By Larry Murphy
The Iowa State Fair Fly Tying Competition was held at the 2024 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 19 entrants with 59 flies entered into the competition from across the state. There are 3 divisions: junior, adult, and expert. There 6 in the junior division (ranging in age from 13 to 4), 9 in the adult division, and 4 in the expert division. There are four categories: dry flies, wet/nymph flies, streamer flies, and open.
This year’s judges were Dave Rosset (Des Moines), Paul Domoto (Ames) and Keith Wunder (West Des Moines).
The judging took place at the State Fair on Wednesday, August 7th.
The flies were on display in the DNR building on the fairgrounds during the entire fair.
Junior Division
Dry Fly Category
1st Place Maverick Mendick Tiger Shark Moulton
Wet Fly/Nymph
1st Place Leland David #14 Mallard Flank Sioux City
2nd Place Cruz Coorough In Blue North Liberty
3rd Place Jacob McVey Sparkle Nymph Ankeny
Open Category
1st Place Leland David #4 Minnow Sioux City
2nd Place Jacob McVey Gold Nymph Ankeny
3rd Place Marky Mendick Super Fly Moulton
Streamer Category
1st Place Cruz Coorough Black Woolly Bugger North Liberty
2nd Place Jacob McVey Woolly Bugger Ankeny
3rd Place Logan McVey Bumblebee Minnow Ankeny
Adult Division
Dry Fly Category
1st Place Mike Schrader Wally Wing Spinner Des Moines
2nd Place Nick Hayes Adams Irrirestable Cedar Rapids
3rd Place Andy Hunsinger Piccary Dry Fly Pella
Wet Fly/Nymph Category
1st Place Mike Schrader Woven Caddis Larva Des Moines
2nd Place Mark McConnell Kris Kringle Copper John Pella
3rd Place Andy Hunsinger Mylar Prince Pella
Open Category
1st Place Nick Hayes Pheasant Back Craw Cedar Rapids
2nd Place Tom Polehna Peachy Cedar Rapids
3rd Place Mark McConnell Little Golden Stonefly Pella
Streamer Category
1st Place Nick Hayes Murdich Minnow Cedar Rapids
2nd Place Kevin McVey Smallmouth Spey Ankeny
3rd Place Andy Hunsinger Baby Blues Pella
Expert Division
Dry Fly Category
1st Place Mike Jacobs Arrick’s Ant Monticello
2nd Place Jeff Moore Royal Humpy Cedar Rapids
3rd Place Mark Smothers Mosquito Peosta
Wet Fly/Nymph Category
1st Place Jeff Moore Adam’s Cedar Rapids
2nd Place CJ Klenske Red Neck Pleasant Tail Dubuque
3rd Place Mark Smothers 10A May Peosta
Open Category
1st Place Jeff Moore Whitlock’s Gierbubble Bug Cedar Rapids
2nd Place CJ Klenske Kamikaze Sculpin Dubuque
3rd Place Mike Jacobs Downpressor Monticello
Streamer Category
1st Place Jeff Moore Gray Ghost Cedar Rapids
2nd Place Mark Smothers Big Hole Demon Peosta
3rd Place Mike Jacobs 3M Minnow Monticello
Who We Are
Hawkeye Fly Fishing Association (HFFA) holds events and provides resources for people interested in fly fishing, fly tying and fish habitat conservation. We are an Iowa-based affiliate of Fly Fishers International.
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