2026 Iowa State Fair Fly Tying Competition Results

The fly-tying competition was held at the 2026 Iowa State Fair.  This competition has been developed and sponsored by the Hawkeye Fly Fishing Association (HFFA) with support of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).  There were 16 entrants with 52 flies entered into the competition from across the state.  There were 3 entrants in the junior division (ranging in age from 4 years to 7 years), 10 in the adult division, and 3 in the expert division.    There are four categories; dry flies, wet/nymph flies, streamer flies, and open.  There are 3 divisions (Expert, Adult and Junior).

This year’s judges were Joe Wedum (Des Moines), Paul Domoto (Ames) and Lee Schulties (Perry).  The judging took place at the State Fair on Wednesday, August 12th.

The flies were on display in the DNR building on the fairgrounds during the entire fair. 

Fly Tying Competition Results

Iowa State Fair 2026 

Junior Division 

Dry Fly Category

1^st Place                No entry

2^nd Place              No Entry

3^rd Place              No entry 

Wet Fly/Nymph

1^st Place                Maverick Mendick           Spikey                                             Moulton

2^nd Place               Magnolia Mendick           Unicorn                                           Moulton

3^rd Place               No entry 

Open Category

1st Place              Maverick Mendick           Red White & Blue                         Moulton

2^nd Place               No entry

3^rd Place              No entry

Streamer Category

1st Place              Marky Mendick                Last Cast                                          Moulton

2^nd Place               Magnolia Mendick           Mermaid                                         Moulton

3^rd Place               Maverick Mendick            American Bulldog                         Moulton

Adult Division

Dry Fly Category

1st Place              Tom Donnelly                    Red Quill                                              Cedar Rapids

2nd Place             Ray Corry                          Lime Trude                                      North Liberty

3^rd Place               Andy Hunsinger               Foam Cicada                                   Pella

Wet Fly/Nymph Category

1st Place             Thomas Polehna             Crackles                                            Cedar Rapids

2nd Place             Andy Hunsinger              Crimson Copper Brassie                 Pella

3rd Place              Tom Donnelly                  Royal Coachman Wet Fly              Cedar Rapids

Open Category

1st Place              Andy Hunsinger               Pearl & Peacock Futsu (Tenkara)   Pella

2nd Place             Ray Corry                           Whitlock’s Near-Nuff Sculpin         North Liberty

3rd Place              Kevin McVey                    Spirits Hope                                          Ankeny

Streamer Category

1st Place              Ray Corry                          Clouser Minnow                             North Liberty

2nd Place             Andy Hunsinger               Hawkey Super Bugger                   Pella

3rd Place              Thomas Polehna              Chillin Villian                                   Cedar Rapids

Expert Division

Dry Fly Category

1st Place              Jeff Moore                       Biot Parachute Adams                   Cedar Rapids

2nd Place             Mark Smothers               Gray Ugly                                         Peosta

3^rd Place               Mike Jacobs                     Chubby Chernobyl                          Monticello

Wet Fly/Nymph Category

1st Place              Jeff Moore                        Captive Dun                                   Cedar Rapids

2nd Place             Mark Smothers                Beadhead Soft Hackle                 Peosta

3^rd Place               Mike Jacobs                      Duracell                                          Monticello 

Open Category

1st Place              Jeff Moore                        Seven Layer Frog                           Cedar Rapids

2nd Place             Mike Jacobs                       Ol’ Mister Wiggly                            Monticello

3^rd Place               Mark Smothers                Crappie Catcher                             Peosta

Streamer Category

1st Place              Jeff Moore                       Carrie Stevens “Larry”                  Cedar Rapids

2nd Place             Mike Jacobs                     Barteaux Minnow                          Monticello

3^rd Place               Mark Smothers               Black Nosed Dace                          Peosta