Presenters

A native of Tuscaloosa, William began his career in the field of environmental engineering before moving into international Christian community development where he had the opportunity to oversee work in around thirty countries. That organization, Mission ONE, was headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. While living in the American West, William enjoyed all the outdoors had to offer through hiking, climbing, rafting, and fly fishing. He became the Executive Director at Mobile Baykeeper in January 2022 and moved to Coastal Alabama where he discovered that he didn’t yet know how to truly fly cast. 

William graduated from the University of Alabama where he earned a BS in Civil Engineering with a focus on water issues. He played football under Nick Saban at Alabama, winning two national championships during his time there. He later studied Missional Theology in the Master of Arts program at Covenant Theological Seminary where he studied the intersection of faith and the environment. William’s love of the outdoors was instilled in him from an early age by his late grandfather, Bill, a conservationist, and outdoorsman. He hopes to pass that love on to his three young children.

He brings to Baykeeper a passion for process and excellence gained during his time under Saban at Alabama, a theological understanding of humans role in creation, and a love for the outdoors through chasing critters in a diversity of ecosystems.

William will be our Keynote Speaker on Friday

Scott is Director for the Alabama Marine Resources Division (MRD) of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, charged with the mission of managing the state's marine fishery resources. He has been with AL-MRD for 24 years, and Director since 2017. He began his career as a municipal police officer before becoming a Conservation Enforcement Officer. He has held the positions of officer, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain and Chief of Enforcement.

In 2006, he was selected as the Alabama Wildlife Federation Officer of the Year for actions taken during Hurricane Katrina, 2014 recipient of the Order of the Purple Heart Award for bravery for actions taken in historic flooding in Baldwin County and is the 2020 Fisheries Conservationist of the Year. Scott is retired from the US Coast Guard after having 30 years in active and reserve capacities. He achieved the rank of Master Chief Petty Officer (E9). He has served as a boarding officer, boat coxswain, Underway Officer of the Deck and Conning Officer (ship driver), navigator and Command Master Chief. He has been stationed in numerous ports both domestic and abroad and in a variety of units.

Scott will discuss the current state of Alabama's inshore fisheries, with emphasis on recent proposals for redfish, sheepshead, snook, tripletail and other species.

Capt. John Bottko was a co host on the Florida Sportsman Radio Network in Jacksonville Florida. He co-hosted with Rick Ryles and Roger Walker for 10 years.  He has guided North East Florida for 20 years. He is a charter member of the Northeast Florida Fly Fishing Club and past president.

John and his wife Nancy owned and operated a fly shop from 1994 to 2012. John has created numerous saltwater fly patterns, five of which appear in the book and CD ROM, Flies for Saltwater (Stewart and Allen). John demonstrates fly tying in A.J. McClane's New Standard Fishing Encyclopedia CD. He has taught fly fishing at Jacksonville University. He also holds an FFF certified casting instructor certificate. John has been hosting exotic fly fishing trips around the world: Argentina, Chili, Russia, Amazon, Venezuela, Bahamas, Scotland, Mexico, Central America, Alaska, Cuba, Belize, Manitoba, Labrador and  Maine. The summer of 2012 he guided in Alaska for three and half months.  He worked for Black Fly Outfitters as a consultant.  He's one of the most knowledgeable fresh and saltwater fly fishing guides.

In July of 2018 I moved to Mississippi. Shortly after I joined HOSS Fly and started to enjoy the fantastic Gulf Coast fishery.   The last ten years I’ve been spending two months in Wyoming guiding groups to back country trout fishing .

Susan grew up in Kentucky, where she spent time with her family camping and crappie fishing on Kentucky & Barkley Lakes. She has a B.S. degree from Murray State University (KY) in Biology with an area in Wildlife Management, a M.S. in History and graduate certificate in Gender Studies from Mississippi State University, and a certificate in College Business Management from the University of Kentucky. A published author, Susan loves to spend time in library archives and when she isn’t buried in a book, she loves to spend her time enjoying the outdoors.

Susan worked in higher education for 22 years and throughout that time was heavily involved in volunteer work for several non-profit organizations. She serves on the advisory board for the Starkville Oktibbeha County Humane Society and Camp Kesem at Mississippi State and has been involved with Casting for Recovery since 2018 when she attended the Southeast Regional retreat as a participant. At the retreat, she fell in love with fly tying and turned that passion into a business, Damselflies, where she sells hand-tied flies. Susan began volunteering with CfR the following year as hospitality and fly tying instructor and joined the national staff in January 2023. She and her husband, Christopher, their four sons, two daughters-in-law, six grandkids and four furbabies live in Starkville, Mississippi

Mack Bryson of Leesburg, GA, learned how to fly fish and tie flies at a young age, from mentors Mr. Bob Maricich and Blane Chocklett. Mack is owner of Southeastern Flyworks and creates masterpieces with conventional materials, as well as some personal ones, for bass, tarpon, redfish and other predatory species.

David currently serves on the GCC Board as Fly Tying Chairman. He is a retired Southern Company executive, living in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. He is a member of the Historic Ocean Springs Saltwater Fly Fishing, New Orleans Fly Fishers, Mississippi Gulf Coast Fly Fishers, and Eastern Shore Fly Fishers clubs.

In 2022, David received the GCC Excellence in Education Award, and in 2023, was inducted into the GCC Lifetime Fly Tying Achievement. He previously served on both the GCC and FFI Fly Tying Group boards. He has also earned the bronze and silver FFI Fly Tying Skills awards, and has been actively involved in drafting the new FFI Saltwater Fly Tying Skills award.

After college, Catch earned his nickname as a successful bass tournament angler.  In 1984 he discovered fly fishing, and in 1988, had his first kayak fishing experience. He’s written articles on kayak fishing, was kayak fishing field reporter for Don Dubuc Outdoors Radio show, and continues to compete quite successfully in kayak bass tournaments. He was fly fishing columnist for Louisiana Sportsman magazine for 20 years. In 1994, he became an FFF Certified Casting Instructor.  For six years, he and a fellow club member instructed leisure classes at LSU in fly fishing and fly tying.   His creative flies have been featured in several books and magazines, including Gary Borger’s “Long Flies”.  He gives presentations on a variety of topics, from how-to for various species to resource and water management.

Catch has served on boards of several conservation organizations, including CCA Louisiana, the Louisiana Nature Conservancy, the North American Lake Management Society and more.  He’s been a past president of  Louisiana Photographic Society, Red Stick Fly Fishers, Kisatchie Fly Fishers, and Cenla Kayak Anglers. He served on the FFI Southeastern Council board from 2004-2006 until co-founding the Gulf Coast Council and serving as its first president. In 2018, he returned to the GCC board to serve as Conservation Director.  In 2024, he was recognized by FFI with Conservationist of the Year award.  When not fishing, he enjoys hiking with his wife and other members of the Louisiana Hiking Club.

We are Katie and John Demuth and are from East Tennessee. Our home waters are the South Holston and Watauga rivers as well as the small mountain streams of the Great Smoky Mountains. We have been educating new and experienced fly tyers primarily on Instagram and at fly fishing shows across the world for the past 5 years. Our show, "Whip Finish Wednesday" has been popular on Instagram and we have decided to offer this learning experience and fun atmosphere on YouTube!

Our goal is to teach the art of fly tying and fly fishing by focusing on the techniques and methods of building beautiful and durable flies that will catch fish. Tying flies is all about the details!

Jeff’s interest in fly fishing started as kid in the early 1960’s fishing the Louisiana marshes and freshwater cypress lakes for bass and bream. He was introduced to the Instructor Certification Program in 2012.  He became a Fly Fishers International Certified instructor in 2013 and a Master Certified Instructor in 2016.  He serves serve on the Gulf Coast Council board and the FFI Casting Board of Governors for the past four years.  He received the CBOG Mentoring Award in 2022 and the FFI Board of Directors Mel Krieger Casting Instructor Award in 2023. He is a level 2 CICP examiner and event coordinator for the Louisiana certification event each March.  His preferred fishing is on the marshes of southwest Louisiana for redfish and speckled trout.

Bill, aka "Wild Bill", is a long time resident of the Mississippi Gulf Coast.  His home waters are the rich estuaries that make up the Mississippi Sound.  From bayous and rivers to the barrier islands, the Mississippi Coast offers the finest fishing on the Gulf of America.  Bill was raised on the beaches of west Gulfport where he spent most of his youth wade fishing for speckled trout.  At a young age he was taught to keep what you need and release the rest.  

Currently Bill is the owner, operator, and Captain of Reel Outlaw Charters.  Running a charter boat just seems to fit his personality.  He’s often called to make presentations at CCA groups and is a featured speaker at the Biloxi Boat Show.  His articles have been published in several saltwater magazines and newspapers.  He considers himself a Fishing Coach and is passionate about sharing proven methods and strategies developed over the years to catch fish.  

Bill is an avid Fly Tier and a member of the FFI fly tying group.  He has completed the Bronze, Silver and Gold FFI Casting Challenge.  Bill is a member and past president of HOSSFly now known as Mississippi Coast Fly Fishers.

Hailing from the great state of Alabama, Adam experienced an unconventional upbringing into fly fishing. Rather than trout, he cut his angling teeth pitching flies to smallmouth in waters among the ecologically diverse northern range of his home state. As one who lived in a nontypical fly fishing location, Adam resided hours from the nearest fly shop, so he couldn’t hop on the ol’ scooter, roll down the street, and scour the local fly bins for a resupply. Rather than relying on the big-box-stores’ different versions of poppers, which was the only bass fly acknowledged by the industry, or trout streamers tied on thin, undersized hooks, Adam decided to innovate.

From home, he started tying and creating his own quality fly patterns that fit his specific needs for fishing and guiding. Along with his childhood friend Stephen, they crafted the patterns that one day launched the first run of Blue Line Co.flies.Adam, along with Stephen, embody the standard BlueLineCo. upholds in every one of its flies, and the line-up is chalk full of his inventions with over 20 of his patterns.

Avid fly angler Joe Jackson is a prolific fly tyer best known for his artistic masterpieces with deer hair, including his Baby Yoda, Hummingbird, Cardinal, and T-Rex. An Army vet, Jackson was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan; after being medically retired with 14 years of service, Jackson discovered fly tying through Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, where he found more therapeutic relief than he did in the therapist’s chair.

Joe began tying flies in November 2016; by May 2017 his unique style had already garnered attention at an annual Project Healing Waters fly-tying event. Jackson tied in public for the first time at the International Fly-Tying Symposium in November 2017; meanwhile, his quirky art flies were creating a buzz on social media.

A Colorado native who grew up in walking distance of the Arkansas River, Steve is a nationally recognized fly designer that has patterns with Umpqua Feather Merchants, a recognized speaker on fishing streamers as well as a world class flycaster. Steve has put-on fly-tying presentations and teaching demos all over the USA. His simple system approach to fishing streamers with his on the river tuning and applications, tips and techniques are second to none. Steve starter River Rat Fly Design a few years ago which offers his customer streamers for anything from golden dorado, peacock bass to trout.

Steve has fished over the country with saltwater being his true love and tarpon being on top of his list. He is the southern Rockies pro for Scientific covering Colorado, Utah and New Mexico. He is also on staff with Semperfli, Regal, Fishpond, Lamson Waterworks, Nature Spirit, Ahrex Hooks, Anadromous Fly Company, Lid Rig, Solarez, Ultimate Rod Case, Costa Sunglasses and so on. Steve has always found it fun and rewarding to share his patterns and techniques with people he is tying for and sharing his knowledge of fly fishing with all comers.

Although Jeff ties many great patterns, he is recognized as one of the world’s top deer hair tiers. Jeff says, “I was born and raised in Amarillo Texas where I live with my wife and two sons. My love of trout fishing started in the 70’s at our family cabin in Eagles Nest New Mexico. That love for fly fishing has since expanded to include both bass and salt water fishing. My brother and I got our love for the outdoors from our dad from a young age. In 1982 when I was 12 years old my parents got me a fly tying kit for Christmas. That started my life long passion for tying flies. I like to push myself to think outside the box and tie new and different flies. I like to put artistic flair into my flies and I think I get that from my mom and her incredible artistic abilities.”

Allen Rupp is a passionate fly tyer and angler with an incredible 35-year journey in the world of fly fishing. Throughout the years, Allen has honed his skills, dedicating countless hours to perfecting the art of tying flies. His creations have proven their effectiveness by enticing fish from various corners of the globe. From the pristine waters of Africa and Belize, to the breathtaking landscapes of Chile, Mexico, Portugal, and the Seychelles, Allen's flies have been trusted companions for anglers. These meticulously crafted flies have seduced species far and wide, leaving no doubt about their unwavering appeal.

However, Allen is not solely confined to the tying bench. Despite his mastery of the fly tying art, he always manages to find time for his true passion: fishing. Each year, he embarks on thrilling adventures, seeking out the exhilaration of battling with various fish species. Whether it's the powerful strikes of Bass, the finesse required for Panfish, the explosive strikes of Stripers and Snook, or the delicate presentations needed for Trout, Allen embraces the challenges and joys of fly fishing with open arms.

With an unmatched wealth of experience and an unyielding love for the sport, Allen continues to push boundaries, constantly exploring new fishing grounds, and sharing his expertise with fellow enthusiasts. His dedication to the art of fly tying and the pursuit of fish is an inspiration to both seasoned anglers and novices alike.

Bailey grew up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and kicked off his fishing adventures at a tender age, courtesy of his dad’s early initiation. His angling journey began with a genuine love for exploring local waters, always on the lookout for Largemouth bass. Trips down to the southern Louisiana coast for redfish and speckled trout, armed with conventional tackle, added excitement to his fishing escapades.

Captain Short was immediately smitten by the heightened challenge of luring fish on the fly. He dove headfirst into the fascinating world of fly fishing, making regular jaunts to cold-water fisheries across the country. However, no fishery could quite compare to the charm of the Southern Louisiana marshes, where his roots were firmly planted.
The pivotal moment came when he hooked his first redfish on the fly, sparking a passion to share this thrilling experience with others. This led Bailey to become fishing lead at the Orvis store in Baton Rouge, where he led Fly Fishing 101 sessions and fly tying demos.  Soon after, he started his own guide service which he operates as “Southern Flats”, sharing his love of redfish on the fly with clients from across the world.  To learn more, go to www.southernflatslouisiana.com

His love of the fisheries and conservation ethic led him to  involvement with the American Saltwater Guides Association.  As a leader in ASGA, he has fought for sound management of redfish, menhaden, seatrout, and many other species.

Capt. Chip is owner of “By Land & By Sea Charters” chasing fish in shallow water in Northwest Florida and beyond. Established in 2015, Chip took over from his father’s business pushing the flats. He fishes year round for a variety of species but with the main focus on May-August for tarpon. He also ties flies that attract these big fish to eat.

Sam grew up in Gulf Shores, Alabama and fished before he can even remember. He started fly fishing in 2014 and went all in on every aspect of the sport. He is co-owner of Space Coast Flies which has been an online fly-fishing store for over 6 years. He designs production flies and materials and distributes for other brands.

He recently opened Community Fly Supply in Gulf Shores which he now runs full-time. Sam is a past board member of the Eastern Shore Fly Fishers club and the Tripletail Classic Fly-Fishing Tournament. He is very active in the fly-fishing community and is dedicated to growing the sport in the Gulf Coast area.  He also works to bring more events and fly-fishing exposure to the Gulf Shores area.  Sam currently serves on the Gulf Coast Council of FFI Board and has been heavily involved in advertising and promotional marketing of  the Gulf Coast Classic.  

Buddy is the official mascot of the FFI Gulf Coast Council.

He has true GCC heritage, having been born in Mississippi and raised in the Florida panhandle.  He now lives in Louisiana, but has spent time at Gulf Shores, partaking of the salty air and warm climate.

Buddy will be giving moral support to our fly fishing newbies attending the Classic.