FFI Awards Ceremony November 19 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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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 in 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
Sherry Steele
Sisters, Oregon
FFI Darwin Atkin Fly Tying Achievement Award
Larry Olson
Minneapolis, Minnesota
FFI Dick Nelson Fly Tying Teaching Award
Al & Gretchen Beatty
Boise, Idaho
Glenn Wilson
Graham, Washington
FFI Fly Fishing Skills Education Award
Dorothy Schramm
Pentwater, Michigan
Dick Erickson
Willoughby, Ohio
FFI International Ambassador Award
Kastine Coleman
Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada
FFI Lee Wulff Award
Miss Mayfly & Kim Ranalla
Manassas, Virginia
FFI Mel Kreiger Fly Casting Instructor Award
Mark Surtees
London, England, United Kingdom
FFI Women's Community Development Award
Leigh Ann Swanson
Altadena, California