Anita Arguelles - 2009 Angler of the Year - HOSSFLY - The Historic Ocean Springs Saltwater Flyfishing Club

The Historic Ocean Springs Saltwater Fly Fishing Club (HOSSFLY) held its annual banquet Saturday night, January 30 at the Rose Farm Manor, including the announcement of the organization’s annual awards. For the first time in the Club’s history a woman, Anita Arquelles, was honored with the top award, the prestigious “HOSSFLY Angler of the Year” trophy.

In presenting this honor, HOSSFLY Leader Syd Smith said, "It is my great pleasure to present the HOSSFLY annual award of “Angler of the Year” to the HOSSFLY member who best exemplifies the attributes we all find admirable in a fly fisher. This year's award goes to an individual who has been a leader for HOSSFLY for years during the hard times after Katrina and through the good times including guiding us through our event last April during which we doubled our membership. This individual is an avid and accomplished fly fisher and strong supporter of all activities of HOSSFLY as well as being active in the Gulf Coast Council of the Federation. It is my great pleasure to present this award to its most deserving recipient, Anita Arguelles."

Upon receiving the Club’s top honor, the shocked Arguelles said, “Eighteen years ago I started fly fishing in cold water streams and tail waters. In the shift of taking the knowledge obtained from fishing coldwater streams to the vast salt waters, I have been very fortunate to have received education along with support and encouragement from my HOSSFly fly fishing family of friends and mentors, male and female alike. Without them, I would still be whipping the saltwater, hoping for a bite. I owe them a debt of gratitude.” Among Arquelles accomplishments on the water this last year was the landing of a 30-pound drum on a fly rod out on one of the local barrier islands.

Mike & Anita with her 30.5-lb black drum

Anita Arguelles is the recently named Director of the IP/Viking Culinary Arts Café at the Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Center in Ocean Springs. She is married to marine contractor Mike Arguelles, and has a daughter Madison, an architecture student at Mississippi State.

The Historic Ocean Springs Saltwater Fly Fishing Club is dedicated to enjoying and promoting fly fishing on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Monthly HOSSFLY meetings are dedicated to camaraderie, learning and improving skills. The group organizes local and national fishing trips, classes for fly tying, casting clinics, and a variety of other activities. Annual dues are only $15.00 for an individual or family. Guests are always welcome at the regular monthly meetings on the second Wednesday of each month at the Ocean Springs Yacht Club on Front Beach near the bay bridge in Ocean Springs. There's an informal happy hour that begins at about 5:00 pm and the meeting kicks off at 6:00.

The 2010 HOSSFLY Officers, introduced at the banquet, are President Mike Sharpe, Vice President Keith Thompson, Secretary Spence Boyd and Treasurer Dennis Craig. Don Abrams serves as Conservation and Science Officer, with input from Tom Herrington, and Duke Sutherland edits the monthly newsletter, the Tippet. Other honors presented at the banquet were the “Founder’s Award” to Ellen Miller, the “Leader’s Gratitude Award” to Helen & Bob Effinger, and a special “Appreciation Award” to Helen Effinger. For more information on HOSSFLY, access the Club’s web-site at www.hossfly.org.