Southern Fly Fishing Hall of Fame Legends
Alen Baker, North Carolina (Ambassador) 2019 – Inducted for his leadership and commitment as the creator of the Fly Fishing Museum of Southern Appalachians and the Appalachian Rivers Aquarium in Bryson City, as a fly fishing author, as an avid fly fisher and for his service and commitment to public service with NC Wildlife Federation and Trout Unlimited.
Phil H. Bracewell, Sr., North Carolina (Conservation) 2016 – Inducted posthumously for his many years of dedication to the sport as a founding member of the original North Carolina Chapter of Trout Unlimited and as a volunteer conservation leader who served as a Trout Unlimited National Director for many years. He was the fund raising leader of the Northwestern NC Chapter of Trout Unlimited and set numerous national banquet records.
Joe Brooks, Maryland (Communications) 2019 – Inducted posthumously as the author of numerous fly fishing publications, for trail blazing saltwater fly fishing and for the Blonde series of fly patterns.
Mac Brown, North Carolina (Recreation) 2017 – Inducted for his varied contributions to fly fishing as a fly fishing volunteer of many organizations, guide, book author, instructor, coach and for his regional and national leadership in fly fishing competitions.
Walter Oliver Cary, Virginia (Crafts) 2016 – Inducted as a professional popper maker who is well known for decades of creativity and wisdom in designing poppers that panfish and bass can’t resist. He is also widely recognized for his dedication to providing fly tying demonstrations and fly fishing presentations, working with novice anglers, kids and veterans.
Jim Casada, South Carolina (Communications) 2016 – Inducted as the author of numerous outdoor books and as a seminar speaker who has shared a lifetime of knowledge and experience with us all. In addition to fly fishing, he has written about hunting, game and fish recipes, the history of sport and on academic subjects.
Jim Dean, North Carolina (Communications) 2018 – Inducted posthumously as the editor of Wildlife in NC for many years, the author of numerous outdoor articles and books, and an outdoor photographer.
James Douglas 'Jim' Estes, North Carolina (Crafts) 2019 – Inducted as an amateur fly tyer for over 60 years who is widely recognized for the creativity and wisdom in designing the mop fly. Orvis, Umpqua and many other fly pattern suppliers have all developed versions of the Estes Mop Fly.
Curtis Fleming, West Virginia (Recreation) 2018 – Inducted for his varied contributions to fly fishing as a fly fishing volunteer, fly fishing educator, fly fishing guide, and “Reality Fly Fishing” TV celebrity. A West Virginia fly fisherman, Fleming has been the host for more than fifteen seasons of the globally televised Fly Rod Chronicles.
George Gaines, Maryland (Humanity) 2019 – Inducted for his many contributions to fly fishing as a dedicated fly fishing volunteer, program developer, sponsor and leader of Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing and Trout Unlimited Tri-State Conservation & Fishing Camp.
Jackie Greene, North Carolina (Ambassador) 2021 – Inducted for her many contributions to fly fishing as a volunteer leader, conservationist and fly fisher. Jackie is a full-time volunteer and a true ambassador for the sport of fly fishing.
Ryan Harman, North Carolina (Humanity) 2021 – Inducted for his dedication to fly fishing as a volunteer leader, conservationist, fly fisher, competitive fly fisher and co-founder of PHWFF Camp Keystone.
Kevin Howell, North Carolina (Crafts) 2018 – Inducted as a professional fly tier who is widely recognized for the creativity and wisdom in designing the famed Hot Creek Special, Trip Maker, Trip Saver as well as other noted creations. Kevin is the owner of Davidson River Outfitters and continues the family legacy of his father Don R. Howell and uncle Dwight Howell.
Jimmy Jacobs, Georgia (Communications) 2017– Inducted as the author of numerous fly fishing books and articles, seminar speaker, and photographer.
Don Kirk, Alabama (Communications) 2021 – Inducted posthumously as the author of numerous fly fishing publications and for trailblazing the online Southern Trout family of magazines.
Bernard “Lefty” Kreh, Maryland (Recreation) 2017 – Inducted on April 8, 2017 at the Virginia Fly Fishing and Wine Festival for his many contributions to fly fishing as an outdoor writer with 31 books to his credit, innovative fly tyer especially known for his world-renowned Lefty’s Deceiver of the late-1950s and as a fly rod designer.
Malcolm Leaphart, South Carolina (Conservation) 2021 – Inducted for his many contributions to fly fishing as a volunteer leader, citizen scientist, conservationist, fly fisher and writer.
Joe M. Messinger, Sr., West Virginia (Crafts) 2017 – Inducted posthumously as a professional fly tier who is widely recognized for the creativity and wisdom in designing the famed Irresistible pattern as well as other noted creations including the Nitehummer, Messinger Frog or Bucktail Frog, Meadow Frog, Golden Frog, Dogcatcher, Bleeding Bucktail Popper, and Bleeding Hair Frog.
Stephen Edward Moore, Tennessee (Conservation) 2017 – Inducted for his years of dedication to the restoration of brook trout in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and his efforts in the discovery of the southern strain of brook trout.
Bob Nanney, North Carolina (Ambassador) 2019 – Inducted for his leadership and commitment to fly fishing and the museum. Bob was recognized in 2018 for his many hours of dedication to promoting the museum at Fly Fishing Shows, museum fund raising, museum activities and extensive exhibit work.
Starr Nolan, North Carolina (Humanity) 2017 – Inducted for her contributions to fly fishing as a fly fishing volunteer in many organizations, instructor, educator, clinical coach and for her regional and national leadership in the use of fly fishing as a method of therapy for recovering cancer patients.
Sandy Schenck, North Carolina (Conservation) 2018 – Inducted for his many years of dedication to teaching kids about the outdoors and preserving the land. He founded Muddy Sneakers – “teaching children the joy of learning outside” – and he is the founder and executive director of Green River Preserve summer camp where he put 2,600 acres of Green River Preserve in a conservation easement, preserving the land for perpetuity.
Joyce Shepherd, North Carolina (Humanity) 2018 – Inducted for her contributions to fly fishing as a volunteer of organizations that “give back” helping others recover from personal challenges, as a fly casting instructor, and for her leadership in NCWF, NCTU, RRTU and Casting Carolinas.
Michael R. 'Squeak' Smith, North Carolina (Conservation) 2019 – Inducted for his years of dedication to stream restoration and being an “addicted” life-long fly fisher, a “full time volunteer,” a highly recognized and outstanding conservation leader and a “hands-on” environmentalist.
Wanda Hair Taylor, Georgia (Recreation) 2016 – Inducted for her many contributions to fly fishing in the Southeast as a professional guide, certified fly casting instructor and highly involved fly volunteer with Casting Carolinas, Project Healing Waters, Casting for Confidence and Casting for Recovery.
Dave Whitlock, Tennessee/Oklahoma (Recreation) 2019 – Inducted for his many contributions to fly fishing as a conservationist, innovator, fly fisher, fly tier, writer and artist. Dave is a member of the National Fresh Water Hall of Fame, the Trout Hall of Fame, the Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum Hall of Fame and the Arkansas Game & Fish Hall of Fame.
Davy Wotton, Virginia (Crafts) 2021 – Inducted as a professional fly tyer, tying materials developer, guide and fly fishing industry leader.