Mike Valla is the author of The Founding Flies, Tying Catskill-Style Dry Flies, Tying and Fishing Bucktails and Other Hair Wings, Tying the Founding Flies, The Classic Streamer Fly Box, and Favorite Flies for the Catskills. Valla is a recipient of the Poul Jorgensen Golden Hook Award and is often invited to speak about fly fishing at local, national, and international fly-fishing events and gatherings. He is a frequent contributor to American Fly Fishing magazine and has published articles in Fly Fisherman, Fly Tyer, and American Fly Fisher. He served on the Board of Directors at the Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum. Valla has been fly-fishing New York State streams, ponds and lakes for well over 50 years. Valla lives in Cambridge, New York.