The Fly Fishing Hall of Fame

Arnold Gingrich, Founder of Esquire Magazine, used his power of pen to immortalize noted anglers of the Catskills and preserved an era of its angling history.

American rod builders who advanced the craft of bamboo rod making to high art and established the US as the premiere maker of refined cane rods.

Steve Raymond was was a charter member of the Federation of Fly Fishermen, editor of its magazine, The Flyfisher, and an honorary life member of Fly Fishing International. 

Charles Meck was an author, innovator, and fly designer of national importance. He was a member of the Outdoor Writers Association and PA Outdoor Writers Associations when inducted into the Pennsylvania Fly Fishing Hall of Fame, joining many of luminaries such as George Harvey, Joe Humphries and Charlie Fox.

Artist, author, gear designer, Angling Director for the Countryside Alliance, accredited fly casting instructor, educator and, competition angler - Charles Jardine has devoted his life to furthering the sport of fly fishing.

Known as one of the greatest baseball players of all time, Ted Williams was also one of the most influential spokespeople for fly fishing influencing millions of people to take up the sport.

Paul Bruun has experience in almost every facet of the fly fishing industry. A guide, writer, equipment designer, and historian, Bruun has also influenced legislation as an advisor for the expansion of the Dingell-Johnson Aid to Sport Fishing Act.

Dave Brandt was an acknowledged master of Catskill style flies. He was a noted inventor, conservationist, and an instructor at the Wulff’s world-famous fly-fishing school for more than 30 years.

Legendary bamboo rod maker, Bob Taylor, built bamboo rods for Leonard as well as Thomas & Thomas.

Nathaniel Reed was among the architects of the Environmental Protection Act, the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act, and was instrumental in organizing the first Earth Day. 

Fran Verdoliva, Jr. was responsible for the first "fly fishing only" section on public water in New York in 1989, the first dam removal project on any Lake Ontario tributary, and became a specialist with DEC, leading to his work with the hatchery at Altmar. 

Born in 1630, Cotton is honored for his contributions to Izaak Walton’s famed book, The Compleat Angler.

Vernon S. “Pete” Hidy was a fly-fishing writer, editor, photographer, conservationist, and innovative fly tyer who campaigned tirelessly for James E. Leisenring’s place in the fly-fishing pantheon.

Steve Rajeff’s tournament casting accomplishments to date (2017) include 45-time Grand All-Around Champion of the American Casting Association, and 14-time World Casting Champion. 

A meticulous craftsman, artist, fly tying historian, fanatical collector and the ultimate perfectionist.

Ted was a tireless volunteer for many fishing and conservation organizations, including The Anglers Club of New York, The Federation of Fly Fishers, Washington Fly Fishers, and the Catskill Fly Fishing Center & Museum.

Bill Elliott is among the world’s premier wildlife artists. His vivid paintings, full of action and light, capture the beauty of wild animals and fish.

John Gierach is the most popular fly fishing author of his era. A gifted writer and keen observer, his essays are beloved for their wry humor, irreverent wisdom and unapologetic devotion to fly fishing as a way of life.

Gowdy was a tireless advocate for sportsmanship and the protection of fish and fish habitat. He was a founding member of Bonefish and Tarpon Unlimited, the chairman of the American League of Anglers and a trustee of the International Game Fish Association.

In 1958, Ritz founded the International Fario Club in Paris. The club went on to establish an annual award in his memory, the Prix Charles Ritz, which is bestowed upon on individuals and organizations that work for the protection and restoration of wild trout and salmon habitat.

Living as he does in Seaside Park, New Jersey, a small town on a slim barrier island with Barnegat Bay on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other, it’s no surprise that Bob Popovics is a die-hard saltwater fly-fisher.

As the editor of The Fishing Gazette in London from 1878 through 1927, R.B. Marston published the insights, experiences and expertise of the leading anglers of the day, chronicling such developments as the rise of the dry fly in Great Britain and the United States.

Paul Schullery, fly-fishing’s preeminent historian, has been a pioneer of the study of the cultural foundations of our sport and the values upon which it depends.

No person is more closely associated with streamer fly-fishing than Joseph D. Bates, Jr.

A.J. Campbell grew up fishing trout streams in Vermont and New Hampshire.

“Rusty” was a conservationist, fly-fisherman, and author. But, he may be best known as a tireless champion for environmental justice.

In the late 1970’s Paul could be found collecting aquatic insects along any Catskill stream, or off the grills of cars in parking lots or from storefront windows.

Joseph Humphreys is a nationally known fly fisherman, conservationist, author, and educator. He has been a fishing instructor to anyone who wants to learn the sport, including VIPs, for over 45 years.

Tom McGuane is one of America’s most distinguished essayists and writers, who has written extensively on fly fishing.

In 1926, Paul Young’s rod designs would change the future of bamboo rods. He developed a unique line of shorter, lighter and thinner rods.

A student of Joe Brooks and a pioneer in saltwater fly-fishing, Stu Apte has held 44 saltwater records, some of which still stand. He has fished every corner of the world from Islamorada to Iceland and everywhere in between.

Larry Solomon, with Eric Leiser in 1977, wrote The Caddis and the Angler. This groundbreaking book proved to be the forerunner of many books on caddis flies and continues to serve as a reference on the topic.

Joe Brooks, the acknowledged dean of international outdoor writing, fly fished every corner of the world.

As an angling student, George Parker Holden followed the writings of Thaddeus Norris on American angling. In 1919 Holden penned his first book, Streamcraft.

Ed Shenk is best known for his many contributions to fly fishing centered on the LeTort Creek in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

Back in the 1800s, American fly anglers had to purchase fishing flies from Great Britain. That changed when Carrie Frost opened the doors of her C.J. Frost Fishing Tackle Manufacturing Company in 1886.

Roderick Haig-Brown (1908-1976) was an English-born, naturalist, fly fisher, author, philosopher, magistrate, educator and ardent conservationist.

In 1971, this dynamic duo turned the fly fishing world on its collective hare’s ear by marrying the science of entomology with fly-tying in the book Selective Trout.

Pennsylvania natives Barry and Cathy Beck are the husband and wife photojournalist team that exemplifies the best of the old and the new world of fly fishing.

John Alden Knight (1890-1966) was a banker, syndicated writer, fly-tier, hunter, naturalist, casting expert, angling filmmaker and developer of the Solunar Tables.

A talented artist and fly fisher, Louis Rhead came to America in 1883 from Staffordshire England. Rhead was widely known for his professional accomplishments in the surrounding NYC art world of the early 1900’s.

One of fly-fishing’s great iconoclasts, he represented the Huck Finn in all of us.

Editor Emeritus of Fly Fisherman Magazine, John Randolph has made world-wide contributions to the sport of fly fishing.

An observer, inquisitor, essayist, teacher, author and piscator, Art Lee is a complete angler. Nobody likes a know-it-all, but everyone loves a great coach.

Considered one of the greatest trout fishermen that ever lived.

Has lifelong contributions in preserving, protecting, and promoting fly fishing.

He has had a major influence on modern fly fishing and fly fisherman over the past 40 years.

Our first living international Hall of Fame inductee. Roman started his fly fishing career as a fly tyer in his native Austria at age 15.

The father of dry fly fishing. Not the inventor, simply the proponent who launched dry fly fishing only as a way of fly fishing life.

Immediately recognized as the inventor of the one of the most unique, innovative, and productive fly pattern styles of all times, The Clouser Minnow.

His unending protection of fishing waters for fly fishermen in New York State. Ed, has secured more public access and special regulation water for fly fishers than any other individual.

He spent many years as an Adirondacks fly fishing advocate, conservationist, instructor, innovative and infamous fly tyer.

s probably best remembered for his “Exit Laughing” column in Field & Stream and his most humorous hunting and fishing books.

Is an artist, author, conservationist, fly tyer, photographer, cold and warm water fly fisherman and professional lecturer.

Organized the first Trout Unlimited on his property in 1959.

He was a co founder, with George Griffith, of Trout Unlimited and the first TU vice president.

Author of the wonderful novella, A River Runs Through It in 1976. It is through this book that we discover a magnificent family story surrounded in the beauty and appreciation of nature and life through fly fishing.

In his book entitled, A Book of Trout Flies, published in 1935 Preston Jennings set the standard of excellence that has measured all subsequent work on fly-fishing entomology.

His book, Classic Rods and Rodmakers, first published in 1976, provided the fly fishing community with the first historical compilation of the rodmakers, their rods, and how to recognize them.

In 1992 Robert Redford brought Norman Maclean’s story to life via the big screen in his movie of the same name, A River Runs Through It.

He is considered the pioneer for northeastern Atlantic in shore fly fishing.

One of the greatest innovators of fly tying. In the 1960’s. Joseph Bates Jr, acknowledged that Keith’s Thunder Creek Flies “are as true to life as artificials can be.”

Co-founder and first president of the Woman Flyfishers Club, the world’s first- organization of the female fly fishers, 1932.

Recognized in tandem, together, they bestowed the fly fishing community with five major fly fishing books.  

Daughter of Charles Orvis, Mary is celebrated to this day as a result of her devotion to the fly by compiling and editing Favorite Flies and Their Histories, first published in 1892.

Fly fishing advocate, innovator, and author.

At 95 years of age, he is recognized as the ‘man behind the scenes in the construction of bamboo rods’.

Pioneer in American Fly Fishing.

Hoagy Bix Carmichael—producer and director of film, television and theater, sometime tap dancer and eldest son of America’s favorite songwriter—is also the author of “A Master’s Guide to Building A Bamboo Fly Rod.”

At the early age of 10 , father, Edward Payne acquainted young Jim Payne with rodbuilding chores at the E. F. Payne Rod Company located at Highland Mills, NY.

H.L. Leonard whose name became legendary to fly fishers of the late 19th century was a wonderfully complex person: tool maker, gunsmith, musician who made his own flutes, hunter, fly fisher, fur trader , inventor, engineer, teacher, businessman

Edmund Everett Garrison was born in Yonkers, New York, in 1893. He had a long rodmaking career, beginning in the early 1930s and continuing until his death in 1975.

Daughter of one of the pre-eminent Catskill fly tying families, Mary Dette is the last of the original Catskill fly tyers.

Carrie Stevens established a style of fly tying that is now fundamental to the sport. A Maine milliner by trade, Carrie G. Stevens turned her hat making skills to fly tying and so developed flies that revolutionized the sport of fly fishing.

With the energy of an army, there wasn’t anything that could hold Joan Stoliar back. She was an accomplished fly fisher and fly tyer.

Helen Shaw learned fly fishing from her father when she was a child in Wisconsin. During her senior year of high school, she was supporting herself as a fly tyer and by age 20, opened a fly tying business in Sheboygan.

Until his death in 1951, James was the towering figure in American wet-fly fishing. “The Skues of America”. An expert toolmaker from Allentown, PA, he fished the Brodheads and the Little Lehigh extensively.

Gary LaFontaine; author, angler and entomologist published in excess of 100 articles on fly fishing and fly tying in more than a dozen different regional and national publications.

In 1969, Fly Fisherman magazine was founded by Don Zahner. The concept for the publication was first introduced to an elite faction of fly fishermen in the back of a van on the banks of Montana’s Madison River.

Bob grew up fishing for native brook trout in the headwaters of New Jersey’s northern streams. He migrated west to Montana in the mid 60’s and became a full time guide in West Yellowstone.

An early all consuming interest in nature guided the young Bill Kelly to his life career in Fisheries Management.

Ray Bergman’s first book, Trout, was in continuous publication for over 50 years from the first release in 1938, making it one of the ten best selling sporting books ever written. It provided an education to many generations of trout fishermen and continues to be a benchmark in fly fishing history.

Stan, the son of a machinist, followed in his fathers footsteps, to become the most recognized reel maker in the past half century.

As Executive Editor of Crown Publications, Nick began the Sportsman’s Classics series which published or republished the backbone of angling authors including Art Flick, Vince Marinaro, and Poul Jorgensen.

Few people, if any, have put forward to the angling community the accomplishments of Ernest Schwiebert.

Eric authored eight books on fly tying, the use and procurement of fly tying materials, and development of specific insect artificials

Frank Smoot was a born conservationist working on the Migratory Game Bird Act in 1928 at the age of 22 and in 1930 became the Youth Conservation Director of the Maryland State Game & Fish Protective Association.

Born in 1811, Norris devoted his life to fly fishing. As a young man, he explored American Waters and pursue the sport of American fly fishing in its infancy.

A prolific writer for numerous publications, author of many books, fly tying innovator, world traveler, industry consultant , fly fishing pro, club and organization advisor, outdoor photographer, public speaker, educator, saltwater fly fishing pioneer, expert fly caster, and simply too many more to list, can only be summarized in one word, “Lefty”.

Poul Jorgensen is considered the greatest fly tyer of all time. Born and raised in Denmark, he came to the United States in the 1960’s and developed a keen interest in fly tying, through his mentor, William Blades.

Acknowledged as the “Dean of American Fly Fishermen”, Sparse wove his magic amongst those who fished the Catskill rivers as well as anglers from afar who could only dream of the experiences he created with his unique ability to put pen on paper.

William A. Chandler a close friend of Theodore Gordon and Roy Steenrod, is best known among anglers today for his refinement of the Light Cahill.

A self taught student in the science of trout behavior and insect life, his campus and laboratory was his home water of the Letort River in Pennsylvania.

Born a coal miner’s son in the Allegheny Mountains of Pennsylvania, George Harvey learned subsistence fishing from his father.

The First Lady of American Angling. For almost seven decades Joan has continually been devoted to the promotion and education in sport of fly fishing.

How to describe Charles Fox? Gentleman, author, fly fisher, conservationist, historian. Try all of the above.

Al McClane has been described as an angling innovator, casting engineer, tackle technician, skilled photographer, and world’s foremost fisherman.

No man had a greater impact on American tackle, lures and fishing tactics than Lee Wulff. He shared his expertise in a lifetime of lectures, publications, film productions, and in later life, at his fly fishing schools with Joan on the Beaverkill.

With the introduction of the European Brown Trout to American waters, George LaBranche is credited as the first American angler to master the art of dry fly fishing to catch these magnificent game fish.

Roy Steenrod was only tying student of Theodore Gordon, whom he often guided and visited. Roy is responsible for passing on the distinctive characteristics of the Catskill dry fly.

Walt and Winnie Dette tied flies from their home along the banks of the Willowemoc Creek from the 30’s until their deaths in the 90’s.

E.R. Hewitt was one of the most extraordinary individuals New York has ever known.. He was a chemist, inventor, innovator and a truly great fisherman.

Harry Darbee learned the art of fly tying by untying the flies of Theodore Gordon, Roy Steenrod, Reuben Cross and Herman Christian. He then taught Elsie Bivins, the woman he soon married.

John McDonald was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1906, but his efforts for the last four decades tend to bring him here, to the cradle of American fly fishing.

Herman Christian was an old-fashioned outdoorsman and backwoodsman best know as a fishing companion of Theodore Gordon.

Inspired by Theodore Gordon in his youth, Reuben Cross studied Gordon’s dry flies and made improvements to increase buoyancy.

Leon Chandler began his career at the Cortland Line Company in 1941, at the age of nineteen. Over the next 50 years, the Cortland Line Company with his guidance, made a significant contribution to the growth of fly fishing through the development of the modern fly line.

Art Flick moved from Kingston, NY to the Catskills in 1941 to take over management of his parents’ hotel, the Westkill Tavern. There, near the banks of the Schoharie Creek, he began a lifelong commitment to stream conservation.

The “Father of American Dry Fly Fishing”, Gordon left the cities for a quieter life near the Neversink River in New York’s Catskills.