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 started my love affair with all things fly fishing at about 12 years old. I love to fish and I use to have to buy shads at $0.19. I carefully looked at the how they were constructed and decide I could tie them just as easy. My father loaned me the money to start tying flies. Soon, I started supplying my father with all the he could use and was selling to several local stores. This start me on a path that hasencompassed most to my life. I join a local fly fly fishing club, California Fly Fishermen Unlimited, where I met some of the most generous and talent people who took me under their wings and taught me to use a fly rod, to tie flies better, to understand the need for conservation and to enjoy nature. As soon as I was able to drive, they elected me to the board of the director of the club. After getting married and completing college the simple life I knew got very complicated and for the next 20 years focused on family, career and occasionally fishing, I was not too active in preservation of our natural resources and the sport of fly fishing. I am a member of the Washington State Council FFI, for the past 20 years. I started doing their web work, then was elected to the board of directors and most recent I have taken a position as Chair of the International Program Committee for the FFI.
I believe that the future of our sport depends on the natural resources which we are entrusted with. It is about the fish, very simply put. Everything else in fly fishing evolves around conservation. I have derived so much pleasure for this sport, made some fantastic friends, and now what to be part of enhancing the experience for future generations.
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.
Phone (253) 278-0061
Email mtcclancy39@comcast.net
Dareld Thompson
I grew up near Pontiac Michigan and joined the USN in 1987. I was stationed at Miramar Naval Air Station in San Diego and then Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in Washington State. I left the Navy in March of 1995 but stayed in Northwest Washington and have lived here ever since. I have always liked fishing but always wanted to learn how to fly fish. After getting out of the military I had plenty of time to explore the rivers in the area and immediately started learning. I got the Steelhead bug right away and after a whole lot of time trying to catch one, I finally did and I have not been right ever since. I also tie my own flies and started that at the same time I started fly fishing. I have learned a lot doing both and after almost thirty years I still enjoy the passion as much as I did when I started. I also enjoy time with my family especially my two grand children who are three and six. They like being outdoors as much as I do and should be good students for me to teach about fishing.
Email skagitangler@gmail.com
Aaron Culley
Aaron Culley is a Washington state native and fly fishing enthusiast, member of Fly Fishers International, (All fish All Waters), and a certified casting instructor (FFICI). Aaron has earned the gold level of fly tying skills with the Fly Fishing International Fly Tying Group. Aaron has earned tying awards for the Fly Tying Challenge in years 2022, 2021 and 2020. He is also a member of Trout Unlimited and other conservation outdoor organizations.
Aaron is an avid fly tyer and 30+ year member of the Northwest Atlantic Salmon Fly Guild. He is ac- complished at tying Classic Atlantic Salmon full dress flies. Aaron ties nearly all the flies he uses fly fishing warm water, saltwater and cold waters. Material management, acquisition are integral skills he has learned for producing classic Atlantic Salmon flies.
Aaron has fly fished around the northwest as well as Louisiana for redfish and Bahamas for bonefish, Mexico/Belize for permit, tarpon, barracuda, snook and jack crevalle and New Zealand for trophy trout.
Aaron has served as President of the Overlake Fly Fishing Club (Washington State) and board member of the Washington State Council of the Fly Fishers International, receiving the Washington State Council’s Presidents award in 2009. He has taught entomology, fly tying and casting to youth groups at the state level and at the fly fishing expo events at the international expos.
Email no1aaronc@gmail.com
Ruth Sims
Hello! I am born for Red House Clan. I am born to Many Enemies Clan. In this was I am a Navajo woman
Growing up in Seattle I have been fishing since I could walk and fly fishing since 2014 by way of fly tying. As an electro-physics and robotics engineer I have always seen the natural world in numbers, free body diagrams and relativity so casting to me is a scientific art. In Sept 2022 after 15 months of studying and practice I passed the CI Exam. Prior to this FFI exam event there were only 2 women in Washington who were FFI certified CIs. I have taught casting for fly fishing fairs, fly fishing clubs, a fly shop, the Mayfly Project, for Indigenous Fly Fishers (New Mexico), for the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe and for individuals looking to develop their fly casting skills. I absolutely love seeing different casting skills “click” while people are learning to cast as well as the excitement of a first fly caught fish. I enjoy backpacking to alpine lakes, swinging flies for winter steelhead and wandering the tropical flats for tailing fish. My favorite fish to catch is coho on the strip but I will literally fish for almost anything that swims because I love the researching/education part of targeting a new species.
Email navajoflyfisher@gmail.com