FFI International 
Ambassadors

Martin Aylwin
Chile

Martín Aylwin was born in Santiago Chile. Early in his life he discovered fly fishing in the creeks and lakes of Chilean northern Patagonia. Soon he fell in love with the breathtaking Patagonian landscapes and started exploring with a flyrod in one hand and a camera in the other. He has flyfished throughout Chile as well as the United States, New Zealand, Australia, Honduras, México and Argentina.

Martin started teaching fly fishing as a teenager, helping fly shops and guides improve anglers’ expertise. After a few summers working as a flyfishing guide, he discovered that what he loved most was teaching rather than guiding. From there, he studied and practiced to become a better instructor. In 2013 he became a Certified Casting Instructor and in 2014 became the first South American to become an FFI Master Casting Instructor (MCI). Today, Martin resides in northern Patagonia, near the rivers he grew up exploring as a child.

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Marco Boretti
Italy

Marco is an Italian fly fishing guide and well-known fly caster who enjoys building bamboo fly rods and was active in pioneering the renaissance of fly casting competitions in Italy in the early 1990s.

A proud member of Fly Fishers International, Marco is a certified Single Handed Master Casting Instructor, L1 Examiner and Mentor for Scuola Nazionale di Lancio, Italy’s National Casting School, a division of UNPEM (Unione Nazionale Pescatori a Mosca).

In the 1980s, Marco was a student of Mario Riccardi, one of the most famous fly fisherman and fly casters in Italy and Europe, where he learned many of the techniques he shares with his students today. Marco’s home waters include rivers throughout the north of Italy and Austria, and he currently collaborates with Proguide Fly Fishing Austria, leading fishing trips across the region.

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Kastine Coleman
Canada

Kastine serves as the FFI Ambassador in Canada. Kastine is an accomplished FFI casting instructor with achievements that extend far beyond instructional excellence, as she holds the impressive distinction of being a 2-time IGFA world record holder for Atlantic Salmon. Additionally, she is an esteemed fishing guide and the proud owner of Tight Loops Tight Lines which offers experience-based fishing packages, hosted trips, and the only flycasting school in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Kastine is featured on social media and television through her captivating fly fishing show, Tight Loops Tight Lines which airs on the Sportsman Channel Canada and World Fishing Network. Kastine is also a published freelance writer, with her articles featured in esteemed publications such as Fly Fusion, the Atlantic Salmon Journal, Saltscapes, and Fishing Travel/VDP magazine.

Kastine has been actively involved in the FFI community for many years, presenting in virtual events since 2020 and actively participating in the International Programs Committee and the Women’s Committee. Furthermore, her dedication extends to broader conservation efforts, as she serves as a director with both Fly Fishers International and the Atlantic Salmon Conservation Foundation. She is also a valued SPAWN board member.

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Bryant Dunn
Bhutan

Bryant serves as the FFI Ambassador in Bhutan and as the FFI Ambassador Program Coordinator. Bryant earned his FFI Casting Instructor’s certification in 2009. Bryant operates flyfishing outfitting businesses in North America, the Himalayas and Oceania. Bryant’s writing and photography have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Sports Afield magazine, Eastman’s Hunting Journal, Sun Valley Magazine and many other publications.

Bryant’s passions include exploring remote and exotic fisheries around the world and introducing his guests to these off-the-beaten-path destinations. Bryant is an owner of Himalayan Flyfishing Adventures based in Bhutan, Christmas Island Lodge located in the Republic of Kiribati and Idaho Wilderness Outfitters which operates in America’s Rocky Mountains.

Fisheries conservation is central to Bryant’s lifework. Toward that end Bryant serves as Board Director for Himalayan Rivers United, is a Board Member of Fisheries Conservation Foundation, sits on the Organizational Committee for the International Mahseer Conference, is a member of the FFI International Programs Committee and acts as Bhutan Country Team Leader for the International Joint Partnership for Mahseer Conservation. Bryant also served as Master Trainer of Fishing Guides and as a consultant on recreational angling policies for the Royal Government of Bhutan.

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René Gerken
Denmark

For the past 15 years, René has worked professionally in the flyfishing industry and considers himself fortunate to combine his passion with his profession.

René holds a degree in Agricultural Technology (Nature & Environment) and trained as a fishing guide and tour leader at Sweden’s Sportfiskeakademin. René is one of only three FFI Certified Master Casting Instructors (MCI & THMCI) in Denmark and regularly hosts casting courses and demos for private clients, angling clubs, tackle shops, and fishing expos both in Denmark and abroad.

From 2009–2012, René guided full-time in Iceland for Lax-á, and also guided in Argentina, Sweden, and Ireland. He later led trips for Atlantik & Diana Fiskerejser, exploring and testing top fishing destinations worldwide. From 2015 to 2021, he worked at Olderø Fly Fishing Lodge in Norway and in 2022, consulted for Fairpoint Fly Fishing, focusing on marketing and dealer support for SAGE, RIO Products, and Unique Flies.

Beside hosting trips to fly fishing destinations around the world, René works for Odense Jagt & Fritid, one of Denmark’s premier fly fishing stores, known for its exceptional service.

Chris Hague
United Kingdom

Chris Hague serves as the FFI Ambassador in United Kingdom. Chris is a professional flyfishing instructor/guide who is based in Yorkshire where he teaches individuals and group workshops as well as mentoring people to become professional instructors.

Chris also guides clients throughout the UK. His qualifications include APGAI single handed and double handed and FFI single handed and double handed master casting instructor certifications. Chris is also a qualified mentor, level 3 assessor.

Chris serves as a member of the Mackenzie Fly Fishing design and marketing team. When he is not teaching, demonstrating, guiding or leading a destination fishing trip, he can be found with a fly rod in hand chasing a variety of different species. Chris has fished all around the world and likes to seek out unusual places to fish which have not already been tapped into by the destination fishing fraternity.

Chris believes casting should look elegant, dreamy and never rushed. Chris can be best described as a casting junkie who spends hours perfecting techniques and developing/inventing different casts. Chris has a broad knowledge of casting styles/techniques and his aim is to give quality instruction using first class equipment and up to date teaching methods.

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Simon Kay
South Africa

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 buy-side 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. Having grown up in Cape Town, South Africa, in a less the ideal suburb, 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.

Simon moved back to South Africa in 2024 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.

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Pat O'Toole
Ireland

Pat O’Toole has been passionate about fishing since the youngest of ages. Pat’s lengthy professional career in the angling industry includes roles such as Casting Instructor, fishing academy instructor, mentor to casters studying for various exams including FFI and Game Angling Instructors’ Association (GAIA) certifications as well as for children with disadvantaged backgrounds, children with disabilities and with the non-profit organization, Casting for Recovery.

Pat’s proudest moments centered around his efforts to rehabilitate his local spawning streams to save Atlantic Salmon when he was Secretary of his local flyfishing club. He is still heavily involved in these projects today. Pat has been instrumental along with other fishermen in uniting local angling clubs into one entity known as the Boyne Catchement Angling Association comprising 14 clubs whose aim is to promote conservation on the River Boyne. Pat has served as chairperson since its inception.

Pat has travelled to Alaska, Argentina, Canada, New Zealand, Tasmania, America and Iceland on angling excursions, fished Ireland extensively and has angled in various other European Countries as well, including acting as Casting Certification Examiner across the region. One of Pat’s favorite memories is of holding a casting workshop in west Yellowstone in 2013.

Pablo Rodrigo Pérez
Argentina

Pablo Rodrigo Pérez is one of the most respected and influential voices in fly fishing across Latin America. With more than 30 years of uninterrupted experience, he has built a reputation as a passionate educator, ethical angler, and authentic advocate for the values of fly fishing. Based in Mendoza, Argentina, Pablo has played a pivotal role in growing the sport throughout the region—not only as a technician and outfitter, but as a community leader and communicator.

He is the founder and director of Mendoza Fly Shop, the official Orvis distributor for Argentina and Chile since 1993. Through his multifaceted career, as instructor, entrepreneur, product developer and media host, he has helped shape the fly-fishing culture of a continent. Above all, Pablo is a teacher. For decades, he has committed himself to teaching fly casting, entomology, conservation ethics, and guiding principles to students of all levels. He is an FFI Certified Instructor and serves as Master Instructor of the Aguas Arriba International Academy, a program focused on developing guides and instructors with strong foundations in both technique and values.

Pablo’s educational style blends clarity, patience and deep knowledge with the ability to connect emotionally and intellectually with students. He has trained dozens of professional guides across Argentina, Chile and Uruguay, and continues to run in-depth clinics and workshops throughout the region. His belief is simple: "Fly fishing is not a secret to be kept, but a language to be shared."

Masao Sakaguchi
Japan

Masao serves as the FFI Ambassador in Japan. He is a long-time contributor to Japanese fishing magazines focusing primarily on entomology, fly tying and  fly fishing techniques. Masao’s home waters include streams near Hokkaido on the northern island of Japan, and the Nikko area, 125 miles north of Tokyo. Masao has been a regular attendee and presenter at the FFI (and prior FFF) Conclaves and worked as a program presenter and fly tying demonstrator repeatedly over the years.

To convey sustainable fly fishing to following generations, Masao would like to expand the visibility and reach of FFI within Japan. Masao is specifically passionate about

enhancing educational programs and the challenges facing the Japanese flyfishing culture. These issues include the declining population of fly fishers, lower-than-optimal youth recruitment, limited wild trout catch-and-release fisheries regulations and underfunded government oversight of freshwater and saltwater sports fishing.

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Lado Sakvarelidze
Georgia

Lado Sakvarelidze is new to fly fishing as he found this art in 2020 as pandemics started, learning from few local enthusiasts and YouTube.  His background is corporate banking and private equity firm that invested in real estate, hospitality, facility maintenance, and environmental service businesses. In 2016, at 33, Lado left his job to invest in and run his own business of commercial pest control, with a franchise from USA-based Orkin Inc. Today Orkin Georgia is a largest pest control operation in the country.

Environmental services industry introduced Lado to ecology, conservation, wildlife, and biology initially. He has always been an outdoor enthusiast but saw fishing as something very boring, except of fly fishing.  It is a sport that interested him for a long time. In March 2020 as pandemic started he bought the gear online and went on YouTube to learn and try it out.

One year into fly fishing, Lado learned more about local small fly fishing community in country of Georgia. The rivers that supported the community are being threatened and the fish population has drastically declined from decades of uncontrolled poaching and environmental pollution.

Lado found passion not only in fly fishing but also in river ecosystem and fish population conservation and he is on track to become an eager conservationist. He joined FFI in summer 2021 and wants to learn more about conservation and river ecosystems.

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Bobby Satpal
India

Bobby has been featured in multiple on-screen productions including Power of the River: Expedition to the Heart of Water in Bhutan, Expedition Bhutan, Drift and other full length feature films, shorts and social media productions. Bobby has a growing following on Instagram, Facebook and other international social media.

Bobby’s passion for all things fly fishing is contagious and he enjoys nothing more than sharing his knowledge and experience with his guests across the Himalayan Range. Bobby is a renowned flycaster and regularly instructs his clientele on the basics and subtleties of casting flies for the many indigenous species of India and beyond.

Currently, Bobby is the Head Guide and Operations Lead for The Himalayan Outback, which is India's premier Mahseer fishing and adventure company. Bobby also works as Expedition Leader for Himalayan Flyfishing Adventures in the Kingdom of Bhutan.

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Katka Svagrova
Czechia

Katka serves as the FFI Ambassador in Czechia. Ms. Svagrova hails from the Czech Republic where she developed her passion for waters and flyfishing. She has been flyfishing for more than 30 years and traveled to more than 40 countries around the world to pursue her angling dreams. Those include the jungles of Brazil, the open ocean of Guatemala, Mexican flats and the wild rivers of India and New Zealand among many others.

Katka is sponsored by major fishing and sporting brands including Patagonia, Costa Sunglasses, Hardy and RIO Products, and her articles have appeared in more than 100 journals and blogs. She runs her social media profiles and shares her adventures with more than 160,000 followers around the world. 

She also works as a salmon fishing guide in Iceland and enjoys educating and passing on her skills to her clients. She received her Bachelors and Masters degrees in Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters from the University of South Bohemia. Results from her thesis appeared in Aquatic Science Journal.

Ms. Svagrova is the 2023 individual and team World Flyfishing Ladies Champion. She has also won the National Woman’s Czech Fly Fishing Championship seven times. 

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Jorge Trucco
Argentina

Jorge serves as the FFI Ambassador in Argentina. Among his many accomplishments, Jorge founded Patagonia Outfitters in 1978 which is regarded as the premier flyfishing outfitter in Argentina. Jorge is recognized as a fly-fishing pioneer whose work led to  Patagonia becoming an international fly-fishing destination.

In addition to running Patagonia Outfitters, Jorge is deeply involved in fly casting instruction, fly tying, rod making, writing and performing music. Jorge has also served as founder of the Fishing Guide Association of Neuquén, worked to design the original Argentine fishing rafts and helped establish catch and release regulations in Northern Patagonia while also leading successful campaigns to prevent construction of dams on Argentina’s Collon Cura and Alumine Rivers.

In 1993 Jorge was certified as Outstanding Fly-Casting Instructor by FFI and was made member of the FFI Advisors Committee of Fly-Fishing Instructors. Jorge is the 1999 Jackson Hole One Fly Tournament team champion.

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April Vokey
Australia

April Vokey began fishing as a toddler. After discovering a passion for fly fishing in her late teens, she soon dedicated her entire life to the pursuit. April is a former guide, FFF certified casting instructor, fly-tying instructor, traveling speaker, television host and writer. She can be found each week through her membership, Anchored Outdoors, and podcast, Anchored with April Vokey, a show that archives stories from some of fly-fishing’s most influential people. www.anchoredoutdoors.com

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