IFFF Buz Buszek Fly Tying Award winners: (the most prestigious award in fly tying):
Steven Fernandez (CA): Masterful fly tyer, teacher and creator of unique flys.
Jim Ferguson (OR): Former Expo Fly Tyer Chair, budding artist and entertaining teacher.
Al Beatty (ID): Specialize in hair wing flies and author of many books.
Gretchen Beatty (ID): Specialize in hair wing flies and author of many books.
Stan Walters Memorial “Tyer of the Year” award winners:
1990 Lee Clark (OR): Developer of the Clark’s Stone Fly and spins a good yarn.
1995 John Shewey (OR): Author, editor and well-read steelhead fly tyer.
2004 Jim Schollmeyer (OR): Prolific author of many books on patterns and techniques.
2006 Jim Ferguson (OR): Former Expo Fly Tyer Chair, budding artist and entertaining teacher.
2009 Jerry Criss (OR): Master of soft hackles, hair hackling and classic Catskill flies.
2010 Hal Gordon (OR): Expo Fly Tyer Chair and tyer of trout flys that catch fish.
2011 Jim Fisher (OR): Specializes in artful flys and former chair of the Expo.
2012 Keith Burkhart (OR): 2001 FFF Man of the Year and co-founder of the Expo.
2013 David Roberts (OR): Rogue River Guide, story teller and catcher of “half-pounders”.
2014 Vic Hadley (OR): Instructor and tyer of classic steelhead flys.
2015 Cathy Hamilton (OR): Great instructors and tyers of trout flies.
2016 John Olschewsky (OR): Ties beautiful atlantic salmon flies.
2017 John Kreft (OR): Owner of RiverKeeper Flies and expert with Metolius River flies.
2018 Garren Wood (OR): Recently featured in fly tying magazines, specializes in woven flies.
2019 Ilene Hirsh (OR): Specializes in Alaska fly patterns for trout and Pacific salmon.
Noteworthy Expo Fly Tyers:
Dahlquist, Sean (WA): Specializing in steelhead flies.
Hammond, Rockwell (WA): International fly tying awards winner and Atlantic salmon tyer.
LaFollette, Joel (OR): Steelhead connoisseur and Royal Treatment Fly Shop owner.
Leong, Jackson (OR): International leader in developing realistic insect patterns.
Lesko, Garrett (OR): Talented bass hair tyer.
Marshall, Andrew (OR): Author, historian and tyer of the olde trout flys.
Marlatt, Mike (OR): Specializing in classic salmon flies.
Marshall, George (OR): 17-year-old tyer and 3X winner of “Clipped Fly Contest”.
Masuda, Kuni (WA): Tyer of Japanese Shimazaki hollow body dry flys and nymphs.
McNeese, Dave (OR): Iconic Pacific northwest hair-wing steelhead fly tyer.
Royer, Karen (OH): Ties terrific “fishable realistic” flies.
Sens, Jim (OR): Steelhead fly tyer whose flies are available at local fly shops.
Strearns, Royce (OR): Tyer of classic wet flies.
Simpson, Mel (FL): Saltwater tyer with a flair of brightly colored feathers.
West, Shawn (WA): Bass hair tyer extraordinaire.
Williams, Chris (ID): Creative fly dresser of trout flies.