About the Honoree
Steve Huff, a revered figure in the angling community and a pioneer in saltwater fly fishing, has been selected as the recipient of the 2025 Izaak Walton Award. This distinguished honor is presented annually to individuals who embody the legacy of conservation and sportsmanship espoused by Izaak Walton, author of The Compleat Angler.
For more than five decades, Steve Huff has set the gold standard in guiding, mentoring, and advocating for ethical angling practices. Widely regarded as one of the most accomplished and respected guides in the history of the sport, Huff has influenced generations of anglers and played a critical role in shaping modern saltwater fly fishing.
The American Museum of Fly Fishing established the Izaak Walton Award in 2014 to honor and celebrate individuals who live by the Compleat Angler philosophy. Their passion for the sport of fly fishing and involvement in their angling community provides inspiration for others and promotes the legacy of leadership for future generations. Past recipients include luminaries Bob Popovics, Guido Rahr, Nancy Zakon, Paul Bruun, Paul Dixon, Flip Pallot, Tom Rosenbauer, Rachel Finn, Jim Klug, James Prosek, Tom Davidson, and Ed Jaworowski.
“Steve Huff is more than a legend—he’s a cornerstone of our sport,” said Gary Grant, president of the American Museum of Fly Fishing. “His unwavering dedication to conservation, his skill on the water, and his generosity in sharing knowledge make him an ideal recipient of the Izaak Walton Award.”
Highlights of the Evening
More than 100 guests gathered at the Key Largo Anglers Club on December 8 for a memorable evening celebrating Steve Huff as the 2025 Izaak Walton Award recipient. The room was filled with friends, colleagues, and fellow anglers, all there to honor Steve’s lifelong commitment to conservation, leadership, and the sport we love.
A highlight of the evening was a panel discussion featuring Paul Bruun, Jason Schratwieser, Nathaniel Linville, and Sandy Moret, as well as Steve’s sons, Dustin and Chad Huff. Through a series of emotional and heartfelt stories, the panel painted a powerful portrait of Steve—not only as a respected leader, but as a deeply honorable person whose influence has shaped people, organizations, and waterways for generations.
The crew at American Saltwater Guides Association provided each guest with an AMFF x ASGA boat box—and one lucky attendee discovered the golden fly inside, winning a day of guided fishing with Mike Holliday. Guests also enjoyed a new collaboration between the Lower Keys Guide Association and Cayo Hueso Brewing: Skinny Water Lager, which was a hit throughout the cocktail reception.
We extend our sincere thanks to the dedicated committee members (Paul Bruun, Mona Brewer, Jim Lepage, David Mangum, Sandy Moret, and Heather Post) who brought the event to life; to our panelists (Paul Bruun, Chad Huff, Dustin Huff, Nathaniel Linville, Sandy Moret, and Jason Schratwieser) for sharing such meaningful stories; to auctioneer Bill Klyn and emcee/AMFF Board President Gardner Grant Jr. for keeping the evening running smoothly; and to the generous donors and enthusiastic bidders who made the auction a success. Their collective support, time, and energy were instrumental in making this celebration both memorable and impactful.
The stories shared, the camaraderie in the room, and the thoughtful details made the night a fitting tribute to Steve Huff and the values embodied by the Izaak Walton Award.
Monte Burke reported on the event in Garden and Gun:
“No one can convince me that I am not the luckiest guy in the world,” said Steve Huff, speaking to a room of 110 people at the Key Largo Anglers’ Club. The American Museum of Fly Fishing had bestowed on him the prestigious Izaak Walton Award, and friends and fans gathered last week to honor the man once described by this magazine as “the best fishing guide alive.” Past recipients of the award—given annually to a member of the angling community who “embodies the legacy of conservation and sportsmanship” left by Walton, the seventeenth-century author of perhaps the most famous fishing book of all time,The Compleat Angler—include Flip Pallot, Tom Rosenbauer, and James Prosek.
. . . “I’m just an old guy who loves to fish,” Huff said as he closed his remarks to a standing ovation. “That’s all I am and all I ever will be.”
And that is—and always will be—more than enough.*
We couldn’t agree more.
More at Gardenandgun.com (All-Stars of Angling Gather to Honor Guide Steve Huff – Garden & Gun)
Photos courtesy of David Mangum
