NEWS & STORIES
Meet the Finalists: The 7th Annual PHWFF National Fly Tying Competition
We are pleased to announce the disabled veteran finalists in the Annual Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing National Fly Tying Competition! Now in its 7th year, the competition is a great way for disabled veteran participants in the Project Healing Waters program to showcase the fly tying skills and creativity they have garnered from on-going program classes and independent study in a casual, fun contest. The competition has grown each year since it’s inception in 2012 and is only open to individuals who meet the definition of a PHWFF participant. Since that time we have been delighted and astounded to see the remarkable patterns and flies submitted from PHWFF programs across the country. This year is no different.
During this competition period, dozens of amazing flies were submitted by disabled veteran participants from PHWFF programs across the country. Each fly was judged by a fly-tying panel comprised of PHWFF volunteers, celebrity fly tiers and fly tying professionals. For the second year 3 separate categories were available: Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced. Out of the many incredible flies entered, a total of only 9 finalists (3 per category) were ultimately selected.
Each of the 9 finalists will attend the International Fly Tying Symposium, in Parsippany, NJ November 23-24, 2019. While attending the two-day symposium the finalists will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their fly tying skills and attend many of the programs and fly tying demonstrations offered throughout the event. There will also be an awards ceremony held announcing who placed 1st, 2nd & 3rd in each competition category.
In addition to the amazing opportunity to travel to, and attend, the International Fly Tying Symposium, the finalists selected as winners will also receive an invitation to attend the FFI Fly Fishing Expo July 22-25, 2020 in Bozeman, MT to demonstrate their fly tying skills at the expo. The first place winner in each category will also win a trip to Freedom Ranch for Heroes in 2020.
And now, it is our distinct pleasure to announce the finalists of The 7th Annual National Fly Tying Competition (in no particular order):
BEGINNERS
Jason Farrar, Conroe, Texas Program
James Boden, Fort Lewis, Washington Program
Jeff Cook, Des Moines, Iowa Program
INTERMEDIATE
David Headley, Conroe, Texas Program
James Daryl Reeve, Clarksville/Fort Campbell, Tennessee Program
Jeff White, Winston Salem, North Carolina Program
ADVANCED
Rich Kirkwood, Harrisburg East, Pennsylvania Program
Stephen Licata, Kansas City, Missouri Program
Bernard Gary King, Conroe, Texas Program
Join us in congratulating all those who participated in this fun competition!
The winners of the 7th Annual PHWFF National Fly Tying Competition will be announced during the International Fly Tying Symposium on November 23 – 24, 2019 in Parsippany, New Jersey and published here shortly thereafter.
