BOARD OF DIRECTORS

This core group is what makes all BHFF efforts and initiatives possible.  Their passion for cold water fisheries in South Dakota is surpassed only by their abilities to lie about fishing conquests and abilities.  If you are interested in joining this elite group of anglers, please let us know.  

David Hanna, El Presidente

In 1993, a dear friend of David Hanna's took him stream fishing in the Black Hills with worms, bobbers and spinning gear.  In 1995 another dear friend convinced him to use a fly rod.  26 years later he's still throwing a fly rod.  Hanna grew up in eastern South Dakota and has lived in the Black Hills since 1992.  Fly fishing is the one thing he's found that makes the rest of the world cease to exist and is therefore the reason he's involved in Black Hills Fly Fishers.  Hanna wants to see the Black Hills continue to offer exceptional access to quality fly fishing for everyone, forever.

 

 

 

Rich Morrison

I grew up in Northern California fly fishing with my dad and his buddies in and around Chico, CA.  I am currently a pilot for Southwest Airlines.  One of my favorite fishing memories happened right here in the Black Hills.  I was stripping streamers on Deerfield lake in early fall when I heard what I thought was someone walking down to the shore behind me wearing nylon pants...swish...swish...swish.  I turned to see a Bald Eagle dropping down over the trees.  It passed by me at head height and close enough that I could have reached out and touched it with my fly rod.  Absolutely amazing. Fly fishing has been such an incredibly important part of my life.  The memories, the friendships, and the therapeutic benefits of this are all something I want to promote as well as protect here in this place that has been my home for almost 20 years now.  That’s exactly what BHFF is here to do.  And I can see the folks that I work with here feel the same and that’s so valuable to me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Bill Coburn

I have lived in Spearfish for 40 years.  Born in Deadwood.  Part of the last graduating class (1971) of Deadwood High School.  I have a Degree in Forest Resource Management from U. of Montana in 1976.  Practiced forestry in the Black Hills for over 45 years, including working for Pope and Talbot for 27 years and Neiman Timber Co. for 10 years.  Currently president and COO of Black Hills Forestry, Inc., a forestry consulting company.  I am also chairperson for the South Dakota Family Forests Association, which is the only NGO that represents private forestland owners in South Dakota.  I also continue to be involved in the South Dakota forestry community as a member of the South Dakota State Conservation Commission.   I have been fly fishing since 1969 when my dad gave me my grandpa's Granger Victoria bamboo fly rod.  Self taught myself how to cast…and it shows. I love fly fishing because of where it has taken me and who I have met.   My favorite fly fishing locations outside of the Black Hills are the Middle Fork of the Powder River and the Big Horn River.  Also really enjoyed fishing for bonefish and permit at Turneffe Flats and fly fishing for northern pike in Canada.    Life Member of the Black Hills Fly Fishers and member of the board since 1993.  I am really proud of all the conservation work that we have accomplished in the Black Hills.  We have truly made a difference.  That is probably the main reason why I continue to stay involved as a board member. 

 

 

 

 

Harold Fenhaus

Harrold was born and raised in South Dakota, growing up in the beautiful Black Hills. He started fly fishing in his early 50s after receive a new fly rod as a birthday gift from his wife. His first experience catching a trout on a fly rod was with legendary fly angler Don Polovich. The friendship and adventures hooked Harrold on the sport from that moment on. Harrold is involved in the Black Hills Fly Fishers to promote the sport to younger anglers as well as to preserve our waters and fisheries. Black Hill Fly Fishers has proven what a small group can accomplish. Harrold dreams of adding big fish to his catch list: a 30” trout, 20 pound carp, golden trout, red fish and rooster fish. The tug is the drug.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marcus Bevier

Marcus and his family currently call Belle Fourche, South Dakota their home. It's a community he grew up in and truly loves. Marcus was brought back to Belle Fourche because of my current job as a non-profit executive who operates a program focused on comprehensive child development services for families in need. As far as fly fishing is concerned, he’s always enjoyed the idea of fly fishing and the romanticism that sometimes surrounds it (A River Runs Through It?!). At its core, though, problem solving got him hooked on fly fishing and making his own flies. The river and flies used are ever-changing and require good problem solving skills in order to be successful. Of course, he just likes catching fish, too. Can you blame him?
Despite all of his fishing adventures Marcus’s fondest fishing memory to date is watching his wife and kids catch their first fish on the fly. They had no idea how much that moment actually meant. Like all of us, Marcus still dreams of catching exotic species in far off places. The giant arapaima is one species that sits on his bucket list. If it’s a location…Marcus will be booking a ticket to Kamchatka as soon as he can.
The sense of community is what Marcus appreciates most about the BHFF and the camaraderie it creates amongst fly anglers. He is a staunch advocate for our mission in making certain that the prized waters of the Black Hills remain pristine for future generations. His work on stream restoration projects and expanding fishing access for individuals have proven to be a worthy time commitment for him.

 

 

 


Buddy Seiner

Buddy is a self-employed communications consultant from Pierre, S.D.  He grew up fantasizing about catching fish on a fly rod, but never had a mentor to show him the way.  His progression to the sport was an evolution; moving from salmon eggs, to spoons, to gift shop fly boxes.  The first day he dragged an adult adams behind a clear float on Sylvan Lake resulted in so many fish to hand that it drew a crowd of curious tourists asking an oblivious kid about all his secrets.  Not long after this discovery, his uncle gifted him a fly rod combo which he used to practice his techniques on picky brown trout in bear butte creek.  His passion for the Black Hills and her fisheries are what ultimately attracted him to the Black Hills Fly Fishers organization.  When the majority of its members believed his lies, he knew it was the right place for him to serve.   Buddy coaches youth athletics, and volunteers on the board of directors for four different organizations.  His favorite pastimes include fishing with his 14 year old golden retriever, swimming in the clean waters of Lake Oahe with his kids, chasing wild ringnecks along the breaks of the Missouri River, and playing pickleball with the local club. Buddy is also a fly fishing educator and fly tying instructor.  As an aquatic education contractor for South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks, he is able to pursue his passion for fisheries education and advocacy.  He is also the founder of the Fish Stories Archive at fishstories.org where he records angler voices and preserves them in the vault for future generations.

Jeff Olson

Jeff Olson (or Ole as some of his friends call him) was born and raised in the Black Hills.  He spent many mornings as a child watching the sun rise on Pactola or Sheridan lake fishing for trout.  Ole’s grandfather was an avid cowbell fisherman.  He drove a huge Lincoln with an 8 horse outboard in the trunk and row boat on a rack on top of the car.  The night before each trip included digging for worms which they had down to quite an art.  That is where his love of fishing started.  Ole found fly fishing fairly late in life.  In 1991 he had a major accident that ended his first true passion....snow skiing.   While immobile for many months, Ole taught himself to tie flies and eventually became active with the Black Hills Fly Fishers.   Ole has been very fortunate to fish in many far away locations during his career, but nothing has compared to his love for Black Hills waterways.  His passion to protect them runs strong.  The BHFF has been a very strong advocate and he is glad to be part of this great club.   Ole took over his grandfathers dental practice in 1988 and has been a practicing dentist (still hasn’t perfected it) for 34 years.  His wife of 28 years supports his habits and is often disappointed when he come home early from a trip.  He has two adult children, both who fish but one who is very passionate about it and a life member of our club.   She is in Hawaii for a 4 year residency and is very much struggling with the lack of fly fishing and can not wait to move back to the Black Hills for all the obvious reasons.

 

 

 

 

Evan Walterman, Secretary

Originally from Minnesota, Evan moved to the Black Hills after graduating from SDSU in 2015 - drawn to Rapid City by the outdoor recreation opportunities in the Black Hills and vast amount of public lands nearby. Shortly after moving to Rapid City Evan was introduced to fly fishing through a friend. It didn’t take long for fly fishing to jump to the top of his list for weekend activities, exploring the abundance of fishing opportunities in the hills. Aside from fly fishing, Evan is an enthusiast of pretty much anything outdoors. He shares his free time with mountain biking, bikepacking, camping and Jeeping around the Black Hills.

Now a father of two, Evan has still made Black Hills Fly Fishers a priority as he wants to ensure his boys and future generations have the same chance to enjoy the outdoors and fishing the picturesque streams of the Black Hills as he has been able to.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike Lees 

Hans Stephenson 

Jarrod Reisner, Treasurer 

Get in touch with our board members via email at blackhillsflyfishers@gmail.com