FFI Awards Ceremony November 19th
Join us at 8:00 pm ET
Awards presented by Fly Fishers International acknowledge those individuals who demonstrate the highest levels of achievement, dedication and contribution to preserving the Legacy of Fly Fishing. The information provided about the recipient comes directly from the nominations that were considered to bestow the award. The Award Ceremony will be held on Wednesday, November 19 at 8:00 p.m. ET. Please click the button below to register to attend the event.
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Click on the name of the award to view information about the recipient.
FFI Award of Distinction for Leadership and Service - Dave Peterson
FFI Fly Fisher of the Year - Sam Decker
FFI McKenzie Cup - North Arkansas Fly Fishers
FFI Conservation Award - Tarrant Regional Water District
FFI Council Leadership Award - Steve Jones, Sherry Steele
FFI Buz Buszek Memorial Fly Tying Award - Tom Logan
FFI Dick Nelson Fly Tying Teaching Award - Al & Gretchen Beatty, Glenn Wilson
FFI Darwin Atkin Fly Tying Achievement Award - Larry Olson
FFI Fly Fishing Skills Education Award - Dick Erickson, Dorothy Schramm
FFI International Ambassador Award - Kastine Coleman
FFI Lee Wulff Award - Kim Ranalla and Miss Mayfly
FFI Lifetime Achievement in Fly Casting Education Award - Brian McGlashan, Don Simonson
FFI Mel Krieger Fly Casting Instructor Award - Mark Surtees
FFI Women's Community Development Award - Leigh Ann Swanson
FFI Award of Distinction for Leadership and Service
Dave Peterson
Pentwater, Michigan
Dave Peterson is a retired school superintendent who fly fishes as often as possible but always finds time to lend a hand at FFI. Dave has been a dedicated volunteer at many levels for more than 20 years.
Dave’s home water is on the Pere Marquette River in Michigan, and he also fishes regularly in Montana, Maine, and Florida. He has served as Chairman of the Board of FFI, Chairman of the FFI Conservation Committee, is a Life Member of FFI, and is a member of the FFI President’s Club. He is also Conservation Vice President for the Great Lakes Council of FFI and a dedicated member of the West Michigan Hacklers, his local FFI charter club. He belongs to three other FFI clubs including the Red Cedar Fly Fishers, the Anglers of the AuSable, and the Pere Marquette Watershed Council.
Dave began his service to FFI at the local level with the West Michigan Hacklers, a charter club of FFI. He then was elected to the Board of the Great Lakes Council and served as the Conservation Vice President. While serving as the Council’s Conservation VP he became a member of the national conservation committee. When asked he gladly accepted the role as the Chair of FFI’s Conservation Committee and remained in that role from 2016 to 2020. In 2020 Dave assumed the position of Chairman of the Board, giving countless hours to Fly Fishers International while serving in that position. Even as Chair responsibilities came to an end, he stepped back into the role as Chair of the FFI Conservation Committee at a time when the landscape was changing in the conservation arena. He continues to serve as the Great Lakes Council Conservation Vice President as well. His steady hand and thoughtful approach to leadership have been invaluable to the organization at all levels. Dave is very deserving of this award.
FFI Fly Fisher of the Year
Sam Decker
Cuddebackville, NY
Sam Decker has always been a fly fisher. Sam took up fly fishing on her first trip to Alaska with her husband, Wayne. They were dropped off on a lake in the middle of Gates of the Arctic National Park and Sam decided it would be interesting to fish for a week. She took to it like- well, a fish takes to water, and she never stopped. Sam started out as one of the very few women on the water and has seen many more join the ranks over the years. Her home waters have been the Delaware which she has fished for the past 33 years. She guides on the East Branch, West Branch and the Main Stem down to Barryville. She has been an FFI Certified Casting Instructor for many years and enjoys teaching folks how to fly fish.
Her travels have taken her to many beautiful places within the US, Eastern Canada, Western Canada, New Zealand, South American and places in-between. She and her husband, Wayne, usually spend September into October out west; her fishing and him riding his bike. It always amazes her husband that no matter where they go, she knows someone.
Her favorite species happens to be Steelhead and casting for them with a two handed rod. You can find her in most years on the Olympic Peninsula in March and April swinging a two handed rod for steelhead.
Sam joined Fly Fishers International in November 2000 and turned her attention to becoming a certified casting instructor. In 2002 she joined the instructor community and used her skills to teach people how to fly fish and to guide clients on her home waters.
She stepped into a leadership role with FFI when she became president of the newly-formed Eastern Waters Council in 2014, which served members and clubs in New York and New Jersey. She served as president of Council for 11 years when she stepped back from that position in 2025.
While serving in that capacity she organized meetings with the clubs on a regular basis, worked with the members in the area, and coordinated activities at the Fly Fishing Shows in Edison, and volunteered at the shows in Lancaster Pennsylvania.
Serving as a Council President requires a high level of commitment and dedication to the organization. Sam demonstrated that commitment and dedication for 11 years and we are grateful that she did. Sam is well-deserving of being named Fly Fisher of the Year
FFI McKenzie Cup
North Arkansas Fly Fishers
Mountain Home, Arkansas
North Arkansas Fly Fishers (NAFF) is an FFI Affiliate Club and has been for many years. The club follows the FFI legacy by using education, community and conservation as its three pillars. NAFF accomplishes their mission by having regular club meetings, quarterly outings, and keeping their members informed through monthly newsletters.
NAFF not only serves its members, but it serves the community. Over the last two years, NAFF has taken the lead in establishing Dry Run Creek Academy (DRCA) by providing most of the mentors, financial support, teachers and one of the two visionaries for this project. Three other fishing related entities are also involved, with the four entities working together to resolve a need for a defined program to teach children how to fish, cast, tie flies, learn knots, stream etiquette and conservation. Prior to this program, for several years, NAFF worked with the very large home schooling community to teach a multi-week class each year on fly fishing and tying, culminating in a field trip to fish Dry Run Creek with the flies they tied during the prior weeks' classes.
NAFF helps financially and with manpower to maintain Dry Run Creek under the supervision of The Game and Fish Commission. This very special resource allows youth under 16 to fish a heavily populated trout stream. This past year we contributed to upgrading the handicap access area with finances and manpower. NAFF also set up a memorial by the creek to Dave Whitlock, the primary architect of the enhancements to the creek. NAFF has worked for many years helping to maintain the creek access which is about 1/4 mile long.
NAFF has been involved in many conservation efforts over the years, working to protect our numerous fishing waters and their tributaries. This includes contributing to the fund for the lawsuit over the damages done to the Norfork River by a development construction company, with one of our members testifying about the harm caused to the Norfork River. NAFF members also write letters and "spread the word" when a threat is detected. NAFF may even dedicate an entire meeting to the issue and how NAFF members can contribute to minimize or eliminate the threat. NAFF also monitors on going and potential conservation issues. AFF was instrumental in getting a project started to build a Pavilion at Wild Cat Shoals on the White River in conjunction with the Arkansas Game and Fish. Currently NAFF is waiting on the Corp of Engineers to approve the site and design for the Pavilion so that construction can begin.
NAFF has previously donated a Pavilion at the Mountain Home City Park by Lake McCade. This Pavilion is regularly used for educational fishing events. It is feet from the Lake and serves as a great gathering place for youth and adults. These are only two examples of their community involvement. NAFF meets the criteria for short and long term improvements to the community served, provides educational opportunities for its members and the community in general, provides tangible objects that enhance the ability to use the land (ex. Pavilions) and works well with other fishing and conservation entities, including the Arkansas Game and Fish. NAFF supports FFI through its many local efforts following FFI's three pillars of education, community and conservation.
FFI Buz Buszek Fly Tying Memorial Award
Tom Logan
Tallahassee, Florida
Tom H. Logan is a retired certified wildlife biologist based in Tallahassee, Florida, with over 47 years of professional experience in research, recovery, and management of threatened and endangered wildlife species. His career included roles such as Bureau Chief of Wildlife Researcher for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, where he notably contributed to conservation efforts concerning the Florida panther, bald eagle and other endangered species.
Beyond his biological work, Tom is a passionate fly fisher and fly tyer. He is the founder and manager of North Florida Fly-fishing Adventures and School, an initiative dedicated to teaching fly tying, casting, and fishing techniques that enhance the fly-fishing experience for anglers using artificial flies. In his local waters—including the Wacissa and St. Marks Rivers, as well as lakes Miccosukee, Talquin, and Hall—he enjoys fishing for southern bream and bass. His fly fishing pursuits also take him to trout streams in the Smoky Mountains, the Sierras, and other western U.S. waters.
Tom has a particular interest in tying historic and modern soft hackles and other wet patterns, favoring traditional materials over synthetics. He believes that many classic trout patterns, some dating back centuries, are highly effective for southern freshwater species like bluegill and bass. His favorite fly, the Western Coachman, has proven successful across various freshwater species.
An active educator, Tom teaches fly tying and casting classes in Tallahassee and has conducted workshops at events organized by Fly Fishers International (FFI). He frequently demonstrates fly tying at FFI Council events and has presented programs on the laws pertaining to the possession and transportation of natural fly tying materials.
Tom's contributions to the fly fishing community have been recognized with several awards, including the “2004 Tyer of the Year” by the Southeast Council of FFI, the “FFI Silver King Award” in 2013, the “FFI Conservation Award” in 2015, and the “FFI Award of Distinction for Leadership & Service” in 2021. He is a life member of FFI, an FFI Certified Casting Instructor, and has served in various leadership roles, including Chairman of the FFI Board of Directors, Chairman of the FFI Board Conservation Committee, Chairman of the FFI Fly Tying Group Board of Governors, and currently as Board Chairman Emeritus and Senior Advisor for Conservation.
Tom currently serves as Vice President of the Florida Council of FFI and has planned the Council’s Fly Tying Demonstrations since early in its organization. He continues to write articles on the biology of fly selection and remains active in promoting conservation and education within the fly fishing community.
FFI Lifetime Achievement in Fly Casting Education Award
Brian McGlashan
Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland
Brian McGlashan has been an indispensable pillar of stable leadership for the FFI in Europe. He has been teaching fly casting for more than 20 years and holds both Master Casting Instructor (MCI) and Two Hand Master Casting Instructor (THMCI) qualifications. He is also a Level 3 Examiner and was a member of the Casting Board of Governors.
His importance is best understood within the unique context of the European market. Unlike in North America, Japan, and Australia, where the FFI has a monopoly on professional instructor certification, Europe is a highly competitive environment. We constantly battle for instructors and students against well-established organizations like GAIA, AAPGAI, EFFA, and SGAIC in Scotland. A unique lack of Spey casting skills in our entry level one hand curriculum is a particular challenge in the UK that Brian works hard to overcome.
Brian's unwavering dedication has been a source of stability through challenging times. The FFI's past in Europe has been marked by disruptions, including the departure of our European joint venture members to form EFFA and the acrimony surrounding the departures of Denise Maxwell and Dan McCrimmon.
He has continuously taught, mentored, and examined, while now leading our Europe Region team. He was a key figure in driving positive change in our Examiner Education Program by persuasively advocating to empower faculty members to make on-the-spot decisions. He regularly organizes successful testing events and shows, running or scheduled to run tests in Scotland, and Southern and Northern England in 2024 and 2025 alone.
Brian works alongside James Murray and Barry Mitchell to lead FFI’s presence at high-profile events like the Scottish and UK Game Fairs, where we handle all casting instruction. The UK Game Fair is particularly high profile and attracts over 100,000 attendees annually. Following a highly successful event there in 2024 the FFI team is returning this year. As Brian says, “Recognition for the UK Game Fair should go to Barry Mitchell for bringing the team of instructors together for such an important event.”
Brian has been a remarkable mentor, not just to candidates, but to his colleagues. He has been especially encouraging other instructors to take on greater responsibility with impressive energy and skill. As a result, there is a magnificent Europe-wide team of coordinators that Brian gives accolades for the accomplishments they have achieved. “I certainly couldn’t do it without them,” said Brian.
FFI Lifetime Achievement in Fly Casting Education Award
Don Simonson
Camano Island, Washington
Don Simonson's length, breadth, and quality of service to the FFI is extraordinary. He joined in the 1980's, became a Certified Casting Instructor (CI) in 1995 and a Master Casting Instructor (MCI) in 2000. Don joined the Casting Board of Governors in 2006. He received a well-deserved Mel Krieger Award in 2013.
Throughout the years he has continued to actively mentor and examine candidates as a Level 2 examiner and put a tremendous amount of energy and effort into running CI teaching workshops at Fairs and other events. He has always emphasized the history of our casting education program and helped pass our culture down to newer colleagues. He volunteered to be one of the MCI faculty at the recent CI boot camps and put in a large amount of online and in person time of the highest quality.
Don has been an extremely important member of the casting education leadership team over the past few years. He agreed to take on joint leadership of the Candidate Pipeline Committee, which has produced well received roadmaps for all levels of instructor candidates. He has also done a great job of mentoring and working with his co-lead Andy Manley. Finally, he provided valuable input to the team working on the recently released CI Candidate Workshops and is volunteering his time to help present them.
FFI Conservation Award
Tarrant Regional Water District
Fort Worth, Texas
https://www.trwd.com/
Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD) mission is to deliver a reliable, resilient supply of water to the public at the lowest cost and highest quality possible. Reduce the risk of flooding in our communities with dependable flood reduction infrastructure and operations. Enhance the quality of life in North Texas communities by creating recreation opportunities around TRWD infrastructure to enable active lifestyles.
Recreation activities, mainly the most successful fly fishing event in the State of Texas, Trinity FlyFest, have been thoroughly enjoyed by the Fort Worth Fly Fishers, and the Texas Council FFI. This ongoing event just recently celebrated its 10th year of existence. Bringing thousands of attendees together to enjoy, compete, and learn more about fly fishing each year. Not only do we enjoy this event immensely, but the clubs also supply a large number of volunteers, to support the needed roles to make an event of this magnitude successful.
https://trinityflyfest.com/
TRWD also has many litter programs in place throughout the year. Trash Bash focuses on litter pick-ups throughout the area, focusing on the Trinity River, and lakes in North Texas. Keeping Fort Worth beautiful, and maintaining the best Urban experience for recreation, especially fly fishing and kayaking, in Texas!! TRWD also has a large amount of educational awareness activities that take a more proactive stance on litter control. The Fort Worth Fly Fishers have been participating in these cleanups for quite some time.
TRWD also focuses on water standards, keeping our water safe for personal use, along with recreational use. Recently TRWD, along with our clubs and other conservation groups, worked to prevent a new water treatment site, to discharge treated water into the Trinity River water system. Had they not worked to prevent this, the water system would have drastically been altered, and the future of game fishing here, would have never been the same. They were successful in doing so, and the city of Fort Worth changed their plans, and the water system remains in excellent shape for recreational activities.
TRWD has been and still is a great conservation partner. Not only have they been great for the Fort Worth Fly Fishers, but they are also partners with Streams and Valleys, an organization who also is another great conservation first organization.
TRWD is so deserving of being recognized for their conservation efforts and we congratulate them on this FFI award.
FFI Council Leadership Award
Steve Jones
Camas, Washington
Steve Jones has been a member of the Washington State Council (WSCFFI) for the past 15 years. He has served as the newsletter editor, vice president of communications and now serving as the President of the Council since 2019. He helped us navigate through COVID and put the Council on a recovery path post COVID. He has brought several innovative ideas for the WSCFFI to work on. In addition, Steve has been a resource for the entire fly fishing community; from ensuring fly fishers have access to the Grand Ronde to helping clubs survive the ever changing landscape.
Steve has been an active participant in the FFI Council President’s Committee and has been instrumental in several key programs as well as helping other councils to become more active. He has offered to help some of the struggling councils. He currently serves on the Resource Committee of the Council Presidents, providing leadership to develop the materials and best practices that councils and clubs need to be successful.
FFI Council Leadership Award
Sherry Steele
Sisters, Oregon
Sherry has been the President of the Oregon Council for the past 15 years, and under her leadership, FFI membership in Oregon has grown to over 500 members. Sherry is natural leader with excellent organizational skills, extremely positive attitude, and up-beat vibe. She promotes a spirit of teamwork and collaboration within the Board of Directors and the Oregon Council as a whole. Because of her many years of service, she has a deep understanding of the history of our Council as well as the history of Fly Fishers International.
Under Sherry’s leadership the Northwest Fly Tyer and Fly Fishing Expo has flourished. The event promotes all aspects of fly fishing, provides education and social interaction for the fly tying community, and helps to develop the next generation of fly fishers through an exciting and well-received youth program.
Sherry has the ability to select the right people for the right positions in the organization, and works with them to ensure their success. Dedication and enthusiasm are keywords that immediately come to mind when I think of Sherry’s time as our Council President. In 2009, Sherry started the Central Oregon Fly Tyers Guild, an FFI Charter club. This club focuses on tying patterns for fresh water. Starting in December of 2020, Sherry kicked off a series of online fly tying classes, with presentations by many outstanding fly tyers. This first series consisted of 20 classes and has continued every year. Cathy Hamilton shared, “for me personally, having these weekly classes back in 2020 during “lockdown” felt like a lifeline at a time when social isolation was the name of the game, and since then, even though we are now able to get together for events like our Expo, they are my online equivalent of “Must See TV”.”
In 2023, Sherry was awarded the Polly Rosborough Lifetime Achievement Award, an award established in the Oregon Council in 1993. Sherry is one of only 4 honorees since its establishment. Individuals are selected because they have shown unusual devotion and has made outstanding contributions to the Oregon Council, its member clubs, and fly fishers in general. There is not doubt Sherry deserved the award as she does the FFI Council Leadership Award.
FFI Darwin Atkin Fly Tying Achievement Award
Larry Olson
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Larry Olson has been an integral part of the Fly Tying Group (Group) for the last several years. He has contributed significantly to the Group by providing ideas and lending his skills to make them become a reality. His first accomplishment was turning the Group’s newsletter into what we know today as the Whip Finish Journal. It’s now a publication that is a great resource to the Group as well as the fly fishing community.
He then turned his attention to creating a book after the 2024 FTG Rendezvous held in Dallas. An effort that had been undertaken after Expos and Conclaves in the distant past. Larry collected flies from the demonstration tiers, carefully labeled them, and sent them to Eric Austin for photographing. The collection was published and printed. He then contacted some of the most famous fly tiers in the world and convinced them to write articles, send photos of old events, and generally turned a small book about a Rendezvous into a much larger and more important work about the Fly Tying Group. It was an amazing process to witness.
Eric Austin shared this story. “When Larry was first interviewed by the Board of Governors of the Fly Tying Group, he mentioned that he felt he was a people person. In my mind I jokingly thought of him as "Mr. Congeniality" after that. It turned out the joke was on me. Let me give you an idea of what kind of person Larry is. I mentioned to him once that I had dreamed of fishing out West as a teenager after seeing the cover of an outdoor magazine that featured a drawing of a cowboy on horseback in the middle of a stream with a fly rod. I wasn't sure which magazine it was, but after seeing it back then, I knew I'd have to fish out West someday. Larry sent me that very Field and Stream cover, fully matted, from 1965. It was so thoughtful. Yes, Larry is a people person.” He is exactly the type of person that Darwin would be pleased to have received the award that is named after him.
FFI Dick Nelson Fly Tying Teaching Award
Al & Gretchen Beatty
Boise, Idaho
Gretchen and Al work as a team and have since they got married in 1993. After taking an early retirement from corporate America, they moved to Montana to live their lives as full-time fly-fishing professionals. Before 1993, Al had taught classes starting in 1958 when he taught his Boy Scout group to tie bucktail streamers.
Teaching others was an on-again, off-again adventure for him through the 60s. After returning to his job at Pacific Telephone Company from his military service he was asked if he would be willing to “help in Yosemite National Park for a couple of weeks.” He ended up staying at that job for five years. In “The Park” he lost track of the number of summer employees he taught to tie flies and how to use them on local waters.
Several promotions and a transfer to a North Idaho phone company in 1978 brought Gretchen and Al in touch as part of their work-a-day world. In time, they learned of their love for fly fishing and fly tying. Over the next several years, that love for a sport grew into a love for each other. They were married in 1993. Up to the time the two were married, Gretchen had not taught any fly-type classes. Her father was a commercial tier who tied on a rotary fly-tying machine made from a Singer Treadle Sewing Machine. She learned on that machine where tying flies is accomplished by moving her feet while keeping her hands stationary. For Gretchen, joining Al “at the vise” was an adventure from the ground up.
After the move to Montana in 1993, the two decided to make the bulk of their income by tying flies commercially and guiding during the summer months. That meant Gretchen had to learn to tie on a stationary vise while also producing a quality product. That year was the only year the two did not teach any classes; they were busy “getting orders out the door” while teaching Gretchen the next pattern or technique.
After a year at the vise, Gretchen’s fly-tying skill was beyond excellent; it was difficult to identify whether a pattern was tied by Gretchen or by Al. Her progress was phenomenal. Since then, the Beattys have taught and demonstrated across Europe, Scandinavia, the United Kingdom, Canada, and many states west of the Mississippi River, as well as a few in the East.
When Covid 19 hit the world, the two had to find another method of teaching because face-to-face classes were put on hold for a couple of years. The two reached back to using skills learned while producing VHS videos for Gary LaFontaine, Cabela’s, and others during the 90s. They assembled a Zoom fly-tying studio that set the standard for other fly-tying instructors who still wanted to reach their students in a “no-travel world.”
They have been teaching via the digital world ever since that unplanned beginning. Today, the Beattys still enjoy each other’s company on the water, at the vise, at the keyboard, behind the camera, and via their Zoom digital studio. They have been honored with the Buz Buszek Memorial Award for fly-tying excellence (Al in 1999 and Gretchen in 2019). They are the only husband and wife team to both have received this award. The other awards they have received are far too many to mention here. Gretchen and Al are honored to be nominated for the Dick Nelson Teaching Award; he was a good friend.
FFI Dick Nelson Fly Tying Teaching Award
Glenn Wilson
Graham, Washington
Glenn Wilson, currently the president of Northwest Salmon Fly Guild, is the ideal fly-tying instructor. In his previous life, he was a high school teacher in Washington; so, he developed a keen understanding of what it takes to teach and how to teach. Glenn has participated in various fly-Tying events throughout the Pacific Northwest for some 20 plus years. At each of these shows, Glenn is actively teaching those who are watching him. He has taught many classes on tying flies for the FFI. He has always taken every opportunity to be helpful and to teach whenever asked.
Glenn is known worldwide for his ability to tie salmon flies. As president of the Northwest Salmon Guild, he has been the driving force in expanding the membership, as well as, generating the enthusiasm to ensure the art of tying salmon flies will continue to garner the awe among all fly tiers.
Beyond Glenn’s ability to draw a crowd at any fly-tying event he participates in, he regularly teaches tying specific salmon patterns at the Guild’s monthly meeting. These meetings are presented online and viewed worldwide. In addition to drawing people locally, when Glenn has been instructing at one of the Guild’s monthly meetings, numerous tiers from Canada make the extra effort to attend those meeting in Washington.
Glenn is a teacher, everything he does is to help provide a learning experience for all who want to learn. In addition, he builds an environment where people what to learn and to actively participate which is an important consideration to receive the Dick Nelson Fly Tying Teaching Award.
FFI Fly Fishing Skills Education Award
Dick Erickson
Willoughby, Ohio
Dick has been a key member of the Education Committee for the last several years, consistently delivering a thorough effort that keeps the Education Committee moving forward both strategically and tactically. Using his vast experience in corporate and non-profit organizations, Dick contributes importantly to every conversation on many topics. Both from an educational content and organizational process point of view, Dick has provided leadership that is clearly recognized by everyone on the Education Committee.
In his role as Grants Subcommittee Chair he has graciously worked with many grant applicants, often helping them revise their grant applications to reach a more successful outcome. In the cases where the Education Committee has not approved a grant, Dick has worked with many applicants to deliver that message in a way that both helps that organization in the future and preserves the good image and reputation of FFI. In addition, Dick took it upon himself to revise the grant application process and application to make them both more clear and easier to navigate by applicants.
Dick has contributed significantly by almost single handedly revising and combining previous Learning Center content into what is now known as Fly Fishing Fundamentals. In the process, Dick has attempted many times to work across FFI to gain alignment on this program across many parts of FFI. Despite being routinely rebuffed in his efforts, Dick perseveres because of his belief that FFI should represent a unified perspective to our members and prospective members. Through his perseverance, Dick remains cheerful and dedicated to cross organizational collaboration that should set an example for how the parts of the organization should endeavor to work together to bring content and services to our members.
Though Dick's creative, administrative, and writing skills have been an engine for the Education Committee, his skills and energy don't end there. Even as he approaches his 88th birthday, Dick continues to be an active member of the Ohio Council (and former President), delivering educational content regularly and gaining experience that he brings back to the Education Committee on the practical aspects of educating FFI members on many aspects of fly fishing.
FFI Fly Fishing Skills Education Award
Dorothy Schramm
Pentwater, Michigan
Dorothy Schramm has been mentor to many fly fishers for decades now. She was a founding member of the FFI affiliated club, The West Michigan Hacklers. She was also very involved in the establishment of Fly Girls of Michigan. She continues to contribute to the success of that FFI club.
Dorothy was an instructor for many years at the beginners’ school at Roscommon when the FFI held summer meetings there. She has helped countless numbers of people learn the art of rod building. She is an excellent fly caster and has always been willing to help others learn to cast better. Through the years Dorothy has been first to volunteer her time to teaching the art of fly tying, whether it be a beginner or seasoned pro.
She has always been willing to share her passion and the skills she has learned along the way with others. She is the definition of a consummate teacher.
FFI International Ambassador Award
Kastine Coleman
Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada
Kastine Coleman is an FFI Ambassador and promotes FFI worldwide. She lives in Canada and offers an international prospective to Women Connect, and has for the last several years as she serves as an active Board member of FFI Women Connect. Kastine is also a board member of Fly Fishers International and also serves on the FFI International Programs Committee.
Kastine guides in Newfoundland for salmon, using her job to promote salmon fishing, conservation and FFI. She produces an educational television fishing show promoting fishing, conservation, and the outdoors, engaging new and diverse members to FFI. In addition, she has directed, produced and staffed a film for competitions. The film features Kastine helping a stroke victim recover his ability to fish after a stroke. This will promote fly fishing as a rehabilitative way to help healing from a catastrophic health event.
Kastine is a FFI Casting Instructor and regularly uses her skills to promote and teach others about fly fishing. Through her work in the school system in Canada, she has introduced countless youth to fly fishing and conservation. She participates in international fly fishing events, serving as a casting instructor to promote FFI casting programs and teach individuals fly casting skills.
Kastine is an active conservationist. She is working with the Newfoundland fisheries to increase the number of Atlantic salmon coming to the area and practices catch and release with her clients to help conserve the salmon already in the area.
She regularly writes articles for Fly Fusion Magazine, Outdoor Canada Magazine, and the Atlanta Salmon Journal, promoting fly-fishing and outdoor skills. She also speaks at fishing events, promoting FFI, conservation and the global community of fly fishing.
Kastine, through her personal actions and media presence, promotes FFI and fishing in her work as well as her volunteerism. Her personality and communication skills make her a fantastic Ambassador for FFI, and her exceptional and sustained contributions align perfectly with FFI’s mission and vision. Kastine’s leadership and commitment have spanned several years, demonstrating unwavering dedication to expanding the reach and impact of Fly Fishers International worldwide.
FFI Lee Wulff Award
Miss Mayfly & Kim Ranalla
Manassas, Virginia
Miss Mayfly, owned by Kim Ranalla, primarily provides innovative waders and boots for women that really fit. The company also has fishing and tying products and some clothing which expands the company into a market for all. Even though this company is relatively new, starting in 2016, it has an international presence in Canada, Europe and the United Kingdom as well as in all fifty states of The United States. The Miss Mayfly Team includes brand ambassadors to help "spread the word" about its unique offerings. It sells direct to consumers online, at trade shows, and through many fly shops. Miss Mayfly has and continues to guide fly shops to be inclusive by providing products specific for women of all sizes and shapes.
In 2024 Miss Mayfly earned the Consumer Choice Award for its moxie pant waders. In 2023 and 2024 it won the Consumer Choice Award for women's wading boots. For all waders and boots Miss Mayfly focuses on how the product fits the buyer. As its mission says, Miss Mayfly empowers anglers of all shapes and sizes, providing fit focused fishing and wading gear designed to achieve unmatched performance in the outdoors.
Miss Mayfly has an innovative sizing model that is based on body type, fitting women from extra petite to tall, slim to an extra wide girth and
all foot sizes. The company provides personal sizing consultations and education for women, heavily focusing on health and safety with its products. Its wading boots offer balance, stability, safety and performance that enhances the fly fisher’s wading abilities. Kim also provides online presentations focusing on women's issues for Women Connect and local clubs.
Miss Mayfly strongly supports fly fishing at many levels. The company sponsors women fly fishers on youth and adult United States teams and encourages others to also support these team members. Kim also works hard to support FFI Women Connect, nationally, regionally and locally. Since the inception of the Women's Photo Contest three years ago, Miss Mayfly has provided the most significant prizes. Miss Mayfly provides donations for other events as requested. Last year Miss Mayfly supplied the prize for Membership Recruitment for Women Connect. This benefitted FFI by helping bring in approximately fifty new and renewal members.
Kim also hires FFI Women Connect members to work the Miss Mayfly booths at the different fishing shows which enables women to attend events that they may not have been able to do without Miss Mayfly's financial support. She is an active member of our Facebook group and participates in our programming when she has a chance. By working with Women Connect and other entities, Miss Mayfly promotes and supports our fisheries and the people that enjoy the outdoors.
FFI Mel Krieger Fly Casting Instructor Award
Mark Surtees
London, England, United Kingdom
Mark Surtees’ contributions to FFI Casting Instructor Certification Program and the FFI Fly Casting Education Program have been conducted over many years within various committees; assisting with developing definitions, standards and reference documentation. Notably, as one of the lead authors for the Master Casting Instructor (MCI) Study Guide team, the Casting Instructor (CI) Teaching Workshop Committee and the Fly Casting Mechanics Committee. Mark has also provided Continuing Education videos in addition to individual and collaborative Loop articles that have ensured that the FFI fly casting community have access to cutting edge coaching and instructional material from the sports science world.
Moreover, he has reframed this specialist information for ease of use within the Community. Despite these notable achievements, it is his less visible efforts that makes him stand out from the crowd. He is the lead casting coach for the British Fly Casting Club (BFCC), attending events both in the U.K. and abroad, teaching countless members of the public over the years, mostly at beginner to intermediate level. He is a regular attendee at FFI events in Europe providing mentoring for instructor candidates and guiding newly minted instructors into the real world of instruction, highlighting the changes between passing an assessment and delivering a lesson in the wild. There are a large number of instructors who have benefited from having ready and freely given access to his wealth of knowledge and experience. All accomplishments that make Mark a deserving recipient the FFI Mel Krieger Fly Casting Instruction Award.
FFI Women's Community Development Award
Leigh Ann Swanson
Altadena, California
Serving her 2nd term as President of SWCFFI, Leigh Ann is a past President of Pasadena Casting Club. As a CCI, she was PCC casting director for 6 years. She's hosted multiple free casting clinics, including many for women. She is an award-winning leader who has been exceptionally generous with her time and helped bring many women info the fly fishing community.
Leigh Ann was President of the FFI Southwest Council from 2021 through 2022, and returned to that position in 2024. Leigh Ann helped organize numerous programs for the SWC, both in-person and online. She has been able to unify and strengthen the council. She was awarded the FFI Council President Leadership award in 2023 for her service as a Council President. Leigh Ann also serves on the FFI Nominations, Elections and Board Development Committee.
Leigh Ann was president of Pasadena Casting Club from 2015 -2017, and the club received the McKenzie Cup Award in 2017 for programs under her leadership in 2016. While she was president, the club reached new heights in membership, including a significant influx of women. In 2012, Pasadena Casting Club gave her the Pauline Cathcart Memorial Casting Award in recognition of her enduring commitment to mastering and teaching fly-casting. In 2015, Southwest Council awarded Leigh Ann with the FFI Award of Excellence for her substantial efforts on behalf of the Southwest Council and FFI.
Leigh Ann is an FFI certified instructor, and has assisted numerous others studying to take the exam, both in organized programs and individually. She has helped numerous women in the sport throughout her service to the Fly Fishers International.