by Sam Matalone

 

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. Each year, the Washington State Council gives up to 8 awards for excellence in education, conservation and leadership to various members and affiliated clubs.

Of the eight awards categories, 6 individuals are being recognized in 2026:

 

• WSCFFI Fly Fisher of the Year
  

Jim Goedhart became a member of FFI in 2019, the same year he took the presidency of the Washington Fly Fishing Club, the oldest in the state. During his two years leading WFFC, Jim took an interest in FFI as fly clubs statewide emerged from pandemic. He was elected a WSCFFI director in 2022. Jim remains President of the WFFC Foundation, one of the largest and most generous donor groups among fly fishing clubs in the Pacific Northwest.

In 2023, Jim took on two critical roles for the Washington Council. First, he came to the board with the idea to build an online event registration system on the Ticket Tailor platform. It’s first test in spring at the Ballinger Lake Fly Casting Fair was a big success. Second, he became the primary driver of the council’s

education and youth programming as VP of Education and the FFI lead at the Northwest Youth Conservation and Fly Fishing Academy. His focus on Academy fundraising laid the groundwork for the summer camp program to move from its former base camp near Olympia to a larger and better equipped site in 2024 at Panhandle Lake near Shelton.

In 2024, Jim led the Academy from planning through a fully successful 2024 summer camp. He managed enrollment, fundraising (reaching $22,792+), volunteer coordination, and the identification of improvements for 2025. Simultaneously, he continued to manage the Council’s online registration effort

across multiple events, each of which was successful and profitable. And he led the rod raffle fundraiser at the Vancouver Casting Fair generating an additional $700+ profit.

In 2025, Jim guided the 2025 Academy to a second successful year at Panhandle Lake with a total 19 students, raised $33,000 in program funding, including a grant from FFI National. He then executed a disciplined, documented handover to his successor, Peter Schuitemaker — providing a fundraising playbook and weeks of transition meetings. Simultaneously, he was re-elected to the board, managed Ticket Tailor for the April Casting Fair and volunteered to serve as Event Coordinator for the 2026 Issaquah Casting Fair.

In his seven years as a member of FFI and four years as a Washington Council Director Jim has made substantial contributions to the three pillars of our mission: Education, Conservation and Community. He has stepped up to take strategic roles influencing funding and long-term impact of our council.

• Washington State Council Fly Tying Hall of Fame Award 

Hunter Bachand has been a Northwest fly angling asset for more than 30 years. He is an accomplished tyer of classic Atlantic Salmon files and saltwater and freshwater flies for trout and steelhead. His special talent for close detail management of patterns and materials has made his tying stand out from the mainstream of fly dressers.

Hunter has always been very sharing of his knowledge especially with novice fly tyers. Hunter has been a member of the Northwest Atlantic Salmon Fly Guild since 1993 where he has tied along side some of the many legends in Northwest fly tying. He enjoys working with new tyers whenever they need some assistance. Material management is a learned skill which requires learning those skills from experienced tyers and years of hands-on experience. Hunter has often shared that experience with novice and experienced tyers resulting in noticeable improvements.

Hunter has had the opportunity to travel to fly tying shows in Europe and learning and sharing with tyers from around the world. He has spent time most recently exploring the tying of classic fly tyer William Blacker (1843/1850) and sharing those Blacker techniques with the tying community. Some of these unique techniques have been forgotten by current day tyers and are important to the reproduction of those classic fly patterns.

Hunter has recently published the newsletter of the Northwest Atlantic Salmon Fly Guild which requires quite a volunteer time commitment to gather images and important information to share with tyers. Hunter has left his mark in the fly-tying community which deserves special recognition.

• The Jimmy Green Memorial Fly Casting Instructors Award 

Todd Somsel became a Certified Instructor (C.I.) in 2006 and currently holds the credentials of C.I., M.C.I. Level III Examiner, THMCI, and Mentor. He has served as both a contributor to and member of the FFI Casting Board of Governors. Throughout his career, Todd has taught and mentored candidates pursuing every level of FFI certification. He is also the co-owner and designer of PNW Spey Lines, working alongside Rick Williams.

Todd has been a dedicated and tireless supporter of the Washington State Council FFI for many years. He has participated in numerous FFI-sponsored events, as well as a wide variety of other casting programs and educational opportunities. Through his instruction, mentorship, and leadership, Todd has helped countless anglers and casting instructors throughout the Pacific Northwest and across the country.

His passion for fly casting, commitment to education, and unwavering desire to advance the art and science of fly casting have made a lasting impact on the fly-fishing community. Todd’s contributions, generosity, and service make him an invaluable asset to the Washington State Council FFI and a highly respected leader within the casting community.

• Mackay Conservation Award (individual) 

Megan Brocco, her ongoing commitment to conservation in Washington State, and most recently her advocacy on behalf of the Snoqualmie-Skykomish Watershed, exemplifies the dedication and leadership needed to protect our region’s natural resources.

The Snoqualmie-Skykomish Watershed is the second-largest basin draining into Puget Sound and plays a critical role in supporting salmon, steelhead, and other native species. Recognizing the importance of this watershed, Megan has taken an active role in defending its ecological health. She testified before the Washington State Pollution Control Hearings Board to challenge a stormwater permit that would allow the discharge of pollutants and elevated-temperature water into the Snoqualmie River.

Her advocacy comes at a particularly important time. The largest floodplain restoration project in King County was recently completed near Fall City, Washington, with the goal of improving spawning and rearing habitat for salmon and steelhead. Within just one year of the project’s completion, ecologists documented significant success, finding that juvenile Chinook salmon were thriving and experiencing enhanced growth within the newly restored habitat.

Despite this investment of more than $19 million in habitat restoration, a proposed housing development has applied to discharge stormwater into the same reach of the Snoqualmie River where these restoration efforts are producing measurable results. The area is designated as a Type I Critical Aquifer Recharge Area (CARA), containing wetlands and direct hydraulic connectivity to the Snoqualmie River. Additionally, the Washington State Department of Ecology has classified portions of the Snoqualmie River as temperature impaired, with water temperatures exceeding levels necessary to support healthy trout and salmon populations. To address these concerns, Ecology established the Snoqualmie River Basin Temperature Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL).

Megan has been a strong voice advocating that water temperature and thermal loading be properly considered during the permitting process. Her position is rooted in sound science and established regulatory principles: when a TMDL identifies temperature as a pollutant of concern, permits should address the impacts of thermal pollution on aquatic ecosystems and the species that depend upon them.

This effort is just one example of Megan’s long-standing dedication to conservation throughout the Pacific Northwest. For many years, she has worked to protect fish, wildlife, habitat, and water quality through education, advocacy, and direct engagement in environmental issues. Her willingness to step forward, invest her time and expertise, and advocate for future generations demonstrates exceptional leadership and commitment.

Washington State needs more individuals like Megan Brocco—people willing to stand up for conservation, speak on behalf of our natural resources, and work tirelessly to protect the places and species that define our region. Her contributions place her in a class of her own, and her efforts continue to make a lasting difference for the Pacific Northwest.

• Pat Herdt Education Award (individual) (2 Award Recipients)

Jeff Stum For more than a year, Jeff has led the creation, growth, and development of the Northwest Chapter of Project Healing Waters, providing meaningful opportunities and access to fly fishing for veterans throughout the region.

Under his leadership, the organization has grown to more than 120 participants across four locations: Oak Harbor, Everett, Bellingham, and Blaine. Jeff’s vision and leadership have been instrumental in building a sustainable and thriving community. By first establishing engaging programs and fostering partnerships with local fly-fishing clubs and organizations, he created a strong foundation for success. He then developed leadership within the organization by delegating responsibilities and empowering volunteers, enabling the group to consistently deliver weekly and monthly educational and fishing-related events.

Drawing upon his experience with Project Healing Waters at its headquarters near Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Tacoma, Jeff recognized a need to expand services to veterans in the northwestern portion of Washington State. Through his initiative and determination, he brought the Project Healing Waters mission north, extending opportunities to veterans from Lynnwood to Blaine and beyond.

Jeff developed a diverse range of programs, including fly-fishing instruction, fly-tying classes, casting clinics, educational seminars, and online webinars. These programs have provided veterans with opportunities to learn new skills, build relationships, and engage with the fly-fishing community regardless of their experience level or geographic location.

Jeff’s commitment to education and program development has been unwavering. To establish a consistent learning experience across all four locations, he created a comprehensive Fly Fishing 101 curriculum and presentation that provides participants with a solid foundation in the sport.

He exemplifies servant leadership by working closely with site leaders to maintain consistency, quality, and cohesion throughout the organization. Through mentorship and collaboration, he has developed a strong network of local leaders who help plan, coordinate, and deliver events within their communities.

Jeff is also an exceptional communicator. Through regular updates, event announcements, educational content, and open requests for feedback and ideas, he fosters a strong sense of connection and engagement among members throughout the region.

Jeff’s efforts extend far beyond basic instruction. He has organized fly-tying workshops, educational presentations, conservation-focused programs, and guest speaker events covering a wide range of fly-fishing topics.

He has built valuable partnerships with organizations such as the Coastal Cutthroat Coalition, local fly shops, fly-fishing clubs, guides, and conservation groups. These collaborations have resulted in both educational and on-the-water opportunities for veterans at all four chapter locations.

Additionally, Jeff has worked closely with Veterans Administration staff to secure meeting spaces and resources while actively engaging local experts to share their knowledge and experience. His ability to connect people and organizations has created a robust support network that greatly enhances the Project Healing Waters experience for participating veterans.

Jeff’s values and actions closely align with the principles and mission of Fly Fishers International. He promotes opportunities to fish diverse waters and pursue a variety of species, as demonstrated through group outings targeting coastal cutthroat trout, Skagit River steelhead, and trout fisheries in Idaho.

Conservation and responsible stewardship are central themes in all of his programs. Proper fish handling, resource protection, ethical angling practices, and volunteer service are consistently emphasized. Jeff actively encourages members to support conservation efforts and contribute to their local communities whenever possible.

Most importantly, his dedication to serving veterans is extraordinary. Through his leadership, countless veterans have found community, education, healing, and a renewed connection to the outdoors. His commitment to improving the lives of others through fly fishing is nothing short of remarkable and reflects the very best ideals of both Project Healing Waters and Fly Fishers International.

Bruce Merighi has been an integral part of the Northwest Fly Fishing and Conservation Camp since joining as a volunteer in 2018. For the past four years, he has served as a Director, providing exceptional leadership, mentorship, and hands-on instruction in fly fishing and conservation. Through his dedication and commitment, Bruce has made a lasting impact on countless students, helping them develop both practical fly-fishing skills and a deeper understanding of conservation and environmental stewardship.

Bruce is an active member of the Wenatchee Valley Fly Fishers and the Icicle Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited. He became a member of Fly Fishers International in 2020 and has continued to support the organization’s mission of education, conservation, and the advancement of fly fishing.

His passion for fly fishing began at the age of twelve when he received his first fly rod. Accompanying the rod was an instructional manual that, as Bruce humorously recalls, taught him “how to scare fish and decorate adjacent trees with flies.” It was not until his forties that he truly learned how to fish effectively with a fly rod, an experience that profoundly changed his life and sparked a lifelong commitment to the sport.

Bruce’s journey has been both diverse and distinguished. Raised in New York, he moved overseas with his family at the age of fifteen. He later graduated from California State University, Fresno, and began a career in market research before relocating to Washington State more than forty years ago.

His professional career reflects the same spirit of service and leadership that he brings to fly fishing education today. Bruce served as Fire Chief for Chelan County Fire District #4 for twenty years, dedicating himself to public safety and community service. Following his tenure as Fire Chief, he founded a safety consulting business where he developed emergency response plans, training programs, and functional exercises for hospitals, schools, and industrial organizations.

The skills Bruce cultivated throughout his career—leadership, education, organization, and mentorship—have translated seamlessly into his work with the Northwest Fly Fishing and Conservation Camp. Whether teaching casting techniques, sharing conservation principles, mentoring young anglers, or helping guide the future direction of the camp, Bruce consistently demonstrates a commitment to excellence and a genuine passion for helping others learn and grow.

His contributions have enriched the camp experience for students and volunteers alike, ensuring that future generations of anglers understand not only how to fish, but also the importance of protecting and preserving the fisheries and natural resources they enjoy. Bruce Merighi’s leadership, service, and dedication make him highly deserving of recognition for his outstanding contributions to fly fishing education and conservation.

Congratulations to well deserved award recipients!!

Volunteers are the lifeblood of our organization. Their dedication, passion, and willingness to share their time and expertise make it possible for us to fulfill our mission and strengthen our fly-fishing community year after year.

Please join us in congratulating this year’s award recipients for their outstanding contributions and well-deserved recognition. Their efforts have made a meaningful and lasting impact on fly fishing, conservation, education, and community engagement throughout our region.

If you personally know any of this year’s honorees, please take a moment to offer your congratulations and thank them for their service. Recognition from friends, peers, and fellow members is one of the most meaningful ways to acknowledge the countless hours they have devoted to our organization and the communities we serve.

As we celebrate this year’s recipients, we also encourage you to keep an eye out for deserving individuals whose contributions merit recognition in the future. There are many dedicated volunteers working behind the scenes every day, and your nominations help ensure their efforts are acknowledged and celebrated.

Congratulations to all of this year’s award recipients, thank you to every volunteer who continues to make a difference.