The Iowa State Fair Fly Tying Competition was held at the 2025 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 are 3 divisions: junior, adult, and expert. There are four categories: dry flies, wet/nymph flies, streamer flies, and open.
This year’s judges were Lee Schulteis (Perry), Joe Wedum (Des Moines), and Paul Domoto (Ames).(shown left to right) The contest was organized by James Barnhart. (on right)
The judging took place at the State Fair on Wednesday, August 6th.
The flies were on display in the DNR building on the fairgrounds during the entire fair.
Junior Division
Dry Fly Category
1st Place Josiah Cornelder Royal Wulff Des Moines
2nd Place Sophia Casey Deer Hair Ant Des Moines
3rd Place Logan McVey Harry Eyeball Ankeny
Wet Fly/Nymph
1st Place Josiah Cornelder Partridge and Orange Des Moines
2nd Place Sophia Casey Bully Bluegill Des Moines
3rd Place Logan McVey Carrot Ankeny
Open Category
1st Place Josiah Cornelder Whit Hopper Des Moines
2nd Place Sophia Casey Lefty’s Red and White (tied tan/black) Des Moines
3rd Place Mark Mendick III Willie the Worm Moulton
Streamer Category
1st Place Josiah Cornelder Blue Charm Des Moines
2nd Place Logan McVey Eely Dragon Ankeny
3rd Place Sophia Casey Clouser Zonker Minnow Des Moines
Adult Division
Dry Fly Category
1st Place Tom Donnelly Mosquito Cedar Rapids
2nd Place David Cornelder Dry Pheasant Tail Des Moines
3rd Place Donald A Bath Extended Body Light Cahill Parachute Urbandale
Wet Fly/Nymph Category
1st Place Andrew Robey Royal Coachman Pleasant Hill
2nd Place Brian Hill Light Cahill Wet Fly Granger
3rd Place Thomas Greene Pheasant Tail Nymph Norwalk
Open Category
1st Place Donald A Bath Hellgrammite Larvae Urbandale
2nd Place Kevin McVey Parasol Midge Ankeny
3rd Place Mark McConnell Cone Head Thin Mint Pella
Streamer Category
1st Place Donald A Bath Rabbit Hair Crayfish Urbandale
2nd Place Mike Schrader Baby Brook Trout Streamer Des Moines
3rd Place Mark McConnell Pheasant Fin Sculpin Pella
Expert Division
Dry Fly Category
1st Place CJ Klenske Rubber Leg Stimulator Dubuque
2nd Place No entry
3rd Place No entry
Wet Fly/Nymph Category
1st Place CJ Klenske Craven 2-Bit Hooker Dubuque
2nd Place Mike Jacobs Flashback Pheasant Tail Variant Monticello
3rd Place No entry
Open Category
1st Place CJ Klenske No Name Crayfish Dubuque
2nd Place Mike Jacobs Tim’s Beetle Monticello
3rd Place No entry
Streamer Category
1st Place CJ Klenske Double Bunny Variant Dubuque
2nd Place Mike Jacobs Single Fly Cray Monticello
3rd Place No entry