A list of fishing-related accolades and accomplishments from over the years.
2020
Orvis 20 September Days Photo Contest: 1st Place
Our very own, @Maedbhryanphotography took home the top prize in Orvis’ annual fly fishing photography contest with the great Smoky Mountains shot below.
2021
The Mayfly Project’s 25 on the Fly Tournament: 4th Place
Jake and I teamed up to take 4th out of 40+ teams in The Mayfly Project’s Inaugural event.
Gulf Coast Council FFI Suncatch Challenge: Suncatch Finatic (8+ Species)
In August of 2021, I became the first individual to complete the first tier of the Gulf Coast Council FFI Suncatch Challenge by recording the nine species below. Ben Roussel of Mountain to Marsh has since completed this challenge as well. Next stop…Tie 2: Suncatch Expert (12+ species).
Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) Redear Sunfish (Lepomis microlophus) Warmouth (Lepomis gulosus) Longear Sunfish (Lepomis megalotis) Redspotted Sunfish (Lepomis miniatus) Green Sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus) Dollar Sunfish (Lepomis marginatus) Orangespotted Sunfish (Lepomis humilis) Bantam Sunfish hybrid? (Lepomis symmetricus x Lepomis gulosus ??)
Orvis 20 September Days Photo Contest: 2nd Place
@Maedbhryanphotography once again found herself among the Top 3 in Orvis’s annual photo contest. This time she took home 2nd place with the amazing silhouetted shot of an angler (yours truly) targeting striper at Crissy Fields Beach in San Francisco.
RSFF Jambalaya Challenge: 1st Place
Recorded 43 Eligible Species for Red Stick Fly Fishers‘ inaugural Mixed Bag competition narrowly beating out Ben Roussel’s 2nd place total of 40.
KFF Mixed Bag Contest: 2nd Place
Fell short in the Kisatchie Fly Fishers’ Mixed bag contest as I recorded 27 Eligible Species good for 2nd place in the club’s annual competition.
KFF President’s Award
Presented by the KFF Board at the annual Christmas Party as a show of appreciation for this angler and blogs efforts to promote the club, and its activities. A much appreciated and unexpected acknowledgement.
2022
Gulf Coast Council FFI Sweetwater Classic Bass tournament: 2nd Place
Battled the elements (30 F, 25 mph winds) and a dozen other brave souls to take 2nd place in this big bass tournament with the monster below! Sometimes persistence pays off.
The Mayfly Project’s 25 on the Fly Tournament: 1st Place
Facing a slightly smaller field and updated species list, Jake and I landed 13 of 18 target species on our way to a first place finish. Check out the pics and details here.
Orvis 20 September Days Photo Contest: 1st Place
Maedbh kept her streak alive with another Top 3 Finish in Orvis’ Annual Photo Contest. This year’s shot taken along Willowemoc Creek in the Catskills took home the Top Prize marking her second 1st place finish in three years!! Check out all her fishing and wildlife photograph at maedbhryanphotography.com
2023
Zen and the Art of Casting Over Concrete – On the Fly Magazine (Spring 2023; P.80)
In early March of this year, Maedbh and I took a visit to south Florida with the intention of fishing the Tamiami Trail. An article on our adventures was published in the Spring 2023 edition of On the Fly Magazine. Text by yours truly with photography by Maedbh Ryan.
Gulf Coast Council FFI President’s Award (Article on P.13)
Selected by the Council president, this award is given to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the Council. But also in service to helping our members advance in the sport, through either casting, tying, conservation, environmental, or other aspect.
FFI Fly Fishing Skills Education Award
I was recently notified that I am the recipient of Fly Fisher International’s 2023 Fly Fishing Skills Education Award. The award is “…is intended to recognize outstanding educational and instructional programs in the full array of fly fishing skills. The award (or awards) is given to an individual, group, or organization that has made extraordinary contributions to the area of fly fishing skills education.”
An awards ceremony will be hosted on Zoom the evening of October 19th, 2023.
Gulf Coast Council FFI Suncatch Challenge: Suncatch Expert (12+ Species)
On September 9th of this year, I landed my first Redbreast Sunfish; my 12th qualifying species for the GCCFFI Suncatch Challenge. With 12 species, I’ve now completed the second level of the Suncatch and qualify for the Suncatch Expert award.
With seven eligible species left to target, I’m now setting my sights on completing the final level of the challenge, the Suncatch Master. Requiring sixteen species, I’ll be focusing on checking off some combination of the Spotted Sunfish, Mud Sunfish, White Crappie, Rock Bass, Shadow Bass, Banded Sunfish and Bluespotted Sunfish.
