As a Fund Raising event in support of its many conservation and education projects, the Federation of Fly Fishers is sponsoring an international fly tying Competition. The Competition will run from February 1, 2006, until midnight April 30, 2006. There are 39 separate categories within which to enter a fly. Judges include such famous fly tyers as David Whitlock of bass fishing fame, Ron Alcott of traditional salmon pattern fame, Bill Blackstone, the master of the "realistic" patterns, Bob Clouser, creator of the famous Clouser Minnow, Stu Apte the saltwater fly fishing legend, and Bob Jacklin, the famous instructor/guide of West Yellowstone, Montana, to name a few.

In addition to the "Judged" competition where specific flies must be tied for comparison by the judges, there will be a "Peoples' Choice" competition where tyers may submit the fly of their choice in any of the 39 categories. These flies will be posted on the FFF website where the people will get to vote for their favorite patterns.

Awards include beautiful 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place medallions in each of the 39 categories, and prizes totaling over $11,000US including Orvis, Thomas & Thomas, Loomis, and Winston fly rods, Islander and Abel fly reels, the famous Oasis tying benches, the incomparable Wasatch custom tools, among many other valuable prizes. To learn more about this great event linking dedicated tyers from around the world, go to the following website where you will find the link to the Fly Tying Competition: http://www.fedflyfishers.org/begin.php.

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