I write this with a great deal of gratitude in my heart for all of you who attended the Hall of Fame dinner in Lafayette on November 9th.  Our total intent was to create an elegant event with good food, drink and friendship, and to reconnect with our past Hall of Fame tradition.  It also was to celebrate the restart of the Hall of Fame dinner, and to honor Mike Mercer, a very deserving inductee into the Hall.  

Again - Congratulations, Mike!

Additionally, Sheree Kajiwara helped us honor Fanny  Krieger and Jannifer Lee Puyans as our Matriarchs of Fly Fishing in Northern California.  Fanny’s contributions included helping her husband Mel teach fly casting, and starting a women's fly fishing club - The Golden West Women’s Flyfishers. Jannifer, who is an accomplished fly tyer in her own right, supported her husband in his fly tying career, and is a long time member of the Diablo Valley Fly Fishing Club.  Sheree also recognized Christine Fong & Lisa Cutter for their years of work for fly fishing.  Sheree is a long time fly fisher and supporter of our sport, and her recognition of these great women in fly fishing was much appreciated.

It was also nice to recognize both Al Kyte and Dave Draheim.  Al, one of the most accomplished casters we’ve ever had, and Dave, the originator of the Hall of Fame event.  A big thanks goes to Mark Likos for his great introduction & history, and jogging our memory of their great accomplishments.  

Truly, we stand on the shoulders of greats who came before us, and the Hall of Fame is the only event where we have a chance to recognize greatness, and what it has done for our sport.

I also want to give a huge Thank You to The Fly Shop in Redding.  Their generosity and gracious assistance to the Council allowed this re-start to actually happen.  Their push and support made the difference.  It is wonderful to have a business & team that is so dedicated to fly fishing, and also takes time to recognize those who go beyond the usual and make our sport great.  

Thank You Fly Shop Leadership!

 Additionally, Al Peterson and Mark Likos of the Diablo Valley club were essential to both pressing me to move forward on the Hall of Fame in 2024, but also provided great support convincing many in their club, as well as other clubs, to join us for the evening.  Many thanks goes to the Diablo Valley Fly Fishing Club and its members, which had the single largest club participation, but also helped us find the Lafayette Veterans Hall for our event location.  

It takes a community to put on an event like the Hall of Fame,  and that community is made up of all of you who love the sport of fly fishing, and contribute to its success and future.  Without all you, we could not exist.  Your Northern California Council, Fly Fishers International, is here to support our fly fishing clubs and members, and to provide both good programs (Casting, tying, etc.) and to keep our sport moving forward, and to recognize those who have and will make it great.  We are in this sport together, and working & playing together makes it better.  

Please join FFI

It’s the only organization totally focused on fly fishing.  They need our support to keep fly fishing growing.  https://www.flyfishersinternational.org/Join-Renew

Mark Rockwell, Chair

Hall of Fame Committee