FFI Awards
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FFI Awards Program

FFI Annual Awards Program

Awards presented by Fly Fishers International acknowledge those individuals who demonstrate the highest levels of achievement, dedication and contribution to preserving the Legacy of Fly Fishing. Recipients of the Board Awards of Achievement are recognized at the Annual Board Awards Ceremony.  Recipients of Committee Awards are recognized at a meeting time and place selected by the Committee bestowing the award.  Although awards may be presented annually, it is the intent of the Board that awards will be presented judiciously and to individuals truly deserving recognition.  Exemplary nominations are essential to standards and relevance of the FFI Awards Program.


FFI Board Awards of Achievement

FFI Award of Distinction for Leadership and Service

This award is the ultimate award of Fly Fishers International.  Thus, the consideration for individual achievement is extremely strict.  Services and contribution to FFI must be prominent, extraordinary and significantly above the criteria that would merit consideration for any other award.  
 

FFI Fly Fisher of the Year

This award presented to that individual who has demonstrated unusual devotion to Fly Fishers International, and through outstanding contributions has benefited FFI at National or International levels. 
 

FFI McKenzie Cup

McKenzie Fly Fishers, a Club that remains active in Eugene, Oregon, provided instrumental leadership in the original formation of what now is Fly Fishers International.  The FFI McKenzie Cup honors the Club and is presented to a FFI Club making an outstanding contribution on behalf of FFI.


FFI Fly Fishing Skills Education Award

This award is presented to recognize a single extraordinary contribution or an ongoing prominent effort promoting comprehensive fly fishing education.  Extraordinary contributions are those that are superior and conspicuous in relation to others and consistent with the philosophies of Fly Fishers International.
 

FFI Buz Buszek Memorial Fly Tying Award

This award is named in honor of Wayne “Buz” Buszek who developed a retail business during the mid-1900s where he established a standard of excellence for fly tying materials and more importantly the many excellent fly patterns he developed that include the Western Coachman and Old Gray Mare that continue to inspire the highest skills in fly tying today.  The award, likewise, is presented to individuals who have demonstrated highest skills in fly tying and made significant contributions to the preservation of the artform of fly tying.
 

FFI Dick Nelson Fly Tying Teaching Award

Dick Nelson, an excellent fly tier, devoted his skill and understanding of fly tying to teach at a level that established a standard of excellence for teaching fly tying to others.  This award is presented to an individual who demonstrates those standards and excels in teaching the art of fly tying to tiers at all skill levels.
 

FFI Darwin Atkin Fly Tying Achievement Award

Darwin Atkin set the standard for preserving the artform of fly tying in many ways from his contagious inspiration of other fly tiers to do more, to the unique patterns he designed that included his “California Girl”.  He was noted for his hand-tied sculpins but especially for the Fly Plate Construction Program he developed that earned Fly Fishers International substantial revenue.  This award was created in his honor to recognize an FFI member whose long-term contribution to fly tying is widely recognized and respected.  This award is for outstanding achievement, demonstrated commitment and significant advancement of the craft and art of fly tying.
 

FFI International Ambassador Award

This award is presented to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to expand Fly Fishers International world-wide furthering the mission and vision of the organization.  Contributions, including development organizationally, member engagement, program growth and delivery of benefits and opportunities (i.e. Conservation, Learning Center, Grants and Scholarships), should have been made over a period of years.
 

FFI Lee Wulff Award

This award honors Lee Wulff who is well known as a pioneer in fly fishing and conservation of fishes and their habitats, recognizes manufacturers or a retail business that demonstrates outstanding innovation in the fly fishing industry through their products and stewardship of natural resources.
 

FFI Roderick Haig-Brown Award

Roderick Haig-Brown was an avid fly fisher, pioneer conservationist and acclaimed author of many books on, rivers, fishes and fly fishing.  This award is presented to a fly fishing author whose work embodies the philosophy and spirit of Roderick Haig-Brown, particularly a respect for the ethics and traditions of fly fishing and an understanding of rivers and their inhabitants.
 

FFI Silver King Award

This award is named after the highly prized saltwater trophy, the Tarpon, and presented to an individual who has made extraordinary contributions to the sport of saltwater fly fishing.
 

FFI Conservation Award

This award presented to an individual, group or organization that has made extraordinary contributions to the conservation of fishery resources during the past year.
 

FFI Leopold Conservation Award 

Aldo Leopold, known as the “Father of Modern Wildlife Management”, was a conservationist, forester, philosopher, educator and writer, best known for his concept the “land ethic”, which calls for an ethical, caring relationship with nature.  This award is  presented to an individual honoring them for a lifetime of fisheries conservation work.
 

FFI Council Leadership Award

This award presented to a Fly Fishers International Council President who has demonstrated unusual devotion to FFI and through outstanding contributions has benefited FFI as an International organization.
 

FFI Lifetime Achievement in Fly Casting Instruction Award

This award is presented to individuals who have made significant, long-term contributions to fly casting instruction.  Contributions may include teaching, innovation in fly casting techniques, writing, motivation and sharing their knowledge of teaching to advance goals of the Casting Instructor Certification Program.
 

FFI Mel Krieger Fly Casting Instructor Award

This award, honoring Mel Krieger a well-known figure in the instruction of fly casting and author of the original Fly Fishers International Certified Casting Instructor Program, is presented in recognition of those who have made significant contributions to the FFI Certified Casting Instructor Program, have dedicated themselves to fly casting instruction and have shared their knowledge with others.
 

FFI Women's Community Development Award

This award is presented to an individual, group, or organization who has demonstrated unusual devotion to increasing the diversity of the FFI community by expanding the involvement of women. This award is to recognize leadership and service on the regional, national, and/or international level.


FFI Board Committee Awards of Achievement


Committee awards are presented by the Fly Fishers International Board Committees. Recipients of Committee Awards are recognized at meeting times and locations selected by the Committee.


FFI Conservation Committee

Dr. James Henshall Warmwater Fisheries Award

An award presented to an individual contributing to warmwater fly fishing and fisheries in memory of Dr. James A. Henshall, 19th century author and early advocate for bass as a gamefish.


FFI Casting Programs Committee

Floyd Franke Award for Contributions to CICP

Floyd Franke, a long-time member of Fly Fishers International, served as Chairman of the Casting Board of Governors for five years. The Floyd Franke award is presented to honor those who have made significant contributions to advance the Casting Instructors Certification Program through their long term involvement, commitment of personal time and effort, program development and extensive revitalization or transforming leadership. 

Jay Gammel for Fly Casting Instruction Award

Jay Gammel and his son Bill distilled their passion and knowledge of fly casting into a short booklet on “The Essentials of Fly Casting”, which Fly Fishers International printed in 1990.  The booklet identifies and explains the basic elements needed to make a successful cast and has become a classic for teachers and students alike.  This award is presented to honor those who have made a lasting contribution to fly casting instruction in the form of written publications, instructional course materials or electronic media.

Governors Mentoring Award

This award is presented in recognition of continued support of the Casting Instructor Certification Program through mentoring, teaching and inspiring students.

Governor's Pin

This award is presented in recognition of service to the Casting Instructor Certification Program.

Casting Instructor Certification Program Instruction Recognition Award

This award is presented to FFI Casting Instructors who have contributed significantly to the CICP Community through their unselfish devotion and passion to help individuals and groups learn to enjoy the sport of fly fishing.  Contributions may include teaching involvement with the FFI’s Learning Center in such areas like the Fly Casting Skills Development; teaching and working with Veteran groups, Women or youth groups, First Responder groups, and/or Special Needs groups; or the development of unique teaching programs; or their involvement with FFI Councils, and/or local club casting programs. 


Council Award of Excellence


This award is presented by a Fly Fishers International Council to an individual who has demonstrated unusual devotion to FFI and outstanding contributions benefiting the Council.



Questions

Please direct questions you may have to the Awards Administrator at awards@flyfishersinternational.org.