CLACKAMAS, Ore. – A volunteer fishing instructor with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has been named the winner of a nationwide contest aimed at recruiting anglers and conserving America’s aquatic resources.

Mitch Webb, 45, of Canby will receive an all-expenses paid trip to Miami, Florida Feb. 12-14 for submitting the winning entry in the Anglers Legacy/World Fishing network essay contest.

The essay contest was sponsored by the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation, a non-profit organization whose mission is to increase participation in recreational angling and boating.

As the grand prize winner, Webb will star in a television spot that will air on the World Fishing Network, which airs worldwide over the Dish Network.

As an ODFW volunteer fishing instructor for the past two years, Webb has been instrumental in helping hundreds of children catch their first fish, largely through his efforts as a steward and volunteer at Canby Pond, and also at free fishing clinics and other events throughout northwest Oregon. Webb spearheaded a cooperative effort between ODFW and the City of Canby to restore the pond and turn it into a popular trout fishery for youths and persons with disabilities. Last year Webb put in more than 250 volunteer hours at the pond teaching hundreds of kids how to fish. This experience was the topic of his essay, which was selected on the basis of passion, creativity and commitment to the RBFF mission.

In addition to his work at Canby Pond, Webb enjoys taking returning combat veterans on steelhead fishing trips on the Deschutes River. He is also a well-known figure on the popular fishing website ifish.net, where he offers encouragement and advice to all kinds of anglers.