NEWS & STORIES
Meet the Finalists: The 10th Annual PHW Fly Tying Competition
Now in its 10th year, the Project Healing Waters Fly Tying Competition is focused on expanding the therapeutic experience for PHW Veteran participants by giving them the opportunity to showcase their fly tying skills and creativity in a fun contest.
We are pleased to announce the finalists in the 10th Annual Project Healing Waters National Fly Tying Competition! Over 1,200 votes were cast during the Public Judging Round, determining who moves on to the Finals Round to be judged by an expert panel who will determine 1st, 2nd & 3rd place in each category.
MEET THE FINALISTS
Category 1: Beginner
This category is for participants new to fly tying with less than one year of fly tying experience.
Alexander Ward: 3 Stone Golden Stone | PHW Atlanta, GA 
Andrew Mann: Upside down Wally Wing Dun | PHW Johnson City, TN 
Andy Blue: Sulfur Spinner Nymph | PHW Knoxville, TN 
David Weiner: The Great American Pheasant Tail Beaded Nymph | PHW Fort Meade, MD 
Matthew Leuthold: UV Parachute BWO Dun | PHW Rapid City, SD 
Shane Hallowell: Cupsuptic | PHW Charleston, SC
- Alexander Ward: 3 Stone Golden Stone | PHW Atlanta, GA
- Andrew Mann: Upside down Wally Wing Dun | PHW Johnson City, TN
- Andy Blue: Sulfur Spinner Nymph | PHW Knoxville, TN
- David Weiner: The Great American Pheasant Tail Beaded Nymph | PHW Fort Meade, MD
- Matthew Leuthold: UV Parachute BWO Dun | PHW Rapid City, SD
- Shane Hallowell: Cupsuptic | PHW Charleston, SC
Category 2: Intermediate
This category is for participants with two to three years of fly tying experience.
Mark Hallowell: Light Spruce | PHW Charleston, SC 
Ernie Linkout: Spider Sulphur | PHW Johnson City, TN 
John Stacy: Night King | PHW Atlanta, GA 
Jon Krahe: Mini Intruder | PHW Erie, PA 
Mike Black: Clouser Minnow | PHW Fredericksburg, VA 
William Miller: Rainbow Warrior | PHW Murfreesboro, TN 
Stuart Goldsmith: Gray Hackle | PHW Fayetteville, NC
- Mark Hallowell: Light Spruce | PHW Charleston, SC
- Ernie Linkous: Spider Sulphur | PHW Johnson City, TN
- John Stacy: Night King | PHW Atlanta, GA
- Jon Krahe: Mini Intruder | PHW Erie, PA
- Mike Black: Clouser Minnow | PHW Fredericksburg, VA
- William Miller: Rainbow Warrior | PHW Murfreesboro, TN
- Stuart Goldsmith: Gray Hackle | PHW Fayetteville, NC
Category 3: Advanced
This category is for participants with four or more years of fly tying experience.
John Rogers: Wired Golden Stonefly | PHW Altoona/Holidaysburg, PA 
Darrell Olson: The Cracker | PHW Charleston, SC 
Bernard Gary King: Wired Stonefly | PHW Conroe, TX 
Heyward Wall: Damsel Wiggler Nymph | PHW Charleston, SC 
Matthew Brown: JP | PHW Winston-Salem, NC 
Robert Desjardins: Miss Sheri | PHW Great Falls, MT
- John Rogers: Wired Golden Stonefly | PHW Altoona/Holidaysburg, PA
- Darrell Olson: The Cracker | PHW Charleston, SC
- Bernard Gary King: Wired Stonefly | PHW Conroe, TX
- Heyward Wall: Damsel Wiggler Nymph | PHW Charleston, SC
- Matthew Brown: JP | PHW Winston-Salem, NC
- Robert Desjardins: Miss Sheri | PHW Great Falls, MT
These top flies from each judging category will now advance to the finals with an expert panel of judges who will determine 1st, 2nd & 3rd place in each category. The winners will be announced on October 20, 2022 at www.projecthealingwaters.org.
The PHWFF Fly Tying Competition has grown each year since it’s inception in 2012 and since that time we have been delighted and astounded to see the remarkable patterns and flies submitted from PHWFF programs across the country. Join us in celebrating the tremendous talents of all those PHWFF participants who participated this year!
Healing Through Fly Tying:
“I struggled for a long time after the Army. I felt lost and empty. When I found fly tying something inside of me just clicked. I found focus and calm, it was like someone turned off the noise. It has made me a better problem solver, more patient, and thoughtful. When your thread breaks or something doesn’t go right you can get upset or you can learn a new way to do something. This has made me a better student, a better person, and a more complete individual.”