FFI Awards Ceremony
Wednesday, October 19, 2022
7:00 pm CDT
Zoom webinar, public invited
The Fly Fishers International (FFI) Board of Directors is proud to announce the recipients of the 2022 FFI Board awards. These awards are given to recognize and reward those individuals and organizations that have furthered the FFI mission of conservation, education and community. The recipients from across the globe have made outstanding contributions to FFI, our environment, fishery resources, angling literature, fly tying and fly fishing education.
The FFI Gulf Coast Council was well represented among the honorees, with one of our member clubs and one of our individual members receiving recognition.
The Fly Fishers of Northwest Florida (Pensacola) was given the McKenzie Cup award, given annually to that FFI club which has made the most outstanding contribution on behalf of the FFI. FFNWF has a long history of being active in the Southeast Council, and since 2006, in the Gulf Coast Council. During the pandemic, the club continued to hold tying sessions through Zoom, and hold social distance casting instruction on weekends. Since 2011, the club has sponsored the Pensacola program of Project Healing Waters, supporting the emotional and physical rehabilitation of disabled veterans. The club holds an annual Fly Fishing 101, a multi-week course encompassing all aspects of our sport. In cooperation with the city of Pensacola, FFNWF also initiated a week-long program intended to teach youngsters how to fly fish. And in 2020, FFNWF saw its multi-year effort to register their meeting place – a Civilian Conservation Corps building built in 1932 – placed in the National Register of Historic Buildings. These are just a few of the many activities and accomplishments of the Pensacola club.
Bill Morrison of Pineville, LA, was one of two honorees for the FFI Fly Fishing Skills Education Award. This award is given for extraordinary contribution or continuous prominent effort promoting comprehensive fly fishing education. An FFI Certified Casting Instructor, Bill has taught numerous folks to fly cast, and directs his Kisatchie Fly Fishers club’s annual Fly Fishing 101. He’s also chairman of the KFF Tying Committee, leading or organizing the club’s monthly tying sessions as well as beginner tying clinics. Early in the pandemic, Bill created a short series of “how-to” videos for clubs to use on how to do meetings and tying sessions via Zoom. He also shared his expertise on remote learning with several clubs. Another of Bill’s many projects was the initiation of the club’s annual “Mixed Bag Contest” where the goal is to catch a diversity of species, but also allowing anglers to use the generated database to learn about the many species of fish and their habitats.
Congratulations to Bill and FFNWF!
