Since 2007, the Gulf Coast Council has annually honored those members and clubs for outstanding contributions to our mission. This year, we recognize four individuals and two clubs for their promotion and advancement of fly fishing, fly tying, conservation and community within the GCC.
Awards Chairman David Buckner and other members of the Awards Committee are proud to announce the following honorees. Each has received a personalized mug with their name (or club name) and award. The mug features an abstract of a redfish tail.
Fly Fisher of the Year – Danielle Davidson
Previously Man of the Year / Woman of the Year, this award recognizes individual(s) who have made significant contributions to the FFI, the GCC, individual clubs, the fly fishing community, or the sport in general.
Danielle is an accomplished angler and ardent conservationist. This past year, she served as President of the Eastern Shore Fly Fishers, Committee Lead for the ESFF annual Tripletail Classic, and as Women Connect Director for the GCC. Danielle also put together one of the most successful youth fly fishing events ever on the northern Gulf Coast, Fly Fishing with Kids, at the Weeks Bay National Estuarine Reserve Visitors Center in Fairhope. The activity included instruction and exhibitors for over 100 kids. As Women Connect Director, she organized the “Bikes and Bugs” event, which gathered 40 women to
Gulf Shores State Park for a day of fishing and biking. She continues to serve as a GCC board director, assisting with marketing for the 2023 Classic.
Fly Tying Lifetime Achievement – Marc Pinsel
Awarded to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the art of fly tying, through a combination of innovation, enhancement of the art, instruction of others, or media education. In 2018, this award was modified to recognize lifetime achievement.
For over 30 years, Marc Pinsel has tied at various shows across the country and abroad. Although he ties a wide variety of flies, his specialties are salmon flies and woolhead patterns. His list of creations includes the 4M, B&W Woolhead, Bream Woolhead, and Orange Bream Bass Fly. He is a member of the Whiting Pro Staff and the Fly Dressers Guild UK. He has conducted fly tying workshops at FFI events, such as “Tying Salmon Flies for Largemouth Bass”. Marc served on the board of the FFI Southeastern Council and was a co-founder of the Gulf Coast Council. He is a previous recipient of the GCC Fly Fisher of the Year and President’s Award. He was honored by the FFI with the Charles E. Brooks Memorial Award for lifetime achievement in fly tying. Marc has been featured in fly fishing magazines such as Eastern Fly Fishing and American Fly Fishing.
Education Excellence Award – David Buckner
Awarded to individuals or clubs that have made outstanding contributions to passing along the art of fly fishing to others, whether in the form of fly casting, fly tying, rod building, or any of the other fly fishing arts and sciences.
David joined the FFI GCC Board in 2021 and has become a key contributor in the Council’s efforts. He is a former officer of HOSSFLY club and has been a driver in their growth and contribution to the GCC. David is an accomplished fly tyer and always seeks opportunities to share his knowledge and expertise. David was instrumental in the success of the 2021 GCC Sweetwater Classic, teaching several event sessions and demonstrating his fly tying skills. He developed several GCC materials and presentations for the event. David is a tremendous advocate for fly fishing in our region and within the GCC.
Conservation Excellence Award – Eastern Shore Fly Fishers
Awarded to individuals or clubs that have made outstanding contributions to the conservation of our fisheries resources, either through projects or activism.
The Eastern Shore Fly Fishers Tripletail Classic has become a leading fly fishing event and tournament in our region. Drawing approximately 100 fly fishers and leading sponsors, this event raises significant funds for Tripletail research and awards participants for cleanup efforts. The Dauphin Island Sea Lab is the primary benefactor of the event and coordinates tagging efforts during the tournament. The tournament also awards participants for trash cleanup during the event. This catch, photo, and release tournament is in its third year,
with maximum participation each year.
Club Fellowship Award – Historic Ocean Springs Saltwater Fly Fishing Club (HOSSFLY)
Awarded to clubs that have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to their membership through activities other than regular meetings.
HOSSFLY has been a leading regional fly fishing club for over 25 years. In the last few years, HOSSFLY has seen significant growth and increased participation. The club’s leadership has provided programs and events to membership to increase their fly fishing knowledge and skills and abilities. We recognize HOSSFLY’s promotion of the FFI Casting Skills Challenge and Fly Tying Skills Awards Programs, and also their efforts to make our GCC Sweetwater Classic a success.
Friend of the Gulf Coast Council – Sisters on the Fly (SOTF) Southeast Chapter
Awarded to outside individuals or groups who have made outstanding contributions to the Gulf Coast Council.
At the 2022 Gulf Coast Sweetwater Classic, SOTF Southeast Chapter coordinated with the Gulf Coast Council for a variety of educational programs as well as participation in our fishing contests. This participation gave the GCC an opportunity to reach out to a large
group of women, with the hope that this will translate to greater numbers of women fly anglers across the region.
President’s Award – Glen “Catch” Cormier
Selected by the GCC president for outstanding contributions to the Council, either in service to the board, in service to its individual members and clubs, or both.
Catch Cormier is a member of the Kisatchie Fly Fishers and Acadiana Fly Rodders. He was a founding member and the first president of the GCC. As columnist of Louisiana Sportsman magazine’s “Fly Lines” column for 20 years, he entertained us with topics of great interest to fly fishers along the Gulf Coast. Catch serves as our Conservation Chairman and has been involved in a number of freshwater and saltwater management issues the past four years. He also serves as Communication Chair, managing our website and Facebook page. He has chaired the past two Sweetwater Classic fishing tournaments and is a member of the upcoming Classic Organizing Committee. Catch is also an FFI Certified Casting Instructor, a veteran rod builder, and an accomplished fly tier and member of the FFI Fly Tying Group.
