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 2010 ConclaveBiographiesDave Whitlock
Dave regularly contributes his flyfishing art, photography and writing to many publications such as FLYFISHERMAN MAGAZINE, FLY FISHING & TYING JOURNAL, TROUT MAGAZINE, IN-FISHERMAN and FIELD AND STREAM. He has written and illustrated five books: DAVE WHITLOCK'S GUIDE TO AQUATIC TROUT FOODS, the L.L. BEAN FLYFISHING HANDBOOK, the L.L. BEAN BASS FLY FISHING HANDBOOK and IMITATING AND FISHING NATURAL FISH FOODS for Lefty's Little Library and his new book TROUT – A COMPACT GUIDE FOR FLY FISHERS. Dave has also co-authored or made contributions to many other books, including THE FLYTYER'S ALMANAC, SECOND FLYTYER'S ALMANAC, Art Flick's MASTER FLYTYING GUIDE, McClane's FISHING ENCYCLOPEDIA, Migel's STREAM CONSERVATION BOOK and MASTERS ON THE NYMPH and others. He has illustrated over 20 books including Steve Raymond's YEAR OF THE ANGLER and YEAR OF THE TROUT, Swisher and Richard’s new edition of SELECTIVE TROUT, plus President Carter's OUTDOOR JOURNAL. Dave also demonstrates his flyfishing and teaching skills in seven videos and through guest appearances on televised flyfishing programs. One of Dave's most notable contributions to wild trout management and preservation is the Whitlock-Vibert Box System -- a unique and efficient, in-stream salmonoid egg incubator and nursery devise. Dave spent 7 years researching and developing this system and wrote and illustrated an instructional text, the FFF WHITLOCK-VIBERT BOX HANDBOOK. Today, under the sponsorship of the Federation of Fly Fishers, this Whitlock-Vibert Box program is used throughout the world for introduction or enhancement of wild trout, char and salmon stocks. Dave's experience and his devoted and objective outlook on the whole spectrum of flyfishing has earned him consulting assignments from top companies such as 3M Scientific Anglers Company, Bass Pro, G Loomis Rods and Simms Fly Fishing Gear. He designed and directed the first 10 years of the LL Bean Flyfishing Schools. Dave is in demand as a lecturer on flyfishing and conservation throughout the world and has produced many slideshows on the subject plus one movie. Dave also conducts flyfishing courses yearly throughout the U.S. and abroad. Dave is a recipient of many awards including the Max Ander's Wild Trout Award in 1976 for his work on propagation of wild trout and the FFF's Conservation Man of the Year Award in 1981. Dave also received the Buz Buzeck Flytyer's Award which is the highest honor in the fly tying world. It recognized his innovativeness in new fly tying patterns and his national fly tying activities. In 1987 Dave was inducted into the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame and was presented the FFF James E. Henshall Award for his work in warm water fishing and conservation. He also received FFF's Ambassador Award for national and international promotion of flyfishing and conservation. In 1996 Dave was inducted into the Arkansas Game & Fish Hall of Fame and the next year was given the Lifetime Contribution Award from the National American Fly Tackle Trade Association. Dave and his wife Emily, after living near the White River in Arkansas and conducting their flyfishing school there for several years, have moved to Oklahoma, in the Ozark Mountains near Tahlequah. There they continue to teach privately and pursue their writing, art and stream work projects. Dave Whitlock is a man totally devoted to the world of flyfishing and conservation both professionally and personally. Emily Whitlock
Emily is an accomplished fly fishing instructor. She and Dave, as a team, taught fly fishing at their school in Arkansas for 10 years. They live in the northeast Oklahoma Ozark Mountains and continue to teach there at their home and studio, and around the country. She's passionate about getting more women into fly fishing because she feels it's such a perfect sport for women, and so also teaches women's casting at events throughout the year. She's an excellent lecturer whose programs include fly fishing travels to New Zealand and other great fly fishing destinations; getting started right in fly fishing; natural and imitation fish foods; and streamside wildflowers. As a photographer, her work has appeared in several national publications and on the cover of Fly Fisherman Magazine. Emily is also Dave's partner in all of his writing, art and video projects. Emily and Dave combined their talents in 1991 and have lectured, instructed and fished together around the U.S. and abroad. A unique fly fishing team, they are devoted to the world of fly fishing and conservation, both professionally and personally. Mark Sedotti - Tying Big Streamers
He was casting columnist for Satwater Fly Fishing Magazine for five years, and has written many articles on fly tying, fly casting, saltwater fishing, trout fishing, and other aspects of freshwater fishing. Besides fishing all over North America, he's spoken to many fly fishing groups (Especially FFF and TU, as well as FFF Conclaves) all over the Country as well, and has given many fly casting demonstrations and clinics. He was a "can't miss" act for years on the Fly Fishing Show circuit. He's also the creator of a bunch of patterns, of which the Sedotti's Slammers series of bunker and herring (shad) patterns are best known. This is his third appearence at the FFF Southern Couincil's Conclave. Alex Bell
John Berry
John, a retired CPA, has worked for such diverse organizations as Price Waterhouse And Company, and Ducks Unlimited. He has been a professional fly fishing guide in the Arkansas Ozarks for the past fifteen years. He is the past president of the Mid South Fly Fishers (two terms). John served as the Conservation Director for the Southern Council of the Federation of Fly Fishers. He is a life member of the Federation of Fly Fishers and the Mid South Fly Fishers. He is also a member of the North Arkansas Fly Fishers, Federation of Fly Fishers Guide Association, and the Arkansas Outfitters and Guides Association. He is actively involved in teaching. He has taught fly fishing and fly casting for Shelby State Community College, Mississippi County Community College, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, the Mid South Fly Fishers, Casting for Recovery, and Becoming an Outdoors Woman. He is a member of The Federation of Fly Fishers Speakers Bureau and has been a seminar presenter and fly tier at the Federation of Fly Fishers National Conclave, the Federation of Fly Fishers Southern Conclave, the Federation of Fly Fishers South East Council Conclave, the Sow Bug Round Up, the Ducks Unlimited Great Outdoors Festival, and the Home Waters Expo. John served as a volunteer guide for Hooked On A Cure and Project Healing Waters. John writes a fly fishing column for the Baxter Bulletin of Mountain Home, Arkansas and has written three chapters of the highly successful fishing guide, Home Waters. He writes for several sporting journals and is also a photographer whose work has been published in several periodicals. John has been awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Mid South Fly Fishers. In 1996, when he was president of the Mid South Fly Fishers, the club received the McKenzie Cup from the Federation of Fly Fishers as club of the year. In 2004 he received the prestigious Tall Tale Tellers Award form the Southern Council of the Federation of Fly Fishers. Most recently John was awarded the Charles E. Brooks Memorial Lifetime Award by the Federation of Fly Fishers. Joe Cornwall
Since moving to Cincinnati, Ohio in 1984, Joe has spent his time exploring warm water fly fishing opportunities, discovering along that way that excellent angling can be enjoyed nearly anywhere if one approaches the opportunity with an open mind. As the publisher and editor of www.FlyFishOhio.com , Joe spends his time lauding the challenges of everything from bass to carp, gar, catfish and panfish. Joe is an active member of the Outdoor Writers Association of America, the Outdoor Writers of Ohio, the Federation of Fly Fishers, the Buckeye United Fly Fishers, the International Game Fish Association, and Trout Unlimited,. Joe is an active conservationist and amateur naturalist as well as an accomplished motivational speaker and presenter. John Johnson
Captain 'Unk' Hugh Smith
He has been a tier and presenter at annual FFF Conclaves for the Gulf Coast Council, Southern Council and the SE Council. He's an active member of CCA, FFA, and IGFA. He's a USCG Certified Maritime Captain. He was an Official Guide and wrote the "Pensacola to Panama City Guide Report" for eAngler.com. He is a certified IGFA Captain. He is a sanctioned CCA Guide and on the Hell's Bay Boatworks' guide program. He runs a Whip Ray 17.8 Professional skiff. He has been published, has an inshore slam from Ascension Bay, and is always ready to teach, talk, and learn anything about fly fishing. He holds sponsorships from many popular tackle outfits like Hell's Bay Boats, Cortland (and affiliates Hardy, STH, Diamondback), Minn-Kota, King Release Mounts, Power-Pole, Springbrook/Temple Fork Outfitters, Ocean Waves and more.
Lori Sloas
She is a popular instructor that has presented seminars for the Federation of Fly Fishers, the Ducks Unlimited Great Outdoors Festival, the Sowbug Round Up, Becoming an Outdoors Woman, Casting for Recovery, Fly Fishing Clubs and corporate groups throughout the region. Lori was Outreach Chair at the Federation of Fly Fishers Southern Council Conclave in 2005. She is a member of the North Arkansas Fly Fishers, the Damsel Fly Fishers and is a life member of the Mid South Fly Fishers and the Federation of Fly Fishers. She was the Federation of Fly Fishers Southern Council’s Woman of the Year in 2006. Most recently she was featured on the television show, Adventure Guides, on the Versus network (previously known as OLN). Terry and Roxanne Wilson
The Wilsons began fly fishing when they were kids growing up in west central Illinois, where farm ponds are plentiful. Their home waters have always been warmwater, but they enjoy chasing trout in the winter months and saltwater species any time they can.
Last Modified: 09.04.10 |
Dave Whitlock is a native Oklahoman who, thirty-nine years ago resigned his position as a research chemist and pooled his talents in painting, illustrating, writing, photography, flyfishing and lecturing to embark on a new career as a full time professional in the arts of flyfishing. All his works, especially his art, reflect the realism of nature and related fly fishing subjects through the eyes of the sportsman. His diversity has always taken him into new and creative directions including, in recent years, trout stream design and restoration, with Johnny Morris’s beautiful Dogwood Canyon being a great example.
Emily has been an avid outdoors woman most of her life. Born in Arkansas and raised in Colorado until she was 12, when her family returned to the South, she learned to fish when she was seven years old and began her lifelong love of the outdoors. She has degrees in botany and biology and is a conservationist in the true sense, willing to work for preservation of the natural world. Honored as Woman of the Year by the Federation of Fly Fishers Southern Council, she has also received conservation awards from the Sierra Club and Wildlife Federation.
When he started tying flies in 1991 the belief and going word in fly fishing was that flies eight inches and bigger were simply UNCASTIBLE. You couldn't cast a fly that size or bigger. Not even 30 ft. The only thing you could do with a fly like that was maybe "toss it right behind a boat transom to a waiting and willing billfish". On the first cast he made with a 13 1/2 inch fly he'd tied ( to copy a wide profiled adult menhaden) he threw it 90 ft. with a floating line. So much for the status quo. Since then he's created, tweaked, and perfected some creative casts - like the super long distance backcast, the Sayonara Sling and the similar Syngapore Sling, along with designing giant flies with "just the right amount of weight on board" (what he calls "weight balancing" the flies so that they exibit the least amount of drag when cast that they can) so that he's been able to stretch that "uncastible" all the way to flinging 10 inch flies as far as 180 ft. and more, and casting flies over 20 inches long over 150 ft. He's progressed to the point where he's proven that you can also be uncannily accurate with these giant flies as well, so that you can cast them into the middle of 2 ft. diameter casting rings at the unheard of distances of 130, 140, and even 150 ft. He's blown away the idea (and myth) that you can't cast big flies and shooting heads with any accuracy. Mark has found that you can not only cast mind bogglingly big flies about as far as you can cast ANY size fly (In fact, maybe you can actually cast them FARTHER!) but that you can cast them at incredible distances with the same accuracy that you can with very small flies at short distances.
Alex Bell, owner of AB's Fly Fishing Guide Service, and co-creator of the WNC Fly Fishing Trail. Lifelong fisherman and former teacher, coach, and high school principal. Certified Adaptive Casting Instructor with Adaptive Fly Fishing Institute.
John Berry is the owner/operator of Berry Brothers Guide Service located in historic Cotter, Arkansas, Trout Capital USA. He provides wade and float trips on the White, Norfork, Spring, and Little Red Rivers for trout and Crooked Creek for Smallmouth Bass.
Joe Cornwall grew up in Bridgewater, Massachusetts. Fascinated by water from the very start, Joe was taught to fish by his grandfather, Joe Wager, at an early age. By age nine Joe was exploring the fascinating hobby of fly tying. By twelve, he had become a fully engaged fly fishing fanatic. By the beginning of his freshman year in high school Joe had become a charter member of the newly formed Cape Cod chapter of Trout Unlimited and was tying flies for a growing local customer base.
John is a retired chemical engineer with a masters degree in industrial engineering. He has fifty years of cold water and warm water fly-fishing experience and regularly teaches and lectures at TU, FFF, Boy Scouts, 4H, nature centers, high schools, and Central Michigan University. He is a licensed smallmouth bass fishing guide in Michigan and a certified casting instructor.
Capt Unk has been fly fishing all over the world for more than 50 years. He runs a “’poon Camp” in the Florida Panhandle each year during the tarpon migration. He is Past President of The Emerald Coast Flyfishers and regularly conducts fly casting lessons and seminars for new and experienced fly casters.
Lori is one of a handful of female fly-fishing guides in the United States. Lori has an extensive background in counseling and corporate training that gives her a unique perspective that she uses in leading her popular ladies fly-fishing classes. Lori is an intuitive instructor who quickly brings her students to ease. A natural caster, Lori brings intensity to the stream that produces fish for clients in the most adverse conditions. A lifelong angler she now devotes her efforts to fly-fishing, teaching as well as designing fly- fishing programs.
Terry and Roxanne Wilson have written more than 150 magazine articles about warmwater fly fishing for many national magazines in the past thirty years. They are regular contributors to the Federation of Fly Fishers' magazine, The Flyfisher, frequent contributors to Midwest Fly Fishing, and staff writers for the St. Louis-based Outdoor Guide Magazine. Their first book, Bluegill Fly Fishing & Flies was published in 1999 and their second book, Largemouth Bass Fly Fishing: Beyond the Basics, appeared in 2001. Their most recent book, published in 2007, is Smallmouth Bass Fly Fishing: A Practical Guide. Terry's original flies for bluegills, largemouth bass, and smallmouth bass have been featured in Fly Fishing and Tying Journal and Fly Fish America and were included in the Federation of Flyfishers Fly Pattern Encyclopedia. Roxanne's photos appear in their magazine articles, books, and slide shows. Their website,