Fly Tying Group 2009 Board of Governors

David Nelson, Chairman

I live in San Francisco, California, and am in the Northern California Council. I am 59 and work as an orthopedic hand surgeon, doing both patient care and research (my specialities are distal radius fractures, wrist kinematics, and post operative pain management; see http://www.DavidLNelson.MD for more information). I consider myself a beginning tier. Although I have tied for the national conclave since 1989, I just don't practice! I still have fun. I have been involved with tying since about 1986. I started the project Patterns of the Masters, a fund-raiser for the FFF highlighting the patterns tied at the Conclave. I started and have conducted the Tier as Teacher Initiative, which was under the FFF Department of Eduction for two years before it came under the Fly Tying Group's mandate. I was drafted as the interim Chair of the Board of Governors in 2007 and served in that capacity until I was elected Chair for 2008. I am serving a three year term.

I am very interested in biology, botany (native plants, teaching natural history to kids), and entomology (gave talks at Conclave for years on stoneflies, am a member of the Plecoptera Society). I have two wonderful daughters, 16 and 17, who are working full-time to put more grey hair on top of my noggin. They have both tied at Conclave, but now friends and boys are distracting them. I can wait. I keep telling them that there are tons of boys at Conclave!

My list of things for the FTG is large: increase our web presence, establish a strong program for helping members organize and execute fly tying classes, help demo tiers be better demo tiers. My particular interest is how to help our demonstration tiers be great teachers, reaching out the all students irrespective of their tying abilities. My ultimate goal is to get them to be flyfisherman, and thereby understand the importance of conservation and the need to become active at the local and national level in whatever conservation project is near and dear to their hearts.

If you would like to contact me, my email is my last name followed by "dl" (without any space or punctuation) at pacbell dot net. My phone is 415 925 0501 (my office).

David Nelson

Gene Kaczmarek, Vice Chairman; Chair, Standing Committee, Conclave Fly Tying

I live in Fremont, California, and just retired from Sales and marketing in the Silicon Valley. My home club is the Mission Peak Fly Anglers.

A member of the Northern California Council and have been on the BOD for the past 15 years, I currently serve as the VP Communications and have been VP Marketing (Booth), Fly tying chair, and one of the original members of the BOD for the FTG and currently the Standing Fly Tying Chair for the Conclave. I am the recipient of the inaugural NCCFFF “Ned Long Memorial Fly Tyer of the Year” award for 2002.

I have been tying flies for over 20 years and teach fly tying classes for the beginner, intermediate and advanced tyers. Also demonstrate advanced steelhead tying technique’s at a number of the FFF and western fly fishing shows and clubs.

Tying has become a passion not just a hobby for me. Though I tie everything from trout to Salt water, Steelhead flies are his first love because they provide the “Freedom of expression like no other tying style.” Teaching needs to be the backbone of this group. We all should have the passion to want to pass on what we know and watch our students excel beyond our abilities.

Gene Kaczmarek

Steve Jensen, Treasurer; Chair, Framing Committee

My wife and I live in Springfield, Missouri.  I retired three years ago, at age 64,  from Missouri State University where I spent 33 years as a professor of Biology, serving the last seven years as Head of the Biology Department.  My specialty was aquatic entomology (specifically, mayflies). (Steve is being modest here: he holds a PhD in mayflies! - David Nelson)

I have been a life member of the Federation since 1985 and have served as an officer at the club, council, and national level.  Specifically, I was the founding president of the Southwest Missouri Fly Fishers (and have held that office five different times).  I have served in the Southern Council as treasurer (8 years), vice president (2 years) and president (2 years).  I also served as a National Director (when they had such a position) and I am currently a Senior Advisor at the national level.

I enjoy fly tying and tie trout, warm water, and salt water patterns.  So far I have successfully resisted getting involved in tying classic salmon flies.  I get tremendous enjoyment in planning trips, tying the desired patterns, and building leaders and rods for each trip.  I have recently fished New Zealand, Canada, Mexico, as well as a variety of localities within the United States (including Alaska).  This year I have trips scheduled to Mexico, Canada, and Alaska (isn’t retirement grand?).

Relative to demonstration fly tying, I have tied at local clubs, regional shows (most recently the Smallmouth Rendezvous in Oklahoma), Southern and Southeastern Council conclaves, as well as the International Fly Show and Conclave.  I very much enjoy talking to tiers, especially those to whom I can contribute new ideas.  However, I usually find that I am the greatest benefactor during such exchange of knowledge.

In 1994, having the desire to become more involved in fly plates and fly plate construction, I attended a two-day workshop conducted by Darwin Atkin held in Livingston, Montana.  I came out of that workshop with a strong fundamental understanding of fly plate construction and with a desire to begin building plates for display.  In 1990, Darwin had initiated a new fly plate project for the Federation entitled the International Fly Tyers Fly Plate Project.  From its inception in 1992 until 1996, Darwin was solely responsible for all aspects of the project: soliciting flies from tiers throughout the world, designing and constructing about 14 plates annually, shipping the plates, and keeping records.  At the 1996 Board of Directors meeting of the Federation of Fly Fishers, Darwin announced that he wanted to step down, and was seeking a volunteer to chair the program.  After some serious negotiations, Darwin agreed to remain on the project as co-chair provided there was a reduction in his responsibilities.  For the next four years, Darwin solicited the flies and handled all correspondence while I constructed and shipped the plates.  At the end of 2000, Darwin completely retired from the project.

Beginning in 2001, I initiated a new fly plate project entitled the Legends of Fly Tying.  Like the earlier project, this project was approved by the Federation’s Board of Directors, giving it official FFF status.  The Legends of Fly Tying project is in many respects similar to the International Fly Tyers Fly Plate Project, and is essentially a continuation of that very successful project, The Legends of Fly Tying fly plate project was scheduled to end in 2006, but because of demand I have agreed to continue the project on a limited basis indefinitely. Darwin and I are proud of the fact that the two projects combined have raised over $150,000 in support of Federation of Fly Fishers programs.

One of the objectives of the Fly Tying Group is to foster the design and construction of fly plates, and I am the head of the committee on fly plates.  Through workshops and presentations, it is our goal to involve more tiers in this rewarding activity. I would welcome your contributions to this committee.

I have a number of other hobbies, some of which are related to fly fishing (I carve fly tying bobbins from various woods) while others aren’t even distantly related (I spend a lot of my time hacking my way around a golf course).  I am blessed with a very full and happy life.

Steve Jensen (you may reach me at fly-framer followed by the "at" sign followed by att.net)

Jim Ferguson, Secretary; Chair, Fly Tying Instructor's Resource

My name is Jim Ferguson.  Just hit 65 and have been retired for about 3 years from 34 years in public education.  Taught physical science, math, geology, chemistry, and physics.  I live in Salem, Oregon, near Chemeketa Community College where I taught the last 9 years before retiring.  My major was physics.  Throughout  my teaching career I was involved with curriculum development and tried to pay special attention to the different styles of learning and how an instructor can adapt to different teaching styles to best match the learning styles of their students.  We had some real variances in learning styles of students in our "Chemistry for Fire Fighters", "Physical Science for Firefighters", and "Nursing Chemistry Series" at Chemeketa.

I belong to the Oregon Council of FFF and was elected as the council board VP of Flytying. Last year I was Flytyer Chair for the Oregon Council Fly Tyer and Flycasting Expo in Albany, Oregon, where we had about 296 tyers demo tying during the five sessions of the two-day event.  I will be Flytyer Chair again for next March.  Other tying experience includes demo tying at Conclave last year, teaching a caddis class at Conclave last year (and this year), demo tying at the Washington Council expo, demo tying at the Western Idaho expo and helping teach some vets at one of the start-up Project Healing Waters programs in Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington.  I have been involved in teaching fly tying classes through Salem's local fly shop, Creekside Flyfishing.  The classes have ranged from beginning flytying to full-dressed Atlantic Salmon Flys.  In  2006, I was the Oregon Council Fly Tyer of the year recipient.  I participated in the FFF fly tying contest  and received several awards both at the council and international level. I have been interested in all types of fly tying, from trout to steelhead to Atlantic Salmon. I would like to see the Fly Tying Group work on some instructional DVD's showing techniques of tying and tool use rather than concentrating on particular patterns. 

You can reach me at J.Ferguson followed by the "at" sign followed by comcast.net.

Jim Ferguson     

Leslie Wrixon; Chair, Annual Conclave Fly Tying, 2011

here reporting live from Boston. Taking a break from my nightly fly tying.  By day I paint fine and not so fine homes. Hmmmm, what to say.  Oh, you should never ask a girl how old she is, but I'll tell you anyway. I am 45.

I am on the Board of Directors for the North East Council, and am the NEC Fly Tying Chair. Teaching is a big part of my life. I offer many courses at various locales and am an instructor at and president of United Fly Tyers. I seem to manage to tye at a bunch of shows, events and clubs. The shows range from big and well-known to small and unknown. Of note, I was selected as the Fly Fishing Team USA official fly tyer in 2006 and traveled with the team to the Fly Fishing World Championships in Portugal. I am also on several manufacturers pro-teams.

Living in Boston gives me the opportunity to tye and fish saltwater flies in addition to fresh water flies, which are my primary interest.  My flies are available via my website at www.ityeflies.com.  When I am not painting houses or tying flies, I enjoy reading, cooking, sports (playing and watching) and the fine art of enjoying life.

It would be important for the Fly Tying Group to formulate and make available guidelines for tying instructors so that each person teaching fly tying does not have to reinvent the process anew. This might include lesson plans, recipe suggestions for students at different skill levels, materials checklists, and guidelines for effective communication and teaching. This may also be translated into a document or video containing guidelines for demonstration tying as well. It seems important to preserve our fly tying heritage. In addition to a museum setting this should also be done digitally so as to make our valuable information more widely available for research. I also feel we need to better utilize the FFF Forum as a structured way for tyers to communicate with one another. 

Tight Wraps, Leslie Wrixon

Bob Bates

I am from Spokane, WA, which is in the eastern part of the state where it doesn't rain all the time. At 78, you might say I am a mature (old) member on this team.  My home club is the Inland Empire Fly Fishing Club.  I have been a member of the FFF for many years and am currently VP Communication for the Washington State Council FFF.

The cutthroat trout in the Colorado high lakes forced me into fly tying in 1959-60.  They wanted little flies, circa 22, and none of the shops in the Denver area carried them.  I tie trout flies of all types and a few saltwater patterns.

After retiring in 1989, so many volunteer opportunities came my way that my fishing suffered.  I have been trying to cut back, but when this offer came by, I agreed.  Now I edit only one newsletter and maintain two web sites, www.washingtoncouncilfff.org and www.ieffc.org.  Educational activities include teaching fly tying and maintaining the FFF Fly of the Month web pages.  For years I wrote a weekly fly tying column for a Spokane fishing and hunting newspaper.  My recent demonstration tying has been has been with umbrella hooks, quill bodies, and a few regular patterns.

You might have seen me at Conclaves photographing tiers as they work. There are many great tiers in the FFF who are not on the well known list.  I try to introduce them to the FFF membership, pass on their ideas and introduce some new materials. Also I try to show that there are many ways to tie a fish-catching pattern.

Photography is a hobby, and I teach alpine skiing.

I have proposed some things to enhance the FFF fly tying pages.

Bob Bates (you may reach me at bob-bates followed by the at "at"
sign followed by msn.com)

Sister Carol Anne Corley, RSM

I am a  Sister of Mercy of the St. Louis Region. I am 63 years old (No, I don't mind telling.) I live in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and belong to the Southern Council.
 

Fresh warm water flies and trout flies are what I tie, teach and demonstrate most of the time, as that is the fishing we have around here. (I have taught and demonstrated a few salt water patterns, but not much.)

I am a nurse and have worked in health care for 32 years, the last 13 years of which were as the administrator of several (both for-profit and non-profit) Home Health, Hospice and Durable Medical Equipment companies. I retired in 1999.

I was the Educational and Program Director for the United States Youth Fly fishing Association at it's inception. In that capacity, I developed and implemented the “Streets to Streams” and “Tyme Flies” youth educational programs.I am a volunteer teacher at St. John’s Catholic Elementary School where I teach fly tying in the Art curriculum for 7th and 8th grades, Water Conservation and Aquatic Ecology in the Science curriculum and coordinate the St. John’s Stream Teams and Classroom Aquarium projects. I am an adjunct professor at National Park Community College where I teach Fly fishing and Fly Tying (beginning and advanced classes of each). I am also a Co- director of St. John's Parish ESL Program.

I have taught fly tying and/or fly fishing for the Boy Scouts, the Girl Scouts, CFR, TU Rivercourse Camp, Southern Council Conclaves, Women's Outreach, and various other groups, as well as private individuals. I have spoken on fly fishing, fly tying and/or developing youth programs at local, state, regional, and international fly fishing club and organization meetings. I was a contributing author in “The No Nonsense Guide to Women’s Favorite Fly fishing Destinations.” I do fly tying demonstrations at several shows a year. I would like to see the group develop and promote more organized, long term youth programs, perhaps with Boys Clubs and YMCAs for after school programs and work with major suppliers to provide free materials to start and then sustain them at a reasonable cost...if not free. 

Sister Carol Anne Corley

Oscar Feliu

I am 59 and I live in The Villages, in Florida. I am in the Florida Council. I work for The Villages, a retirement development of about 74,000 strong and growing. Though my titles will change on an hourly basis, I’m known as an Event Coordinator. From my office at Church on the Square, I operate some seven year-around projects. 

I teach four six-week Fly Tying Courses a year at The Villages' Lifelong Learning College, and participate as often as I can in Fly Fishing and Tying Symposiums and Trade Shows state & nationwide. I have the privilege of being a teacher of workshops & demonstrator for the FFF for over 33 of my 35 years membership. I will be forever grateful to the FFF for these opportunities.

While most of the patterns I tie are original fresh and saltwater patterns, now and again I tie other folk’s creations for friends. Most of the patterns I had a chance to develop are better suited to the intermediate to advance fly tier. That is a blessing in the sense that the students have a greater comprehension of the techniques. The patterns maybe interesting, but“tying techniques” are what I focus on, techniques the students can take and apply to many other fly tying situations long after the class is done.I feel it’s most important to establish the relation from the living organism to the fly at the vise through entomology or water zoology. And by all means give the students hints as of how to fish the flies. After all “Angling” is our final objective and how all patterns are proved.

I still get a kick out of teaching kids. Young unspoiled minds and hands with incredible dexterity. I must agree: guidelines suggesting better ways of organizing a class are needed. This is especially true when teaching newcomers the use of the most basic tools to understanding the nature of a pattern. Also guidelines allowing the teacher the freedom to use methods he or she feels reach the intended target “The Students”.

I’m in favor of “informative printouts”. A lesson plan needs to be flexible, so it should be left to the individual teacher to create, then it will satisfied their teaching style and personal methods. To be a good teacher you must first have the desire to teach, the knowledge of the subject, methodical orientation, and practice this craft often enough so he or she will excel. Finally make sure that all students are getting the message, the know-how.  

I hope I can bring to the board enough experience to be an asset…I know I’m in good company.

All the best… Oscar Feliu

Dennis 'Bear' Reed

I taught fourth grade for 34 years before moving over to Adult Education (and having a former student now as my boss), three years ago. On the Fourth of July my wife Rita and I celebrated our twelfth anniversary. First it is easy for me to remember and second, since I did not get married until I was in my late 40's, I figured that I should go out with fireworks.

I am a life member of the FFF and TU.  I am a member of the Southern Council and have been the Conclave fly tying chair for approximately 5 years.  I have been chosen as the Southern Council's fly tyer of the year, teacher of the year, man of the year, federator of the year, and of course my most coveted award being the tall tale teller award. I have tied at the Southern Council Conclave, the Southeastern Council Conclave, Gulf Coast Conclave, the Smallmouth Rendezvous, Sow Bug Roundup, and the Mid-South Fly Fishers' Home Waters Expo.

My favorite fishing is in small creeks for smallmouth and sunfish, although I have been know to fish for anything that I can with a fly rod.

Hubert Brodell Jr, and I were the founders of the Northeast Arkansas Flyfishers here in Jonesboro, Arkansas.  We started the club 20 years ago.  I have been president elect, president twice, and have been the newsletter editor on three occasions.  I am currently secretary/treasurer, newsletter editor, and chief cook and bottle washer.

I help every year with the Arkansas Casting for Recovery, and will be helping this fall with Reel Recovery, which is for men who have or have had cancer.  I am also planning on working with Project Healing Waters.

Dennis "Bear" Reed

Gretchen & Al Beatty

We are from Boise, Idaho were we are best friends at the vise, on the water, behind the camera and at the keyboard. When not on the water we enjoy spoiling our grand children, attending FFF Conclaves, operating our family business (BT's Fly Fishing & Photography, www.btsflyfishing.com) and traveling to new corners of the world.

You can reach us at albeatty2 followed by the "at" sign followed by aol.com or gbeatty2 followed by the "at" sign followed by aol.com.

Grenchen and Al

Mike Stewart; Chair, Membership

I started fishing on the Canadian border in Vermont about 50 years ago.  Currently, I am a freshwater and saltwater fly tyer and fisherman who has had the fortunate opportunity to fish in many of the most beautiful places in and outside the US.

I have been tying for over 27 years.  I taught myself to tie.  Through the opportunities made available by my home club, Connecticut Fly Fishermen’s Association (CFFA), I further refined my techniques such that I was confident to be a demonstration tyer, sell my flies, and ultimately teach fly tying.  My bit to pass on the art to the next generation.

In addition to being an active member of the CFFA, I am very active with the Federation of Fly Fishermen (FFF) at the Council and International level.  Currently, I am a member of the Board of Directors and a former Treasurer of the FFF.  Other memberships include the Catskill Fly Tyers Guild, and Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum.  I have been a demonstration tyer at the FFF Conclaves, CFFA Expos, Fly Tyers’ Rendezvous, Theodore Gordon’s Clearwater Junction, and at the CFTG booth at various fly fishing shows.  I am also on the Nymph Head Pro Team and I am a demonstration tyer for The Fly Fishing Shoes nation-wide.

While I tie all types of flies, I especially enjoy classic wet flies.  Not only are they a joy to behold, they harken back to our mutual fly fishing heritage, and, “Boy!” do they catch fish. You can reach me at tellicofly followed by the "at" sign followed by yahoo.com

Mike Stewart

Peggy Brenner; Chair, Communications

I've been tying for a decade and a half now; my specialty is flies that fish well in New England and the Florida Keys. I started with the basics, progressed to Classic Maine Streamers and now Salmon flies.

The good fortune of becoming a member of United Fly Tyers' when I started tying enabled me to receive instruction from some of the finest tiers in the industry.  Several years ago they encouraged me to start teaching ladies, kids and beginners, leading to demonstration tying, a stint as Editor of the Roundtable, and am a past President. Currently I’m on the Board of the FFF Fly Tying Group and Vice President of International Women’s Fly Fishing.

I now tie for a small group of customers, as well as giving instruction, presentation and demonstrations around the country. I am a member of several pro teams which include Whiting Farms, Daiichi hooks and Nymph-Head Beads, that I respresent at 12-15 events per season.

I truly enjoy sharing my knowledge and encouraging new folks to join the fly fishing experience. This fall I’m going back to where I started by teaching a evening class at my local high school in fly tying. You can reach me at PeggyB followed by the "at" sign, then PBandj dot us (note not dot com or net).

Peggy Brenner

Bill Sargeant

When I was young I enjoyed fishing with my Father, in Texas and Colorado. In 1998 my wife gave me a fly rod for my birthday and a “how to” book. I went to a local pond and thought I had taught myself how to cast. (HA!) We then went to Jackson Hole where I was introduced to moving water and realized I had a “lot to learn.”

As a member of the Dallas Flyfishers, I became interested in fly tying and joined a group of fly tiers, known as the Roadkill Roundtable. The opportunity to meet and learn from this group was invaluable. One of the members was Mike Verduin, who introduced me to working with deer hair. Later, I attended the Southern Council Conclave in 2000. I introduced myself to Billy Munn, watched him tie frogs and sculpins for two days, and have been immersed in “hair” ever since.

For several years I have demonstrated my skills and taught fly tying classes at the Southern, Southeastern, Gulf Coast, and the FFF International conclaves.

When I was Fly Tying Coordinator for the Dallas Flyfishers, I organized and taught the beginner and immediate fly tying classes. I also helped create the teaching format that we use for the Boy Scout Fly Fishing Merit Badge. For several years I was active in the USA Youth Fly Fishing Team. As you can see, I enjoy teaching the art of fly tying to young people.

You can reach me at 972-713-9321 (home), and my cell is 214-621-6177; my email is tyflyer followed by the "at" sign followed by sbcglobal.net.

Bill Sargeant

Larry Nicholas

I grew up in Colorado east of Gunnison near the small community of Sargents.  There were three creeks very near by and a few more a within a couple of miles.  The Gunnison River was 30 miles which at the time seemed like a long way.  There were always 3 strung bamboo fly rods in a holder on the back porch and any time I could get away with it I was fishing. 

My dad got a little cranky about the number of flys I was always losing (in  those days they were snelled).  So to save his and my moms stock from being depleted he gave me a fly tying kit for my birthday.  Dad didn't know how to tie flys but he told me I'd figure it out or do without. Ginger quills, blue quills, grey hackle yellows, royal coachmen, Rio Grand kings etc. were never tied so poorly, but they worked. I've been tying ever sence.

I'm a retired civil engineer.  My wife and I moved to Goldendale, WA to get out of the city nine years ago.  We live about 18 miles from the mouth of the Deschutes River, 15 miles from the Klickitat River and about an hour and 40 minutes from the lakes in the Columbia Basin.

I'm a FFF life member, and was named the Fly Tyer of the Year by the Oregon Council of FFF for the year 2001.

I still tie trout flys.  I also tie steelhead flys and about 20 years ago I taught myself to tie full dressed Atlantic Salmon flys.  I am an example of a person obsessed by a hobby that has gotten badly out of hand. If you want to correspond my e-mail address is larryn141 followed by the "at" sign followed by gmail.com.

Larry Nicholas

Russ Forney

After 26 years on active duty, we settled in northeastern Wyoming to escape the crowds, noise, and confusion. I have the attention span of a kindergartener and the short term memory of an octogenarian; a well-tuned blend of skills. My formal education centered around parasitological and clinical epidemiology, but my true passions in life are family, flies, and fotography (three Fs, just like organic chemistry).
I really, really like tying flies! Military travel gave me the opportunity to carry my tying kit around the world and I whiled away many a night tying flies under canvas, mosquito netting, and double canopy jungle. I have enjoyed the good fortune to teach tying classes to several hundred students over the years and continue to learn from each and every student at the table.
Of late I have discovered the pleasures of freelance writing and photography, getting the odd piece of work in a magazine now and then. My favorite fly fishing accessory is a Star Motorcycle; chrome pipes and graphite fly rods are fine companions for a Wyoming adventure. Note: I am pictured on the lower left, not the upper left! My email is wyknot followed by the "at" sign followed by rangeweb.net.

Russ Forney

Dave Roberts

I am from Eagle Point, Oregon where I enjoy tying flies and guiding.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sherry Steele

It is very exciting to be part of the FFF Fly Tying Group (FTG) I am looking forward to assisting the group in any way I can. Tying is a big part of my retired life and adding to it every day and learning more is a joy. Looking forward to working with everyone.

On July 25, 2010, I was elected president of the Oregon Council of the Federation of Fly Fishers http://orcfff.org/ and am the chairperson for the NW Fly Fishing & Fly Tying Expo http://www.nwflytyerexpo.com/ in Albany, Oregon, which is held the 2nd weekend in March. I currently use my organizational and computer skills developed from over 30 years in the electronics/computer industry to help the FFF Oregon Council and FFF National reach their goals. I was very pleased to received the Oregon Council 2010 Federator of the year award, The FFF National 2010 Oregon Award of Excellence and Central Oregon Flyfishers http://www.coflyfishers.org/ Special Recognition Award for encouraging fly tying & fly fishing in and beyond Central Oregon.

I live in Sisters, Oregon. I have been fly fishing and tying for 9 years and have been a demonstration tyer at many conclaves throughout the western states. I teach fly tying classes at Central Oregon clubs, Central Oregon Community College, and Sisters Middle School. I was the organizer for the Central Oregon Fly Fishers fly-tying classes for 3 years. I currently work for and teach fly-tying at the Fly-Fishers Place in Sisters, OR  http://www.flyfishersplace.com/. I just recently joined the ranks of the Pro-Team for Peak Fishing http://www.peakfishing.com/ 

In 2009 I started The Central Oregon Fly Tyers Guild, http://coflytyersguild.com/, a new FFF Charter club, which specializes in tying Classic Salmon flies whose charter is to donate the framed flies to non-profit conservation minded organizations for their fundraisers.

I am very pleased to be serving on the FFF National Board of Directors http://www.fedflyfishers.org/ , and on the FFF National Fly Tyers Group, http://www.flytyinggroup.org/  Board of Governors.

Please feel free to contact me anytime, steelefly followed by the "at" sign followed by msn.com

Jerry Criss

I am a retired “Steamfitter” and “Stationary Building Engineer”. I spent 34 years in the trades in Northern California, before retiring to Central Oregon in “2004”. I have fished all my life and in the mid 80’s took up the sport of fly fishing. Around the mid 90’s I started to do demo tying at various Conclaves, Fly Fishing Shows and fly fishing shops in the Western States. I frame and plate my own work as the work of others in the craft and most of that work goes into the conclave fund raising auctions. I have tyed in contest internationally and have at times been the highest scoring American.

In the summer of “2000” the late Andre’ Puyan’s became my first and only full time teacher. Through his great patience, guidance and humor he lead me to become the tyer I am today. Andre’ was a master and great teacher of the sport and I guess he brought out the master in me, because in “2009” I was humbled by being presented: the Stan Walters Memorial “2009” Fly Tyer of the Year, from the Oregon Council, Federation of Fly Fishers. It is a great honor to by put in the class of the past recipients of this great award. It is my hope as was Andre’s that through staying engaged in teaching and giving back to this great sport, others will continue to make it a great sport for anyone, no matter what age you start.

 I now concentrate on all faucets of the sport teaching marco-invertabrates, angling, fly-fishing and fly-tying through the many programs here in the Central Oregon and the Western U.S. I still do as many Fly Fishing Shows and Conclaves as time will allow.

 I teach adults and children and believe that without the continued participation of the great tyers throughout the world that the craft could be lost. It is my hope that by becoming engaged with the Fly Tying Group of the Federation of Fly Fishers Board of Governors that my experience will provide another experienced tyer and teacher to the great list that already exists. For me it will be another way to repay Andre’ for what he gave me, the chance to become even better than what I dreamed of many years ago. I also provide online teaching via video files like the one at this website http://www.theweeklyfly.com/index.php/TheWeeklyFly/ .

I can be reached at tlfly44 followed by the "at" sign followed by msn.com.

Jerry Criss

Carl Ronk

I was introduced to fly fishing by a friend from school, in 1952. I was 11 at the time. Within the year my buddy had me at his vise learning to tie flies. My first flies, well they caught bluegill. I was hooked on fly fishing and tying my own flies.

It wasn't before I was selling my flies to the local sporting goods stores. In those days there weren't a lot of the tools available so we made our owen tools.

Many years later I became involved with Lotus Imports, working as a salesmen. They imported fly tying tools. It wasn't long before I was designing tools. The company was bought and we changed the name to Terra Fly Tools. I was made CEO and continued to design tools for fly tying.

At the same time I became a licensed fly fishing guide in the eastern side of the high sierras in California. In 2000 I was invited to be a demonstration fly tier at a show in northern California. I have been demonstrating ever since in the western states.

I am a Life member of the Federation of Fly Fishers. I make it a point to support the Federation of fly Fishers any way I can. Currently I am on the pro staff of Nor-Vise and Jay Fair/Tie Fast.

Carl Ronk