STEVE RAJEFF

Rajeff has dominated the world of competitive casting for more than 40 years. His abilities and demonstrations are mind-boggling. He holds the national single and two-hand fly distance records at 238 feet and 290 feet, respectively. He also set the two-hand casting plug-casting distance record with a poke of 367 feet using only a 5/8-ounce plug. Rajeff has won 33 national and 14 world all-around championships.

Rajeff has long been a fixture in San Francisco at the Golden Gate Park casting ponds. He has fished intensively for most of his life, including guiding for seven years in Alaska and Montana.

These experiences led him to design breakthrough rods and more than 2,500 rod models as head of engineering for G. Loomis. He has conducted tournament and fly casting lessons and demonstrations in Argentina, Chile, the Bahamas, Russia, South Africa, and many countries across Europe, as well as at sports shows across the United States.

Rajeff's first fish was a rainbow trout from the Tuolumne River in Yosemite National Park. His largest fly-caught fish landed was a tarpon estimated at 180 pounds.

"It is no longer about the most or biggest fish," Rajeff said, "but enjoying the challenges and appreciating beautiful places fishing and casting takes me."