2007 FFF Southern Council Nomination

Fly Tyer of the Year

Tony Spezio

We would like to nominate Tony Spezio for Southern Council Fly Tyer of the Year.

Tony Spezio is well known to nearly all the flytyers in the Southern Council and a great many others nationally and internationally. Tony has been tying for many years at both the Southern Council Conclave and the FFF National conclave and has served as Fly-tying chair for the Southern Council. He has tied regularly at almost every fly-tying event in the Southern Council and many of the East Coast shows as he was originally from New Jersey. In recent years his health has slowed him down a little but he still ties whenever he can at many events. Tony is famous for his innovative patterns such as the "Froggie". Tony has always been very active in teaching fly-tying both within the North Arkansas Fly Fishers and outside the club. I could not recall until recently a single fly-tying class or event he missed and the one he missed was because he was in the hospital. He has been well known for inviting individuals to his home for lessons. He has worked closely with our youth groups teaching a new generation of fly tiers.

The main reason we believe Tony richly deserves this award is that a little over 10 years ago Tony has an idea to have a fly tying show in Mtn. Home. He came up with the idea and was the moving force behind getting it started. It was to be primarily a Fly Tying Show not a mini-conclave. It was called the Sowbug Round-up. This year was its 10th anniversary and it has grown from a small show with a few dozen tiers and a few hundred visitors to a show that has over 100 tiers from all over the United States and for several years now at least one (sometimes more) international tiers. Attendance has grown to over 1000 visitors. Tony has continued to be integral to the show and is without doubt furnished the spirit and inspiration for its continuance and success. Over the years the show has introduced thousands of people to fly tying including our youth groups who always are invited to attend and participate. Many have their first experience with fly tying at this show and many who already are involved have to opportunity to sit down with some of the best tiers in the country and some from around the world to learn new methods, techniques, materials and patterns. All this for a mere $5.00 for adults for the three day show. Of course it also provides an excellent venue for the tyers themselves to get together and exchange ideas and renew acquaintances. I believe Tony by creating this venue has done as much as anyone to foster the Art of Fly-tying in the Southern Council and beyond. Therefore I believe he deserves to be the Southern Councils Fly Tyer of the Year.

Chet and Pat Smith

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