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Fly Fisherman Earns Five OWAA Excellence Awards

The short film Over the Guardrail takes first place in the TV/Video/Webcast category.

Fly Fisherman Earns Five OWAA Excellence Awards
Over the Guardrail takes a look at how time in the outdoors–even in your own backyard–can be a therapeutic remedy for depression.

Fly Fisherman magazine was recognized with five different awards from the Outdoor Writers Association of America (OWAA) at its annual conference this year in El Paso, Texas, Sept. 22.

The awards were part of OWAA’s annual Excellence In Craft (EIC) Contest. The EIC Contest honors the best-of-the-best in a variety of communications formats–Blog, Book, Column, Graphic/Illustration, Magazine, Newspaper, Photography, Photography Essay, Radio/Podcast, and TV/Video/Webcast.

The awards–announced in 2024–were for material published in the 2023 calendar year.

Fly Fisherman took first place in the fishing TV/Video/Webcast category for the short film Over the Guardrail written, directed, and produced by Ross Purnell. The film, with Purnell and his nephew Josh Burnham, is about fishing urban environments, but still finding mental peace and solace. Over the Guardrail takes a look at how time in the outdoors–even in your own backyard–can be a therapeutic remedy for depression. The film is currently available on the Fly Fisherman magazine YouTube channel and flyfisherman.com.

A certificate of an OWAA first place award.
Fly Fisherman took first place in the fishing TV/Video/Webcast category for the short film Over the Guardrail written, directed, and produced by Ross Purnell.

Fly Fisherman contributor Hilary Hutcheson took second place in the family participation/youth outdoor education category for her magazine article "Teenagers + Wilderness," which appeared in the June-July 2023 issue.

A screenshot of a magazine article.
Hilary Hutcheson took second place in the family participation/youth outdoor education category for her magazine article Teenagers + Wilderness.

George Daniel, director of the Joe Humphreys Fly Fishing Program at Penn State University, took second place in the gear/technical category for his magazine article “Drop Shot: Rolling in the Deep” which appeared in the Feb.-Mar. 2023 issue.

A screenshot of a magazine article.
George Daniel, director of the Joe Humphreys Fly Fishing Program at Penn State University, took second place in the gear/technical category.

In the magazine graphic/illustration category, Fly Fisherman contributors took second and third place, respectively. Fly Fisherman Art Director Dennis Pastucha was recognized for his Photoshop artwork blending historic photos of Jesuit priest Pierre-Jean De Smet, U.S. Army “Buffalo Soldiers,” and a cutthroat trout for the story "Shadows of the Saint Joe" in the June-July 2023 issue. Joe Mahler’s third place award was for his illustrations that accompanied his article “7 Ways to Haul” in the April-May 2023 issue.

A screenshot of a magazine article.
Dennis Pastucha was recognized for his Photoshop artwork of a cutthroat trout for the story Shadows of the Saint Joe in the June-July 2023 issue.

The overall President’s Choice Award was presented to “On Grizzly Ground,” a film by Kris Millgate of Idaho that aired on PBS stations in Idaho and Oregon. Millgate’s film follows federally protected grizzly bears through the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. A total of 135 EIC awards were presented to 78 OWAA members.

A screenshot of a magazine article.
Joe Mahler’s third place award was for his illustrations that accompanied his article “7 Ways to Haul” in the April-May 2023 issue.

The OWAA is the nation’s largest organization of professional outdoor journalists. Its membership includes writers, photographers, videographers, radio and TV personalities, digital storytellers and artists. Formed in 1927, the nonprofit association’s mission is to improve the professional skills and opportunities of its members, set the highest ethical and communications standards, encourage public enjoyment and conservation of natural resources, and mentor the next generation of professional outdoor communicators. This year’s EIC contest was sponsored by Friesens Publishing and Pew Charitable Trusts.

Also at the annual meeting, six members were selected as Honorary Award Recipients. Katie McKalip received the Ham Brown Award. Lisa Ballard received the Joan Wulff Enduring Excellence Award. Brett Prettyman received the Jade of Chiefs award. Ken Keffer was recognized as Outstanding Board Member and Howard Fox was named Committee Volunteer of the Year. Click here for a full list of award winners. 




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