2025 CLEARWATER SPEY GATHERING

Ed Ward 

Mastermind behind @opskagit and a fly fisherman who has been in on the development of Skagit casting since the beginning, Ed Ward has long been associated with pioneering the technique and innovations. Skagit lines, short sinktips, sinktip tactics for steelhead, and the world famous Intruder fly are all Ed's contributions to fly fishing and two-hand casting. Ed's the highest caliber of expert on all things Skagit.

Klaus Frimor 

@Klausfrimor is one of the key figures when it comes to Scandi style/ "underhand" fly casting. His knowledge of both single and double-handed rods, lines and casting techniques have taken him to work as rod and line designer for Loop Tackle design. His work and passion has taken him to countris like Iceland, Cuba, Chile, Argentina, New Zealand, the US, and Canada, where he as been a popular lecturer and fly-casting instructor. He has also appeared in several fly-fishing films. Underhand-caster by hear byt can be seen swinging a "Skagit line" for winter steelhead if needed.

Zack Williams 

Zack Williams cut his teeth steelheading in the Great Lakes before moving West in pursuit of native fish. He spent a decade guiding the waters of Washington and Idaho, with the Clearwater River. He is the publisher of @swingthefly Press and author of Anchor-Centric Spey Casting. He now resides in Missoula, Montana, with his wife and young daughter and chases trout with the two-hander whenever possible.

Lee Davison 

@Lee.Davison.904 is the designer of @ballisticflylines and an international Spey casting competitor (Spey-O-Rama GGAC, San Francisco Senior Champion 2015 & 2017). Lee also holds Fly Fishers International (FFI) Master and Two Hand Master Casting Instructor certifications, and worked as a licensed Idaho Fishing Guide with over 28 years of experience on the North and South Forks of the Snake River. Lee holds a degree in Business Management from the University of Texas and has extensive experience as a Project Manager for the Idaho National Laboratory and several large U.S. engineering/construction firms.

Whitney Gould 

Whitney (@gouldstandard_flycasting) is an angler, full-time fishing guide, and fly casting instructor. She has a degree in Painting from Temple School of Fine Arts and a masters degree in Landscape Architecture from Rhode Island School of Design. Fishing allows Whitney to merge her creativity with her love for fishing and the outdoors. Whitney is a  8 time Spey-O-Rama international Spey  Champ , the Current Women’s National Fly Casting  Champion and is an FFI Certified Two-Hand Fly Casting Instructor. Whitney is the owner of Gould Standard Fly Casting (www.gouldstandardflycasting.com).

Mike McCune 

Mike McCune is a accomplished steelhead and Alaska guide. You might recognize him as associated with @sageflyfish or from the Rio Spey Casting DVDs (@rioproducts), where his exceptional casting skills, like Skagit casting, are showcased. As a pioneer behind modern Skagit heads and MOW tips, Mike is also an outstanding technical angler and instructor.

Bruce Kruk 

Representing @gaelforce_flyfishing, Bruce (@Bkruk) is an icon in the spey casting world and has made a huge number of spey casting instructional videos in his career. He's helped countless clients improve their casting and ultimately their angling experience. Friends of Poppy Cummins of The Red Shed, Bruce is a long-time spey gathering attendee and considers the Clearwater River his home away from home. 

Simon Gawesworth 

@simongawesworth, lead flyline designer for @rioproducts, is acknowledged as one of the world's leading authorities on Spey casting and has taught and demonstrated spey casting around the world. If you're on youtube searching for two-hand casting technique, there's a chance you've come across his instructional videos. 

Amanda Chapman 

Amanda Chapman (@thegirlwhotiesflies) found her way into fly fishing through fly tying, a creative pursuit that opened the door to a passion for casting, steelhead, and the nuances of life on the water. From landing her first steelhead to competing in tournament casting events and attending claves, Amanda has embraced nearly every corner of the fly fishing world. She is known for her thoughtful perspective on being present in the moment, her curiosity about fish behavior and personalities, and her insights into the ever-evolving role of social media in the sport. Whether tying at the bench or casting on the river, Amanda brings both skill and heart to the fly fishing community.

Clark Lucas 

Clark Lucas (@sflytier) is one of the most dynamic figures in the spey fishing and fly tying world. A retired silviculturist turned passionate “featherbender,” Lucas has been fly fishing since the 1970s, first honing his craft on Idaho’s St. Joe River before immersing himself in the culture of spey, Dee, and Atlantic salmon flies. As an angler, he champions riparian health, wild fish, and thoughtful management of salmon and steelhead waters. For Clark, spey casting and fly tying aren’t just pastimes—they’re a pursuit of peace, reflection, and that electric moment when a fish takes.

Dave Tucker 

Dave Tucker has dedicated his life to the art and passion of fly fishing. What began as a teenage hobby—tying flies after backpacking trips in Idaho’s Sawtooths—evolved into an award-winning career as a fly tier, shop owner, guide, and casting instructor. By the late 1970s, Dave was tying commercially and soon opened a Boise fly shop, where his innovative patterns gained international recognition.

Brittany & Brian Davenport 

Brittany and Brian Davenport, owners of Hackles and Herl (@hacklesandherl), share a passion for fly fishing and the outdoors that has become a central part of their life together. This passion has since led them down countless rivers and streams in pursuit of cutthroat, steelhead, and more.

Brittany, who began fly fishing in 2012, has developed a special interest in artistic fly tying, from delta wings to award-winning patterns, finding creativity and challenge at the vise. Brian, equally drawn to the water, brings his own perspective on fishing, wilderness exploration, and the balance between city life and the wild places they love.

Together, they enjoy the journey as much as the fish - whether that means walking dogs on the riverbank, swapping stories about bears, or chasing the next big adventure. Their path continues to lead them deeper into the world of fly fishing, with steelhead as one of their most meaningful goals. 

Matthew LeBret

Matthew LeBret (@steel_header82)

Poppy Cummins 

Poppy Cummins (@poppycummins) is the founder of the legendary Red Shed Fly Shop on Idaho’s Clearwater River, a hub for steelhead and spey anglers from around the world. Originally a trucker, Poppy first fell in love with the Clearwater in 1964 and eventually made it his permanent home in 1985. What began as a simple hay barn converted into a fly shop grew into an internationally known destination for anglers chasing the famed B-run steelhead and learning the art of two-handed casting. Known for his warm demeanor and deep passion for the river, Poppy has spent decades outfitting anglers, handcrafting cane rods, and building community around spey culture.