Members affiliated with Washington FFI are engaged in education, conservation, and environmental stewardship statewide. Since the formation of Washington FFI in the 1960s, our members and affiliated clubs have played an invaluable role in conserving and protecting countless acres of stream and riverbank. We bring people together in the vigorous defense of ecosystems and committed efforts to share the best in fly tying, casting, and fishing skills.
Typically each year, the Washington State Council gives up to 7 awards for excellence in education, conservation and leadership to various members and affiliated clubs. This year we have added an 8th award to recognize those individuals in that are the heart, the go to person of the various clubs. In addition, there are numerous national level awards. Each year we go through a nomination and selection process. You and your colleagues are the engine that drives that and FFI awards are a way to say thanks and invite deeper commitment.
Awards nominations will be open from January 1st, 2026 until April 1st, 2026, with the finalists to be announced in May 2025.
To review the awards along with the criteria for each of the 8 Washington State Council Awards, go to:
Or
Go to the home page on the Washington State Council FFI website (wscffi.org), on the menu bar at the top of the page place your cursor over “ABOUT US”. A drop down menu will appear, click on “AWARDS”.
On the “Awards Page” you will find:
- All Washington State CouncilFFI Awards and criteria
- Past Council Award recipients
- National Award Recipients (WSCFFI members)
- On Line Nomination Forms for all awards
- After reviewing the awards, the next step is to nominate one of the unsung heroes in our organization. (active link starting on Feb 1, 2025)
If you have any difficulties with the on-line nomination process, please send an email with your nomination to:
It is our desire to get the most qualified candidate for each award. Within all groups there are many unsung heroes who may not get the recognition they deserve. Please, help us to make sure every qualified award recipient is identified.
Watch our Facebook and Instagram posts for more information.
Send in those nominations!
You have until April 1st, 2026
Last Years Recipients for various Washington State Council Awards are:
WSCFFI Fly Fisher of the Year
Jim Black has helped coordinate the last 5 fly-casting events and fly-fishing shows that the WSCFFI has sponsored or participated in. He always picks up the slack when extra support is required. He is currently the secretary for the Board of Directors and has been unselfish with his time and efforts in the support of WSCFFI.
Pat Herdt Education Award (individual) 2 recipients for 2025
Tim Opitz has been a champion for Youth Fly Fishing Education. In 2018, Tim created a 2-pronged youth education model. The 2 prongs are Membership, for those youth whose parents or grandparents are members of the Overlake Fly-Fishing Club (offc.org). The second prong is Outreach, for community youth groups and school groups. Tim is an amazing manager with an ironclad commitment to teaching the next generation of fly-fishers.
Kevin Angevine serves as the South Sound Fly Fishers fundraising chair; he also plays a critical role in our Education Program. His actions have displayed a continuous, focused effort promoting education of fly fishing for multiple years that sets him apart from his peers. Kevin inspires and mentors over 90 students a year leaving a positive impact. Additionally, he sponsors multiple fly-fishing trips with students for hands on learning, which directly results in many new club memberships.
Bill MacCay Conservation Award
Ryan May, a member of our Conservation Committee of The Olympic Fly Fishers of Edmonds, began work to set up our club as a “partner” organization with Snohomish County’s Healthy Forest Project (HFP). HFP is a community stewardship program which aims to restore and care for the forested parks and natural areas managed by Snohomish County. His efforts to promote the events through social media have increased awareness and participation from the community at large. This very successful habitat restoration effort has been a huge source of pride in our club and has motivated our members’ involvement.
This year we created a new award to recognize individuals within affiliated clubs of the WSCFFI who the backbone of their clubs. The Robert Gerlach Award was created in 2025. The WSCFFI Board of Directors voted to bestow the 1st award to the namesake of the award, Robert Gerlach.
In addition to the Washington State Council Awards, several of our extremely talented and well deserved members also received Fly Fishers International awards.
FFI Dick Nelson Fly Tying Teaching Award Recipient 2025
Glenn Wilson
FFI Council Leadership Award Recipient 2025
Steve Jones
FFI Lifetime Achievement in Fly Casting Education Award Recipient 2025
Don Simonson.
Congratulations to all award recipients and thank you for all your hard work on behalf of the Washington State council and Fly Fishers Inte