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2008 FFF Southern Council NominationTeacher of the YearSteve HollensedAs current President of the Red River Fly Fishers, Sherman, TX it is my pleasure to nominate Steve Hollensed, CCI as 2008 Teacher of the Year for the FFF Southern Council. Steve certainly meets and exceeds the qualifications for this award as he is a deeply dedicated individual who has, for many years, passed along the art of fly fishing, fly casting and fly tying to people of all ages and all walks of life. A life long angler, and former high school chemistry and physics teacher, Steve has long enjoyed the pursuit of the angling experience and loves to share it with others. He began fishing Lake Texoma, TX in the 1960's and Lake Ray Roberts, TX immediately after its completion in 1987. He now guides fly anglers on these and other productive waters in search of inland stripers, smallmouth bass, and largemouth bass. As a Federation of Fly Fishers Certified Casting Instructor, Steve also assists others in developing the fly casting skills and fly fishing knowledge needed to pursue all species of fish on the fly. He teaches at various clinics and schools across the state and has served as casting co-chair for Fly Fish Texas for two years. He has fly fished all over Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, many western states and British Columbia. Steve is also a licensed Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Fishing Guide, Federation of Fly Fishers Certified Casting Instructor, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Angling Instructor, Orvis Endorsed Fly Fishing Guide, BSA Fly Fishing Merit Badge Counselor and President and Vice-President of the Red River Fly Fishers. He is also extremely active in teaching our youth the joys of fishing, fly fishing and fly tying and why their participation in this fine sport will help them in life. He is a co-founder of the Red River Fly Fishers and founder of two highly successful events that take place in Texas each year at Lake Texoma. One of these events is the “Texoma Tie-In” where in January of each year some of the best fly tyers in Texas and surrounding states get together and share their knowledge and skills with other tyers and the general public. The other annual event is the “Lake Texoma on the Fly” where in June of each year fly fishing and fly tying is celebrated and introduced, at no cost, to those who are not yet fly fishers through: fly casting workshops for beginners and experienced casters, fly tying demonstrations and lessons for beginners, fly fishing information stations, a FFF information booth, expert fly casting demonstrations, educational seminars by some of the best fly fishing experts and guides in the state of Texas and other activities. This year “Texoma on the Fly” had a special casting class for children only. Steve has also served as a casting volunteer at FFF Southern Council Conclaves and regularly assists as a volunteer at Al Crise’s Casting Clinics for aspiring CCI’s. He has also been the Red River Fly Fishers volunteer casting instructor for several years giving free monthly casting lessons and casting clinics to members and prospective members. Steve is a frequent speaker at local and regional fly fishing club meetings and other fishing events. He has also recently become involved in providing educational programs for the Texas Women Fly Fishers. Steve has also started a very successful “Warmwater Fly Casting School” which teaches students the skills needed to be successful in either warmwater of saltwater environments. Some of the people I know that will attest to Steve’s dedication and qualifications are: Al Crise MCCI, Rob Woodruff, Ken Cole, CCI, Dr. Bill Hoot, CCI, Gary Davidson, CCI, Capt. Barry Evans and Paul Kisel, Superintendent of Eisenhower State Park, Lake Texoma, TX. (Contact information can be provided by me upon request). In summary Steve Hollensed is a superlative teacher, mentor, volunteer and good-will ambassador of the sport of fly fishing. He is highly respected by his peers, clients, students and fellow fly fishers. He is also loved and revered by the many children he has inspired to do things they thought they could not do and assisted in their educational growth and development of their self-confidence. As the saying goes Steve has taught others that in fishing “…it is not the fish they are after.” Jack Janco, President |
