2008 Kentuckiana Fly Fishing Show

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Dave Whitlock

Dave Whitlock is a native Oklahoman who, thirty-five years ago resigned his position as a research chemist and pooled his talents in painting, illustrating, writing, photography, fly fishing and lecturing to embark on a new career as a full time professional in the arts of fly fishing. All his works, especially his art, reflect the realism of nature and related fly fishing subjects through the eyes of the sportsman. His diversity has always taken him into new and creative directions including, in recent years, trout stream design and restoration, with Johnny Morris's beautiful Dogwood Canyon being a great example.

Dave regularly contributes his fly fishing art, photography and writing to many publications such as FLYFISHERMAN MAGAZINE, FLY FISHING & TYING JOURNAL, TROUT MAGAZINE, IN-FISHERMAN and FIELD AND STREAM. He has written and illustrated four books: DAVE WHITLOCK'S GUIDE TO AQUATIC TROUT FOODS, the L.L. BEAN FLYFISHING HANDBOOK, the L.L. BEAN BASS FLY FISHING HANDBOOK and IMITATING AND FISHING NATURAL FISH FOODS for Lefty's Little Library.

Dave has also co-authored or made contributions to many other books, including THE FLYTYER'S ALMANAC, SECOND FLYTYER'S ALMANAC, Art Flick's MASTER FLYTYING GUIDE, McClane's FISHING ENCYCLOPEDIA, Migel's STREAM CONSERVATION BOOK and MASTERS ON THE NYMPH and others. He has illustrated over 20 books including Steve Raymond's YEAR OF THE ANGLER and YEAR OF THE TROUT, Swisher and Richard's new edition of SELECTIVE TROUT, plus President Carter's OUTDOOR JOURNAL. Dave also demonstrates his fly fishing and teaching skills in five videos and through guest appearances on televised fly fishing programs

One of Dave's most notable contributions to wild trout management and preservation is the Whitlock-Vibert Box System -- a unique and efficient, instream salmonoid egg incubator and nursery devise. Dave spent 7 years researching and developing this system and wrote and illustrated an instructional text, the FFF WHITLOCK-VIBERT BOX HANDBOOK. Today, under the sponsorship of the Federation of Fly Fishers, this Whitlock-Vibert Box program is used throughout the world for introduction or enhancement of wild trout, char and salmon stocks.

Dave's experience and his devoted and objective outlook on the whole spectrum of fly fishing has earned him consulting assignments from top companies such as 3\M Scientific Anglers Company, Bass Pro, Sage Rods and Simms Fly Fishing Gear. He designed and directed the first 10 years of the LL Bean Fly Fishing Schools. Dave is in demand as a lecturer on fly fishing and conservation throughout the world and has produced many slideshows on the subject plus one movie. Dave also conducts fly fishing courses yearly throughout the U.S. and abroad.

Dave is a recipient of many awards including the Max Ander's Wild Trout Award in 1976 for his work on propagation of wild trout and the FFF's Conservation Man of the Year Award in 1981. Dave also received the Buz Buzeck Flytyer's Award which is the highest honor in the fly tying world. It recognized his innovativeness in new fly tying patterns and his national fly tying activities.

In 1987 Dave was inducted into the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame and was presented the FFF James E. Henshall Award for his work in warm water fishing and conservation. He also received FFF's Ambassador Award for national and international promotion of fly fishing and conservation. In 1996 Dave was inducted into the Arkansas Game& Fish Hall of Fame and the next year was given the Lifetime Contribution Award from the National American Fly Tackle Trade Association.

Dave and his wife Emily, after living near the White River in Arkansas and conducting their fly fishing school there for several years, have just recently moved back to Oklahoma, in the Ozark Mountains near Tahlequah. There they continue to teach privately and pursue their writing, art and stream work projects.

Dave Whitlock is a man totally devoted to the world of fly fishing and conservation both professionally and personally.

Emily Whitlock

Emily has been an avid outdoors woman most of her life. Born in Arkansas and raised in Colorado until she was 12, when her family returned to the South, she learned to fish when she was seven years old and began her lifelong love of the outdoors. She has degrees in botany and biology and is a conservationist in the true sense, willing to work for preservation of the natural world. Honored as Woman of the Year by the Federation of Fly Fishers Southern Council, she has also received conservation awards from the Sierra Club and Wildlife Federation.

Emily is an accomplished fly fishing instructor. She and Dave, as a team, taught fly fishing at their school in Arkansas for 10 years. They now live in the northeast Oklahoma Ozark Mountains and continue to teach there at their home and studio, and around the country. She's passionate about getting more women into fly fishing because she feels it's such a perfect sport for women, and so also teaches women's casting at events throughout the year. She's an excellent lecturer whose programs include fly fishing travels to New Zealand and other great fly fishing destinations; getting started right in fly fishing; natural and imitation fish foods; and streamside wildflowers. As a photographer, her work has appeared in several national publications and on the cover of Fly Fisherman Magazine. Emily is also Dave's partner in all of his writing, art and video projects.

Emily and Dave combined their talents in 1991 and have lectured, instructed and fished together around the U.S. and abroad. A unique fly fishing team, they are devoted to the world of fly fishing and conservation, both professionally and personally.