Kuni Masuda

  Kuni 36 years of fly fishing experience and is a member of World Fly Fishing Japan, IFFF and Clark-Skamania Flyfishers in Vancouver, Washington. He participated in the 2012 World Fly Fishing Championship in Slovenia. He was invited to compete as a member of Team Japan and a manager of the team.He joined one of the finest handcrafted and high performance rod makers, C.F. Burkheimer as a pro-staff in 2011. He has been invited to become a pro-staff  for Wastatch Custom Angling as a demo tier.

   Currently he is a member of the IFFF Board of Directors who is responsible for international outreach and member of the Fly Fishing Museum steering committee in Livingston, MT as well as a demo fly tier for their fly fishing events. Over the years he’s fished in Alaska, Europe, Canada, Mexico, Japan as well as widely in the Northwestern U.S. 

  Besides being a director of the Clark-Skamania Fly Fishers, he got involved and committed to the education, conservation, promotion of fly fishing as a method of angling. And through it, an understanding of and appreciation for the diversity of nature. He manages the Fly Tyers’ Night every 2nd Wednesday of each month at the WDFW for the last 4 years.

Phone: (360) 573-3310

Email klmasuda@yahoo.com

 Don Simonson

   I was born and raised on Camano Island. Moved to and lived in Seattle during my 32-year career with IBM. During that time a member of the Washington Fly fishing Club introduced me to the sport of fly-fishing. I have been a member of the WFFC for 42 years serving in most of the officer and chair positions including its president in 1994. I have been teaching fly tying and fly-casting for over 39 years. I joined the Federation of Fly Fishers in the 1980’s and am a lifetime member. I am a Master Certified fly casting instructor and am a member of the Casting Board of Governors. I have served as a Director at large on the WSCFFF for a few years taking responsibility for our fly-casting efforts throughout the state.

Phone: (206) 999-4562                                                                        

Email dksimo@wavecable.com

Sam Matalone Webmaster

I grew up in Northern California and started my passion for fly fishing at the age of 11. I was extremely lucky to have been surrounded by very good fly fisherman who taught me to cast, tie flies and to understand the role each of us plays in ensuring the future of our sport. I have associated with the Washington State Council of Fly Fishers for over 10 years. I retired as an Engineer from Texas Instruments after 30 years. 

Phone   (972) 754-9558

Email sam@matalone.us

Larry Gibbs Newsletter Editor

I am the newsletter editor plus I also mail out a welcoming letter and a dozen flies to all the new members of the FFI within Washington and Alaska. I joined the Board of Directors in the very early 2000’s and have held the positions of Director at Large, Treasurer and Secretary and Auction Coordinator.

I am also a Life member of the FFI. I belong to the FFI President’s Club and I am a sustaining member of the new FFI program, 1000 Stewards. I am a life member of the FFI Fly Tying Group. I am a past member of the FFI Board of Directors.  I was the FFI auction coordinator for five years.

I am the president and newsletter editor of the Alpine Fly Fishers Club, which is a FFI Charter Club located in Puyallup, WA. I also belong to the North Idaho Fly Casters. I am a retired law enforcement officer.

I am an all waters fly fisher but I prefer to fish for trout and smallmouth bass in the rivers of western Montana and eastern Washington.  I fish with both graphite and bamboo fly rods.

Phone: (253) 820-0475

Email: flytier015@q.com

Marion Hiller

A Washington state native and former middle school teacher, Marion grew up with a father who was an avid fly tier and fisher, sharing his knowledge exclusively with his two sons. In time, after the passing of her father, she became the caretaker of a family fishing camp in Montana, where she slowly grew a desire to become an independent and knowledgeable fly fisher. This led her to joining a local fly club. There, encouraged by a fly fishing friend, she sought out Fly Fishing International, and eventually become a certified casting instructor in 2022 where she is able to use her skills and passion for teaching. Since receiving her certification, Marion has provided instructional support to the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement, the Fourth Corner Fly Fishers, the Washington State Council of Fly Fishers International, an after school fly.

Phone (360) 739-0186

Email marionhiller069@gmail.com

Ryan Smith

Ryan has been working since 2003 at The Avid Angler fly shop in the Lake Forest Park north of Seattle, and owner since 2011. In over 20 years of helping at the shop Ryan has overseen all aspects of the business from marketing and accounting to education. Besides the retail operation, Ryan and his guides at Avid Anglers provide guide services, tools and knowledge for all levels of fly fishers. Ryan is an FFI Certified Casting Instructor and has a bachelor’s degree in biology from Colorado College.

Phone (425) 765-2035

Email ryan@avidangler.com

 

Robert Gerlach

I am a retired general contractor living in Gig Harbor, Washington who has been angling the Pacific Northwest for over 30 years. The fly rod captured my attention 13 years ago, and I have picked up the gear rod only a few times since then. I studied for three years and became a Certified Casting Instructor at the WSCIFFF Fair in Ellensburg in 2013 and have been working on becoming a Master in the Art of Teaching for over 5 years now. I find just about as much pleasure throwing a perfect loop as I do hooking a great fish, well I said almost! I have been working with Northwest Youth Conservation and Fly Fishing Academy, Tacoma School of the Arts and SAMI teaching larger groups of young men and women the Art of Fly Casting as well as many smaller groups and individuals. I am constantly working on improving my ability to “COMMUNICATE AND DEMONSTRATE” good casting form as well as working with each individual and their particular casting Style! I am available for both group and private lessons, 253 377 1798.  It is an honor to serve on the Board of Directors of the Washington State Council of the International Federation of Fly Fishers and have a hand in “PASSING IT ON” to future generations

Phone (253) 377-1798

Email rwg@anewds.com

Mike Clancy

  I retired in 2000 and decided to take up fly fishing. I have fished since a little guy of 7-8 years old. I went to the Puyallup Sportsman Show in 2000, expecting to learn about organizations related to fly fishing, I overheard Bob Shirley and Larry Gibbs talking to Arny Gidlow (Arny is a guide on the Missouri River) about the Puget Sound Fly Fishers in Tacoma. Well, the rest is history, I have absolutely enjoyed our sport and relationships I have made from that day on. Bob was the President of PSFF at the time and he didn’t waste anytime getting me involved in the club. He was also President of the WSCIFFF in 2003 when he invited me to join the Board of the Council. Over the years I have been Secretary, Vice President (West) and presently the Government Affairs Chairman which I really enjoy. I pass on fly fishing/government information from WDFW and various other fishing organizations to all the IFFF club’s in Washington, including non IFFF Clubs, in addition to many interested individuals.

 

In 2009, I volunteered with the NW Youth Conservation and Fly Fishing Academy. 2010, I became co-director. Since 2010, we have graduated many boys and girls from The Academy. The Academy is a youth education project of WCTU and made possible with the help and support of WSCIFFF. I am very proud of The Academy and appreciate the support that we receive from the fly fishing community to make this week long event, a lifelong experience for the future fly fishers of our sport

Phone (253) 278-0061

Email mtcclancy39@comcast.net