
Flint Hills Fly Fishing Club – MI
Flygirls – MI
Southern Oregon Fly Fishers – OR
St. Joseph River Valley Fly Fishers – IN
Ozark Fly Fishers – MO
North Coast Fly Fishers – OH
Michigan Fly Fishing Club – MI
Evergreen Fly Fishing Club – WA
West Michigan Hacklers – MI
Puget Sound Flyfishers – WA
Magic City Fly Fishers – MT
Olympic Peninsula Fly Fishers - WA
Acadiana Flyrodders of Lafayette - LA
Shasta Trinity Fly Fishers - CA
Southern Sierra Fly Fishers - CA
Lake Erie Chapter FFF - NY
Twin Tiers - Five River - NY
Fly Fishers of Northwest Florida
FFI Buz Buszek Memorial Fly Tying Award – An award presented to the person who has made significant contributions to the art of fly tying.
Jacqueline Knight
A. I. Anderson
Dave Whitlock
George Grant
E.H. "Polly" Rosborough
Andrew Puyans
George Harvey
Everett Drake
Boyd Aigner
Doug Prince
Art Flick
Frank Johnson
Bill Blackstone
Billy Munn
Dick Nelson
Jimmy Nix
Kent Bulfinch
Wayne Luallen
Stanley Walters
Chuck Echer
Royce Dam
Marvin Nolte
Ned Long
Judy Lehmberg
Jeff "Bear" Andrews
Al Beatty
Bruce Staples
Helen Shaw Kessler
Bill Heckel
Chris Helm
Reginald Denny
Gary Borger
John Van DerHoof
Henry Hoffman
John Newbury
Scott Sanchez
Tony Spezio
Steven Fernandez
Walt Holman
Oscar Feliu
Mike George
James "Jim" Ferguson
FFI Darwin Atkin Memorial Fly Tying Achievement Award – An award created to recognize an FFI member whose long-term contribution to fly tying is widely recognized and respected. This award is for outstanding achievement and demonstrated commitment of the person in significantly advancing the craft and art of fly tying.
FFI Fly Fishing Skills Education Award - An award is based upon a single extraordinary contribution or on a continuous prominent effort promoting comprehensive fly fishing education. Extraordinary contributions are those that are superior and conspicuous in relation to others and consistent with the philosophies of the FFI.
2019
FFI Conservation Award – An award presented to a person, group or organization which has made extraordinary contributions to the conservation of our fisheries resources in the past year.
Paul McCloskey Bob Cunningham
Cecil Andrus
Art Lohman Roy Haile Bob Cunningham The Mad Men
Ron Marcoux Ron Jones
George Reiger Edwin Pister
Robert H. Boyle Jim & Ann Edmondson
Phil Able
Fly Fisherman Magazine
Donn Furman Henry’s Fork Foundation Michigan Natural Resource Commission
Dr. Charles M. Loveless Robert Baiocchi
The Steamboaters Peter Silberhorn Fred Houwink Stanford Miller
Franklin Moquette Don Stehsel Nature Conservancy Spencer Turner
R. Brett Matzke Montana Land Reliance
Michigan Hydro Re-Licensing Coalition Pete Soverel Lars Ake-Olsson
Bill Jennings Wyoming Fly Casters
Robert W. Nicholson
John Crocker
Nick DiCroce Henry’s Fork Foundation
Richard Izmirian John Sager
Dan Iwata John Varley
Vernon Young
Richard Brown Frank Moore United Anglers of Casa Grande HS
Ed Ferrogairo Doug Hutzell
Verne Lehmberg
Wolf River Conservancy Mitch Keiler
Mark Rockwell Cindy Charles
Rusty Gates Evergreen Fly Fishing Club
Stripers Forever Jayne Ferrante
Yvon Chouinard
Robert Tabbert
Phil Hulbert
Univ. of S. Mississippi/Gulf Coast
Tom Logan
Carl McNeil
Michael S. Allen Brandon L. Barthel Timothy W. Birdsong James M. Long Andrew T. Taylor Michael D. Trinagli
IFFF Environmental Conservation Scholarship – A scholarship given occasionally to individuals enrolled in graduate school pursuing an advanced degree (MSc, PhD, LLD, JD) that will have application to solving environmental issues relating to water quality and/or protection of native fish species and their aquatic habitats. presented to an individual honoring them for a lifetime of fisheries conservation effort and work.
Lee Van Put
FFI Leopold Conservation Award – An award presented to an individual honoring them for a lifetime of fisheries conservation effort and work.
Dave Rosgen
Ted Williams
Jim Lichatowich
Robert J. Benhke
Peter Bisson
Rip Cunningham
Karl Wickstrom
David Philipp
Robert Hunter
Jack Stanford
Robert Greswell
Bill Bakke
Christopher Camuto
Edwin Philip Pister
Stanley Lloyd Conservation Award – A financial grant awarded to an FFI Club working on a current or future project related to fisher conservation enhancement and preservation.
Sierra Pacific Fisheries
Missouri River Flyfishers
Anglers of the Ausable
Mid-South Fly Fishers
Upper Snake River Cutthroats
Idle Hour Fly Fishers
Northern Arizona Flycasters
Stonefly Society
Central OR Fly Fishers Theodore Gordon Fly Fishers
Lakeshore Chapter of Trout Unlimited
Creekside Anglers Club
Dave & Emily Whitlock Southern Council of the IFFF
Austin Fly Fishers
Cumberland Valley TU/IFFF
Dr. James Henshall Warmwater Fisheries Award – An award presented to an individual contributing to warmwater fly fishing and fisheries in memory of Dr. James A. Henshall, 19th century author and early advocate for bass as a gamefish.
Phil Chapman
Larry Dahlberg
Smallmouth Bass Alliance
Bob Clouser
Tim Holschlag
Jack Ellis
Robert W. Hayner
Friends of the White River
Tom Farmer Dennis Galyardt
Charles Waterman Fred Stevenson
Danon Moxley
Dr. Guy Harrison
Duane Hada
Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
Robert J. Marriott Scholarship Award – A cash grant given annually to a deserving student in undergraduate or graduate biology or similar field who is specializing in fishery management, cold or warm waters, fresh water or salt.
Kiza Gates
Audrey Djunaedi
James Boyd
Schuyler Dunphy
Connor Murphy
Jason Tilley
Membership Awards– The Membership Awards are to recognize those individuals, clubs and councils that have grown membership significantly in a one-year period. There are three distinct awards in this category as follows:
Membership Award of Merit - To that individual, club or organization whose FFI enrollment has increased in excess of 25% and achieved the largest nationwide increase. The award is to be given for the largest increase. Multiple individuals can be recognized as a group.
Membership Silver Award of Merit - To that Council whose enrollment has increased more than 25% and represents the greatest increase in the time period.
Membership Gold Award of Merit - To that club who commits to 100% membership and, whose increase is in excees of 25% of their current level. The award is to be given to the greatest increase.
Silver Award of Merit
Memorial Life Awards -The Memorial Life Membership Award program provides an FFI life membership in the name of an individual who has contributed significantly to fly fishing. Four funds have been established to support these life membership memorials.
Don Harger Memorial Award
Mrs. Roderick Haig-Brown
Robert Redford, Patrick Markey
Charles L. Cole
Ted Trueblood
Terry & Roxanne Wilson
Bob Cunningham
Joe Humphreys
Leon Chandler
Doug Hutzell
Dave Engerbretson
Bob Signorello
Janet Downey
Don Heyden
Rob Schnabel
Grace Brooks
Allen Crise, Dan Berry
Steve Jensen
Henry Hoffman, Ed Rice
John Fabian
Tony Spezio, Gordy Hill
Valentine Atkinson
Rod McGarry
Mike & Shirley Kossow
Arnold Gingrich Literary Award
Ernest S. Schweibert
Gary LaFontaine
George Hobson
Charles Brooks
Russell Chatham
Mike Fong
Jim Schollmeyer
Barbara Rohrer
Phil Shook
Eric Leiser
Rick Hafele
Charles Fox
John Shewey
Dennis Bitton, Bobbie Wolverton
Judy Boston
Nick Lyons, Steve Raymond
Art of Angling Journal
Jim Casada
Chuck & Sharon Tryon
Jack Gartside
Dan Blanton
Les Johnson
Lew Jewett Memorial Award
Harold “Butch” Mayer
Allan Rohrer
Paul Bowen
Lou Rossi
Buck Goodrich
Maggie Merriman, Bill Heckel
Bill Halls
Tony Wendtland
Lowell Finney
Bing Lempke, Bob Brunsell
Bob Sousa, Jim Green
Dave Hughes
Rhea Topping
Lou Bischof
Bruce Richards, Bill Bakke
Ken Heimbecker
Al Buhr, Terry Greiner
Bob Trowbridge
Joe Valencic, John Colburn
Paul McKenzie, Dorothy Bergman
Mac Caradine, W. W. “Bill” Lewis
Sally Ann Brown
Bill Redman, Phil & Doreen Romans, John Newbury
Pat Moon
Colleen Jenkins
W. E. Barnett
Bill Gammel, Earl Stanek
Daniel Iwata
Bob Krumm
Charles E. Brooks Memorial Award
Fred Houwink
Chuck Newmyer
John Bailey
Dennis Bitton
Jim Abbs
Dick Thies
John Daniel “Dan” Callaghan
Larry Duckwall
R. L. “Stew” Stewart
Angus Black
John Berry
Kelly Galloup
Charlene Hanson
Bob Lay
Arthur Mazzier
Al Brewster
Fred Hannie
Lee Wulff Award – An award to recognize manufacturers or a retail business that demonstrates outstanding innovation in the fly fishing industry through their products and stewardship.
Orvis Company, Scientific Anglers, Cortland Line Co., Fenwick
Whiting Farms, Inc.
Metz Hatchery
Bob Marriotts Fly Fishing Store
Sage Manufacturing
Blue Ribbon Flies
The Patagonia Company
Wolf River Trading Company
Wasatch Custom Angling Products
Wapsi Fly Company
Temple Fork Outfitters
The Fly Show
Loon Outdoors
Mike Michalak
Hareline Dubbin
Jim Murphy – Hardy North America
Abel Fly Reels
LaMoyne Hyde – Hyde Drift Boats
Ambassador Award – An award presented to the fly fisher who meets certain high standards of sportsmanship, fishing skill and stream-side etiquette in taking and conserving game fish internationally.
Cal Dunbar
Hans Ruedi Hebisen
Jean Young
Jack Dennis
Bas Verschoor
Charles Jardine
Berris D. Samples
Dan McCrimmom
Denise Maxwell
Curt Gowdy
2021
Kuni Masuda
FFI Roderick Haig-Brown Award – An award presented to a fly fishing author whose work embodies the philosophy and spirit of Roderick Haig-Brown, particularly a respect for the ethics and traditions of fly fishing and an understanding of rivers, the inhabitants and their environments.
Nick Lyons
Ted Leeson
Art Lingren
Thomas McGuane
James Prosek
Richard N. Williams
FFI Silver King Award – A saltwater award, named after the highly prized saltwater trophy, the Tarpon. It is presented to an individual who has made extraordinary contributions to the sport of saltwater angling.
Lou Tabory
Jeff Pierce
Don Larmouth
Nick Curcione
FFI Dick Nelson Fly Tying Teaching Award – An award presented to an individual who excels in teaching the art of fly tying to tiers at all skill levels.
FFI Lifetime Achievement in Fly Casting Instruction Award - An award given in recognition of those who have made significant contributions to the art of fly casting instruction.
Mel Krieger
Dennis Grant
FFI Mel Krieger Fly Casting Instructor Award - An award given in recognition of those who have made significant contributions to FFI Casting Instructor Certification Program, have dedicated themselves to fly casting instruction and have shared their knowledge with others.
Joe Libeu
Gordy Hill
Floyd Franke Award for Contributions to CICP An award given by the Casting Board of Governors (CBOG) to honor those who have made significant contributions to advance the Casting Instructors Certification Program (CICP) through either their long term involvement, commitment of personal time and effort, program development or extensive revitalization, or change leadership.
Jay Gammel for Fly Casting Instruction Award An award given by the Casting Board of Governors (CBOG) to honor those who have made a lasting contribution to fly casting instruction in the form of written publications, instructional course materials, or electronic media.
Keith Richard
Governors Mentoring Award - An award given by the Board of Governors of FFI Casting Instructor Program (BOG) in recognition of continued support of the Casting Instructor Certification Program through mentoring, teaching and inspiring students.
Kirk Eberhard
Aaron Reimer
Gary Kell
Tom Rueping
2017
2018
Governor's Pin - An award given by the Chairman of the Board of Governors to an FFI Casting Instructor Program (BOG) in recognition of their service to the Casting Instructor Certification Program.
Jonathan Walter
Council Leadership Award - An award presented to that council president who has demonstrated unusual devotion to the IFFF and through outstanding contributions has benefited the Federation as a National or International organization. It is not expected that this will be an annual award.
2008 Council Award of Excellence Recipients
ERMC
Richard (Rick) Weisberg
SWC
Carole Katz
SOC
Sister Carol Ann Corley
ORC
Dwight Klemin
MAC
John Brognard
OHC
Jim Stone
GCC
Mark Delaney
NEC
Robert Ford
NCC
Dave Ford
WRMC
Bob Long, Buck Goodrich
WSC
Vern Jeremica
FLC
Gary Meyer
GLC
Wolf Schrey
SEC
Mike Arnold Wanda Taylor
2009 Council Award of Excellence Recipients
Mark Steffen
Alan Canfield
Chuck Easterling
Jerry Polen
Paul Metzger
L. F. “Buzzy” Burns
Bob Long
Derrell Bridgman
Inge Schrey
Bob Middo, Mickey Powell
Jerry McBride
2010 Council Award of Excellence Recipients
John Trammell
Ray Bianco Aguabonita Flyfishers Club
Lawrence Murphy
Sherry Steele
Paul Blanch
Leslie Wrixon Paul Metzer
Buck & Faye Goodrich Ben & Carollee Goodrich
Brooks Bouldin
Mark Rockwell
Mike Arnold
Mark Johnson
Larry Gibbs
2011 Council Award of Excellence Recipients
Jim Aubrey
Jim Ferguson
Karen Brand
Ned Lunt
Chet Smith
Stephen Piper
Mike Clancy
Patricia “Sam” Decker
Will Godrey
2012 Council Award of Excellence Recipients
2013 Council Award of Excellence Recipients
CHC
Russell Husted
UMWC
2014 Council Award of Excellence Recipients
Gary Applebee
WAC
2015 Council Award of Excellence Recipients
EWC
TXC
2016 Council Award of Excellence Recipients
Mas Okui Bill O'Kelly Robin Nicholas Bart Hall
Todd Heggestad
2017 Council Award of Excellence Recipients
Jonathan Walter Brett Edwards
Rodney Priddle
Gary Jones
Lew Leichter Joseph Lemire Michael Schweit
Gerald Schwan
2018 Council Award of Excellence Recipients
John Doss Michael Vella
Michael Gallert
Aaron Christensen
Tim Lawson Dok Arvanites
David Crawford Don Puckett
Scott Norby
2019 Council Award of Excellence Recipients
Paul Boals
Kirk Klingensmith
Michael Schweit
David Reichert