Prairie Fly Fishers Club History
Oklahoma City, OK

This brief document shares part of the history of our club as recalled by some of the early leaders, and present members. Thanks to Wayne Anderson for compiling the history of the Prairie Fly Fishers Club (PFFC) while president. The history covers the beginning of organized fly fishing in Oklahoma related to the PFFC from 1959 to 2004 and our relationship to the Federation of Fly Fishers (FFF).

1959-1965
Bob Cunningham had a club with 6 members in Bartlesville, OK

Dave Whitlock had a club with 6 members in Tulsa, OK
www.davewhitlock.com

Bill Jackson had a club of 6-8 members in Oklahoma City, OK. They met regularly in homes and planned trips to Vermajo, NM. These trips began as early as 1959.
Participants were:
Bill Jackson, Hugh Ledbetter, Ray Binnicker, Everett Dale Jr, Dave Womble, Jack Duncan, Glen Moore, Don Burgess, Vernon Nicholson, Bill Gill, and Jerry McGrew.

1968
Bartlesville Group met the Tulsa group, as a result of searching for
for fly tying materials in a Tulsa sporting goods store.

1969
Bob Cunningham and Dave Whitlock formed a tight friendship and combined the two clubs into one called, The Green Country Fly Fishing Club. Dave Whitlock also became active in Southern Council of Federation of Fly Fishers (FFF) and The Green Country Club was affiliated with FFF in 1969. Dave is a world renowned fly tier and known for his wild life paintings and books. He still conducts fly fishing school and fishing trips.

Dave Womble attended the Green Country meeting in Tulsa when he opened another business office there. He and Dave Whitlock became close friends and Dave Whitlock urged Dave Womble to get the Oklahoma City Club hooked up with the FFF. Dave Whitlock was successful and Oklahoma City received their charter in Sep. 1970 as Prairie Fly Fishing Club. The charter is hung in the Backwoods Store in Oklahoma City. The Prairie Fly Fishing Club had approximately ten members.

1970-1980
The Prairie Fly Fishing Club Presidents from 1970 to 1980 were: Dave Womble, Bill Jackson, Hugh Ledbetter, Ray Binnicker, Everett Dale Jr, Jerry McGrew, and Jack Duncan.
Ray flew his plane to New Mexico and Alaska several times. Jerry McGrew and Everett Dale Jr both had cabins in Basalt, CO. (Frying Pan River) with trips there for Prairie Fly Fishing. Most members continued to fish Vermajo, NM. Bill Jackson went regularly from 1959 to present. Glen Moore also took members and customers to Vermajo, NM in his company plane. Meetings were held in homes, Steak & Ale, Ray’s office, etc. Parties were always held before trips and at some of the monthly meetings. Hugh Ledbetter put out newsletters for four years and still has copies of them on file. Max Lehew joined in 1973, from information at Andy Anderson’s sporting goods. Paul Pipes joined Prairie Fly Fishing in 1976.

1981
Paul Pipes (Pres) and Max Lehew attended a meeting at Lake Tenkiller with the Green Country Club. Prairie Fly Fishing donated $1,500.00 to FFF there.

1982-1986
Paul Pipes (Pres) – Meetings were held at the Oklahoma City clinic. Dr Paul Houck and Dr Tom Buxton. At the May Methodist Church was Roy Hiesel. Jerry McGrew at an insurance office on North May. Prairie Fly Fishing went to Conejos River in Colorado with Max Lehew, who is still active in Colorado, tying lots of flies, Vermajo, NM, and American Horse Lake in Oklahoma, Doug Sprung, professor at UCO made rods. Bill Jackson and Dave Ryan made rods and tied flies. Christmas parties including the wives, and became very popular at Twin Hills Country Club.

1986-1987
Ted Duncan (Pres) continued to promote Prairie Fly Fishing outings. Dail Harper and Darrell Dodson were members. Mann Lake in Colorado was also a fishing spot. Mark Patton became Oklahoma Wildlife Commissioner and on board of campfire girls at Camp Dakani. This resulted in Prairie Fly Fishing being able to meet there and continues to this day.

1988-1995
Mark Patton (Pres) holds the record for most continuous years as President for eight years as a great leader. Mark had Paul Pipes and Dave Ryan put on television productions of Outdoor Oklahoma. Ted Duncan and Roy Hiesel also appeared on another Outdoor Oklahoma television show. Mark continues to teach fly fishing classes and travels all over the world in pursuit of trout.

1996-1997
Steve Wylie (Pres) the director of the Oklahoma City Zoo. Prairie Fly Fishing had outings at Beavers Bend State Park in Oklahoma where brown trout could be found. He hosted a Christmas party in his home.

1998-2003
Bob Williams (Pres) worked hard to have great programs and upgraded monthly newsletters via computer. Promoted fly tying within the club with Tom Adams (Backwoods) on the 4th Tuesday of every month. Hosted a Christmas party in his home. He organized outings to Creed, Co in 2000 and 2001 with help from Ted Duncan. He organized trips to North Fork River in Arkansas in 2002 and 2003. He changed May cookouts to Melots Lake in 2003 with the help of Glen Garton. Ted Duncan still remains main chef. Bob promoted more use of the computers, with his slide shows and newsletters using color and pictures. The 2003 roster boasted 60 members with 30-35 attendances at most monthly meetings.

Ted Duncan is our permanent Vice President

Bob Burns and Bill Smith served as Secretary/Treasure

2003-2005
Wayne Anderson, current President, held Christmas Party at Quail Creek Country Club in Oklahoma. Glen Garton took over the Treasures responsibilities. Fred Stanley created and published the website, www.prairieflyfishers.org.  Bob Williams now posts our newsletter on our website and emails Prairie Fly Fishing members as well as mails newsletters to those without email.

2006

In the PFF September meeting new officers were elected :

President Phil Coventon

Vice President Jerry Walker, due to the retirement and move to Colorado streamside of our permanent Vice President Ted Duncan.  You will be missed.

Treasurer Steve Wiley

The Prairie Fly Fishers Club Goals are:

• Promote fly fishing and fly tying.

• Get together and share our fly fishing knowledge & experiences with others.

• Have fun fly fishing locally.

• Have fun fly fishing around the United States and the world.


Note: If you have any additional history, corrections or comments please contact the webmaster

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