Journal of the American Museum of Fly Fishing
The American Fly Fisher Journal of the American Museum of Fly Fishing
FALL 2013 VOLUME 39 NUMBER 4 For the Record CATCH AND RELEASE THE SPIRIT OF FLY FISHING
Our Mission: The American Museum of Fly Fishing is the steward of the history, traditions, and practices of the sport of fly fishing and promotes the conservation of its waters. The museum collects, preserves, exhibits, studies, and interprets the artifacts, art, and literature of the sport and uses these resources to engage, educate, and benefit all.
FRIENDS OF THE MUSEUM E. M. Bakwin Thomas Belk Jr. Harold Brewer A. S. Cargill Gary Grant Atlantic salmon by Timothy Knepp. Courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Melvyn Harris WO-ART-40-CDKnepp1. http://digitalmedia.fws.gov/cdm/singleitem/collection Tim Hixon /natdiglib/id/2334/rec/5. Accessed 25 September 2013. James Houghton Peter Kellogg Charles Lee Jr. ACK WHEN WE were preparing our this year’s Fly-Fishing Festival (page 24), Stephen Myers Graceful Rise exhibit and putting held on a beautiful August day. The festival Joseph R. Perella Btogether an issue (Fall 2011) that is an excellent opportunity for me to chat Walter Shipley showcased the women anglers featured in with authors, potential authors, members, John Taylor that exhibit, Fred Buller was already hard at and potential members. There’s ample work on his own project: an article about opportunity for everyone to learn about fly female Atlantic salmon record holders. tying, casting, and the missions of fly-fish- STAFF “Having just devoted much space to lady ing organizations. Meanwhile, talented Catherine E. Comar anglers in your current journal with ‘The artists, artisans, and discerning collectors Executive Director Women of A Graceful Rise,’ I expect my tempt us with art, antiques, books, and enclosure will come as a bit of a shock,” he fishing gear. Please join us next year! Yoshi Akiyama wrote a few weeks later. On September 18, Leon L. Martuch Deputy Director That enclosure included photos, descrip - received the American Museum of Fly Christina Cole tions of fish, stories of catches, and his own Fishing’s prestigious 2013 Heritage Award Coordinator of Events charted list. “There is no question that ladies at a dinner in New York City. Martuch, have figured prominently in the catching of working with his father, Leon P. Martuch, Sarah Foster large Atlantic salmon,” he begins. “Indeed, at Scientific Anglers, developed, produced, Development Assistant all seasoned salmon anglers are aware that a and patented fly-fishing equipment inno- Laura Napolitano lady holds the British record for a rod- vations that revolutionized the sport. For Coordinator of Membership caught salmon at 64 pounds. Another more on this event, see page 22. Patricia Russell landed the largest fly-caught salmon at 63 In looking ahead, the museum hopes to Account Manager pounds, and yet another the largest spring- not only conserve fly-fishing artifacts and caught fish at 59 pounds.” Buller features history, but also document the history of Sara Wilcox these catches and more, noting women’s conservation. Executive Director Cathi Director of Visual Communication accomplishments from the late nineteenth Comar details some of the plans for our century through the early twenty-first. This conservation initiative in “A Game Fish Is THE AMERICAN FLY FISHER lengthy feature is a welcome addition to our Too Valuable a Resource to Catch Just Kathleen Achor catalog of female anglers of note. “A List of Once,” found on the inside back cover. Editor Large Atlantic Salmon Landed by the Go on, now. Take a look at some of these Ladies” begins on page 2. big salmon. Sara Wilcox Here at the museum, we’ve been our reg- Design & Production ularly busy selves, hosting summer events KATHLEEN ACHOR Sarah May Clarkson (see Museum News, page 26), including EDITOR Copy Editor TRUSTEES Michael Bakwin Bradford Mills Foster Bam David Nichols Pamela Bates Erik R. Oken Jane Cooke Stephen M. Peet Peter Corbin Leigh H. Perkins Deborah Pratt Dawson Frederick S. Polhemus E. Bruce DiDonato, MD John Rano Patrick Ford Roger Riccardi Ronald Gard Eric W. Roberts George R. Gibson III Kristoph J. Rollenhagen James Heckman, MD Philip Sawyer Arthur Kaemmer, MD Franklin D. Schurz Jr. Journal of the American Museum of Fly Fishing Karen Kaplan Robert G. Scott Woods King III Gary J. Sherman, DPM FALL 2013 VOLUME 39 NUMBER 4 William P. Leary III Ronald B. Stuckey Christopher P. Mahan Richard G. Tisch A List of Large Atlantic Salmon Landed by the Ladies ...2 Walter T. Matia David H. Walsh Frederick Buller John R. McMahon Andrew Ward William C. McMaster, MD James C. Woods Leon L. Martuch Receives 2013 Heritage Award ...... 22 Peter Millett, MD Nancy W. Zakon Fly-Fishing Festival ...... 24
TRUSTEES EMERITI Museum News ...... 26 Charles R. Eichel Contributor ...... 28 James Hardman William Herrick ON THE COVER: Lettice Ward with a 50-pound salmon, caught with a 4/0 David B. Ledlie Kate Fly in the Alderns Stream, River Tay, on 12 October 1928. Photograph Leon L. Martuch courtesy of Kinnaird House, Dunkeld, Perthshire. Paul Schullery
OFFICERS David H. Walsh We welcome contributions to the American Fly Fisher. Before making a submission, please review our Contrib utor’s Guidelines on our website (www.amff.com), or Chairman of the Board write to request a copy. The museum cannot accept responsibility for statements and James Heckman, MD interpretations that are wholly the author’s. President Gary J. Sherman, DPM Vice President The American Fly Fisher (ISSN 0884-3562) is published four times a year by the museum at P.O. Box 42, Manchester, Vermont 05254. Publication dates are winter, spring, summer, and fall. Membership dues include the cost of the journal Richard G. Tisch ($50) and are tax deductible as provided for by law. Membership rates are listed in the back of each issue. All letters, man- Vice President uscripts, photographs, and materials intended for publication in the journal should be sent to the museum. The muse- um and journal are not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, drawings, photographic material, or memorabilia. The James C. Woods museum cannot accept responsibility for statements and interpretations that are wholly the author’s. Unsolicited manu- Secretary scripts cannot be returned unless postage is provided. Contributions to The American Fly Fisher are to be considered gra- tuitous and the property of the museum unless otherwise requested by the contributor. Copyright © 2013, The American Charles R. Eichel Museum of Fly Fishing, Manchester, Vermont 05254. Original material appearing may not be reprinted without prior per- mission. Periodical postage paid at Manchester, Vermont 05254; Manchester, Vermont 05255; and additional offices (USPS Clerk 057410). The American Fly Fisher (ISSN 0884-3562) EMAIL: [email protected] WEBSITE: www.amff.com Philip Sawyer POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Treasurer The American Fly Fisher P.O. Box 42 Manchester, Vermont 05254 JUNIOR COMMITTEE Parker Corbin Bailey Hallingby space for FSC info Woods King IV Alexander Kinsey Casey Knoll John Neukom Albert Nichols David E. Nichols Jr. Ben Pastor Jason M. Scott Jeff Yates A List of Large Atlantic Salmon Landed by the Ladies by Frederick Buller
Lady Helen Bridge, who caught a 43-pound salmon c. 1890. From The Badminton Magazine of Sports and Pastimes, vol. XIV (London: William Heinemann, 1902), 600. Photo by F. C. Burnham.
HERE IS NO QUESTION that ladies trating efforts on those rivers that are licenses to fish for salmon in England have figured prominently in the known to have runs of them. To compare were scrutinized—but if the ratio of 200 Tcatching of large Atlantic salmon. the performances of male and female to 1 is correct, the performance of the Indeed, all seasoned salmon anglers are salmon anglers, we have to take account ladies is quite astonishing. aware that a lady holds the British record of the total number of men and women How has this come about? Before for a rod-caught salmon at 64 pounds. practicing the art. The only figures that I launching into the list, it may be helpful Another landed the largest fly-caught have been able to find are those given on to look at what I believe could be possi- salmon at 63 pounds, and yet another the page 87 of Jack Charlton and Tony ble explanations for the results that lady largest spring-caught fish at 59 pounds. Francis’s book Salmon Run (Stanley Paul, salmon anglers have achieved during the All these catches and more feature in this 1992), where the authors state: “There’s last hundred or so years. incomplete roundup of large salmon only one woman for every 200 male The success of lady anglers has at - landed by the ladies. salmon anglers.”1 I don’t know how this tracted the attention of some of our Nobody can deliberately set out to figure was obtained—I can only guess best-known angling writers. One of catch big salmon other than by concen- that the statistics for the sale of game them, D. G. F. Rudd, better known as
2THE AMERICAN FLY FISHER Jock Scott, made mention of it in his infinitely detailed masterpiece Game Fish Records (Witherby, 1936). After docu- menting the extraordinary one-day bag of fish—twenty-six salmon and one sea trout—taken by Lady Joan Joicey on the Tweed on 15 February 1935, he wrote: Incidentally, I have often wondered why ladies prove to be so exceptionally suc- cessful at salmon fishing. Curiously enough, their achievements in the sphere of trout fishing have been— comparatively—small. The ordinary onlooker would be inclined to think that trout fishing, requiring as it does great delicacy of touch and “good hands,” would be the sport in which the ladies would excel. Salmon fishing cer- tainly requires more brute force, and here one would imagine that the mere male would score; but not a bit of it! Recently, however, I discussed this point with a successful lady angler, and her opinion was illuminating. “Salmon fishing is more simple and straightforward than trout fishing,” she said. “I don’t think many women would be bothered to go in for trouting, it is too finicky—dry fly especially is exas- perating, and I really don’t believe the average woman has enough patience or love of detail. You see, trouting means a great deal of attention to detail— weather, flies, drag and so on—and men seem to revel in that. Women don’t; they like to get on with the job!” This may, or may not, be the reason, possibly some ladies may consider it a libel on the sex; but the hard fact Florence Miller with one of the 20-pound-plus salmon she caught on the Tay in 1987. remains—feminine anglers hold far She is standing by Big Shott Pool at Stanley. Photograph courtesy of Frederick Buller. more salmon than trout records. The same lady angler goes farther; she believes that women are too heavy- the same title.4 In that chapter, before and usually she would be outnumbered handed for success with trout. facing up to the business of whether five to one—ever caught a 30-pounder. “The average woman has not got pheromones play a part in the proceed- Once, on a nothing-happening day, good hands; she always wants to use ings—at the time, pheromones provoked when I was in the company of Gordon strength. If I got a hook in my finger, I Lessinger, her boatman for many years, a great volume of discussion and com- on Junction Pool at Kelso, I sought an should never ask a woman to get it out if ment among salmon fishers and anglers there was a man anywhere about—he explanation for Mrs. Miller’s extraordi- would do it much more gently. That is at large—it seemed apposite to comment nary success, and it was his answers to why salmon fishing suits most women; on my experience of fishing with one my questions that helped me form my they can put their strength into it with- exceptional lady salmon fisher. Here is own view on the subject. It is this. out disastrous results. I’m quite sure that what I had to say (pages 170–72), with a An intelligent woman at the start of women like to use force in whatever they few minor changes to bring it up to date. her salmon-fishing career literally re - do. The best dry-fly fisher I know is an sponds to the directives of her boatman extremely strong man, and the delicacy For some twenty years, I was privileged or gillie—in other words, he is the one of his touch is simply wonderful—I to fish regularly in the company of who is fishing (and who better?), where- possess only a tiny part of his strength, James and Florence Miller, who con- as she is the one who is holding the rod. but I am always breaking 4x points trolled excellent beats on the Tay and Finding this, allied to female persistence, when I strike. Give me a salmon rod the Tweed. During this period, I wit- to be a most successful stratagem, she is and I feel at home.”2 nessed the surprising consistency of wise enough to keep her own counsel. Florence Miller’s salmon catches, inso- From this point onwards, without any Realizing he had got himself into deep far as the species allows any fisher qualms or resentment, she takes direc- water, Jock Scott added: “And now, hav- unbroken success. tives from the most knowledgeable ing, I suppose, embroiled myself in trou- In just over two decades of fishing angler—the gillie—on any beat she may ble, I had better return to the records!”3 nine rivers, Mrs. Miller caught 1,033 fish, and she will carry on with this poli- In my book Angling: The Solitary Vice fish, most of which were returned alive cy until her knowledge of each beat will since it was the Millers’ policy to return be second only to his. (Coch-y-Bonddu Books, Machynlleth, all hen fish after the end of April. The Most men, on the other hand, have a 2000), I had the temerity to write a chap- four biggest weighed 30 pounds, 30½ problem with this approach because, ter titled “Salmon and Women,” both pounds, 31½ pounds, and 32½ pounds. unlike women, they believe that there is because of my interest in the subject and Although the beats were shared gener- more to fishing than catching fish. A man because I wished to discuss a book with ously, no male angler in her company— who lets his dignity rule his relationship
FALL 2013 3 with his gillie, which results in his 2¼ pounds, and my largest, 32 pounds, of his skills, told me that between the neglecting to learn all there is to learn for example, were both caught on medi- two world wars it used to be the practice from him—remember that a gillie may um-sized flies. of many Czech fishermen, before start- have spent years, or even a lifetime, on The best chance of catching a big ing to fish, to rub their hands in the one beat—is no match for a woman. It salmon is to fish rivers that produce nearest cowpat; were they on to some- follows that when an intelligent man has them, but once you start fishing, the thing? By the same token, does the use spent as much time on a beat as a gillie— size of the salmon you catch (if any) is of pilchard oil as a bait-additive succeed and that could be an awful lot of time— in the lap of the gods. While still in the because it works as a kind of barrier he can be as good as a woman. A. H. E. lap of the gods, the picture, if you are a cream or prophylactic so as to mask the Wood, Arthur Hutton, Robert Pashly, woman fisher, is somewhat rosier effect of human pheromones? John Ashley-Cooper, and Richard Wad- because of your pheromones. Maybe one day, while rejecting cow- dington are prime examples. Peter Behan, who is professor of clin- pats and pilchard oil, will the men who Aside from salmon fishing, and one ical neurology at the University of wish to feature among the records be other notable exception, nobody claims Glasgow, argues persuasively, in Salmon wearing rubber gloves, or will they be that women are more successful than and Women, that when the odor (specif- rubbing their hands in essence of female men when other species are exclusively ically, chemical messengers or phero - pheromones taken from pots that are the quarry. The other exception is mones) given off by a human male is readily available from tackle shops? musky fishing in North America. Is detected by salmon, it signals danger. He there a link? Like salmon fishing, most offers the well-proven example of a man Before moving onto the pages delin- of the clients for the cream of the fish- being able to stop a run of fish through eating huge salmon caught by ladies, I ing, be they men or women, hire profes- a salmon ladder for up to twenty min- sional guides or gillies! utes just by putting his hands in the will draw the reader’s attention to the My argument may indicate why water at the head of the ladder. A lady differences of attitude between men and Florence Miller and others like her, putting her hands in has no such effect. lady anglers insofar as their responses to although representing only a tiny The odor of a woman, and we have to the triumph of landing a big fish. minority of salmon anglers, catch so bear in mind that fish possess an almost Colonel North Dalrymple-Hamilton many fish, but it doesn’t tell us why they incredible chemosensory acuity, may made a habit of catching huge salmon: often catch so many of the biggest fish. affect the salmon’s, especially a male four larger than 50 pounds on a fly. This Let’s consider the problem. Unlike salmon’s, taking pattern to the extent one, shown at left—a beautifully propor- other kinds of anglers who, if clever that it is to her advantage. tioned fresh-run fish that would be every enough, can set out to catch large fish of The great Czech fisherman and mas- salmon angler’s dream to catch—was a chosen kind, salmon fishermen are ter rod-builder Robert Myslik, so ad - not able to use methods, tackles, or mired by clients that they formed an taken on a 3/0 Red Jock Fly at Vina Gore lures that select bigger fish; my smallest, International Myslik Rod Club in praise on Norway’s Alten River on 7 July 1926. It weighed 52 pounds. Strangely, the colonel does not look very happy in this photograph. Indeed, he looked decidedly unhappy every time he was photographed with a heavy fish. Retired Oxford general medical practi- tioner Roy Flury, who has much Norwegian salmon-fishing experience and who provided both the photograph and the details of the colonel’s catch, reckoned that in those days (the 1920s), it was considered bad form to smile at a camera—at least, it was for men. !
ENDNOTES
1.The only other published numbers that I know of cover brown trout, sea trout, and grayling as well as salmon, and are to be found in Judith Milner’s book The Woman’s Guide to Angling (Stoke Abbott, U.K.: Thomas Harmsworth, 1993). The author claims that “currently women make up only nine per cent of all anglers” (p. 129). 2. Jock Scott, Game Fish Records (Lon - don: H. F. & G. Witherby Ltd., 1936), 212–13. 3. Ibid., 213. 4.Wilma Paterson and Professor Peter Behan, Salmon and Women (London: H. F. & G. Witherby, 1990). Some three-quarters of the book was compiled by Wilma Paterson and is a clinical account of the data relating to record fish and of big catches by women anglers, Compare Colonel North Dalrymple-Hamilton’s expression with the smiles of Florence made more digestible by delightfully written Miller (page 3) and Mollie Fitzgerald (page 5). Photograph courtesy of Roy Flury. vignettes of the fisherwomen themselves.
4THE AMERICAN FLY FISHER MOLLIE FITZGERALD’S 54- POUND ALTEN RIVER SALMON
Mollie Fitzgerald, one of the co-owners of Frontiers, a company that specializes in arranging game-fishing trips to almost every continent, caught a 54-pounder on Norway’s Alten River on 28 June 2008. The fish took a 1½-inch Mikkeli Blue Fly while on the dangle in high water and went down a set of rapids before being landed forty- five minutes later.
Fitzgerald introduces a novel way of holding a big fish, cradling it on her knees, and she manages to convey to any onlooker how pleased she is with her catch. Photograph courtesy of Frontiers Sporting Travel Agents.
SHIRLEY DETERDING’S 51- POUND ALTEN RIVER SALMON
Shirley Deterding is an outstanding sportswoman and a member of a well- known fishing and shooting family from Holne-next-the-Sea, Norfolk. In August 2006, she caught a huge salmon on an Olive Phantom Fly, taking it from Langstilla Pool on the Stengelsen beat.
Shirley Deterding with her boatman, Paul Kristian Olausen, and her big fish. Photograph courtesy of Shirley Deterding and the Alta River Association.
FALL 2013 5 BODIL REITAN’S 41-POUND ORKLA SALMON
Bodil Reitan caught a 41-pound salmon on the Midre beat on Norway’s lower Orkla River in 2005. During the struggle with the fish, her rod broke. This information, together with the photograph of her fish, was sent to me by David Hatwell, who had been in contact with Bjørn Riise, his infor- mant in Norway. David Hatwell has helped me to collect and organize data in both vol- umes of The Domesday Book of Giant Salmon (Lon don: Constable, 2007 and 2010). The method used to catch the fish was not specified, but the spoon bait hanging beside the fish may indicate that she was spinning when she hooked the fish. No date of capture was supplied, but judging by its color, it was a summer- or autumn- caught fish. MARGARET BULLER’S 27- POUND TWEED SALMON
Michael Miller wrote to me on 9 February 2004 on behalf of the owners of Scotland’s most famous salmon beat—the Junction beat on the River Tweed—to say that the heaviest fish of the 2003 season had been caught by Margaret Buller. She caught it on a size 4 Junction Shrimp Fly, tied by its inventor, Gavin Brown (who is a boat- man on the Junction beat), while fishing as a guest of the late Alan Lane. Buller is a seasoned angler who has an 8¼-pound brown trout to her credit, which she caught on Lough Mask on 4 June 1986. For ten years, she regularly fished the formi- dable Lough Corrib in a boat—on her own.
Bodil Reitan and her 41-pound salmon. Photograph and details sent by Bjørn Riise to David Hatwell for publication in Giant Salmon, Volume 3.
The background is familiar to all those who have had the privilege of fishing the Junction Pool. Margaret Buller’s was one of those renowned specimens that are a feature of the River Tweed: a late-run sea-liced fish! Photograph courtesy of Gavin Brown, her Junction Pool boatman, inventor of the Junction Shrimp Fly.
6THE AMERICAN FLY FISHER LILLA ROWCLIFFE’S 45-POUND, 6-OUNCE RIVER SPEY SALMON
Lilla Rowcliffe caught her big Spey my knot would break at any moment. salmon when she was spinning with a After some time the gillie came near to yellow-green Devon minnow on the me and suggested I play the fish harder, Delagyle beat at Aberlour. as I seemed to be taking so long. I told I believe that her account of the battle him I was nervous about my bad knot. In my total ignorance I did the right with the fish, which was published in thing for the wrong reasons. The fish Arthur Oglesby’s and Lucy Money- literally pulled me very slowly upstream Coutts’s The Big Fish (Robinson, 1992), is with a steady pull, never showing. One very well written and reveals the pure hour later, the fish had reached a pool hunting spirit of a woman who repeat- before a long shallower run. I was again edly rejected advice to be harder on the advised to be harder on the fish. I pre- fish she was playing. Her response—“I tended not to hear. I was not only think- pretended not to hear”—could only ing of the knot; I believe it is also a have been written by a woman, and her woman’s intuition to be careful. Sud- denly the fish showed itself and then resolve contributed greatly to her finally rolled. I could not believe my eyes: it beating the fish. The following is an looked enormous. I did not know what excerpt from her account (page 57). to do so I did nothing, just tried to keep my rod up. He rolled about in the pool Keeping well away from the bank, I had in a frightening way. Was it really a several casts to where I had seen the fish. salmon after all? Sud denly he seemed to About the sixth cast, I suddenly felt a give up. Jimmy and the gillie appeared huge tug, and the line went taut. I didn’t with the net, surprised, I am sure, that I know then that big fish often seem to sit still had it on. I reeled-in very carefully, on the bottom for a while. I called to dragging it through the water. How Jimmy and he said, “Sure you’re not on amazed we were at the size—not all of Lilla Rowcliffe with her 45-pound, 6-ounce the bottom?” Before I could answer, the him could be got into the net. How fish moved, very slowly but very power- happy I was that I had two experienced Spey salmon, taken from the Delagyle beat fully. He moved upstream, pulling me netters. The fish weighed 45 lb, 6 oz and in Sep tember 1980. Photograph courtesy of along with him. I was so worried about really was a salmon! It proves to me, no Arthur Oglesby and Lucy Money-Coutts, my knot that I decided my only hope matter what men say, that women The Big Fish (London: Robinson, 1992), was to play him very carefully, as I felt should follow their own intuitions. plate between pages 88 and 89.
FLORENCE MILLER’S FOUR 30-POUNDERS
Florence Miller, wife of James Miller (chairman of Hardy’s of Alnwick until his death in No - vember 1997), caught many large salmon, including fish weighing 30, 30½, 31½, and 32½ pounds. Miller was invariably included in a party of six rods—she being the only woman—who fished excellent beats on the Tweed and the Tay. Even though the beats were first class, she was the only rod on those occasions that caught fish weighing more than 30 pounds.
Florence Miller landed this 31½-pound salmon while spinning on the River Tay on Florence Miller caught these four 26 March 1974. She caught it in Washhouse “springers” on the Benchill beat, just below Pool, just below Pitlochrie Pool, where by Stanley on the River Tay. The biggest fish tradition the rod-fishing season is opened weighed 30 pounds. Photograph courtesy of with a flourish on the bagpipes and a dram James Miller of Hardy’s of Alnwick. of whiskey. Photograph courtesy of James Miller of Hardy’s of Alnwick.
FALL 2013 7 CLARE DE BURGH’S 53-POUND NORWEGIAN SALMON
The story of how, in July 1968, Clare de Burgh hooked, played, and landed a 53- pound Alten River salmon—after a two- and-a-half-hour struggle—needs to be read. The fish, which had taken a yellow Bucktail Tube Fly, led Clare and her two boatmen down the dangerous Svartfoss rapids; this was only the second time a fish had been followed like this in living mem- ory. For a full account, please refer to Debrett’s Salmon Stories (Debrett’s Peerage Limited, 1983) by Jack Chance, or my own tome, The Domesday Book of Giant Salmon (Constable, 1st edition, 2007).
After the rapids, a glass of whiskey to steady the hand. Photograph courtesy of Debrett’s Salmon Stories (Debrett’s Peerage Limited, 1983).
JOYCE FARRER’S 50-POUND VEFSEN RIVER SALMON
The existence of Joyce Farrer’s giant 1934 salmon came to light in a letter I received from her son, Trevor Farrer, dated 2 March 2008. I had written to him about another 50-pounder that had been caught on the same river in Norway by a family friend, J. W. Astley, and he mentioned his mother’s great catch in his reply.
Joyce Farrer with the 50-pound salmon she caught in the Vefsen in 1934 with the help of Adolf, her gillie. Photograph courtesy of Trevor Farrer.
8THE AMERICAN FLY FISHER LETTICE WARD’S 50-POUND RIVER TAY SALMON
In eighteenth-century Kinnaird House, by Dunkeld in Perthshire, Scotland, a num- ber of cased salmon line the walls, includ- ing Lettice Ward’s 50-pounder. The fish was caught in the Alderns Stream at Stobhall after a one-and-a-half-hour struggle. Four days later, she landed a 37-pound fish on the upper Stobhall beat.
LISBETH BREKKE’S 55-POUND, 2-OUNCE SALMON
Lisbeth Brekke, wife of famous Nor - wegian author Reider Brekke, caught her 55-pound, 2-ounce salmon harling in the Nid River on the New Valley Dam beat at Nydalsdammen in Norway on 1 July 1931.
Lettice Ward with her 50-pound salmon, caught with a 4/0 Kate Fly in the Alderns Stream, River Tay, on 12 October 1928. Photograph courtesy of Kinnaird House, Dunkeld, Perthshire.
From its shape, this salmon appears to be a henfish. Photograph sent by Bjørn Riise from Om orret-og laksefiske i Norge (Oslo 1940) and courtesy of Trondheim Area Fisheries Administration.
FALL 2013 9 ELISE HOPKINSON’S 28-POUND SHANNON RIVER SALMON
The Fishing Gazette of 25 August 1928 recorded the catch of a 28-pound salmon by Miss Elise Hopkinson. The bag of four large salmon was probably the last bag of big fish ever taken from the greatest of all Irish big- fish rivers, the Shannon, before the Electricity Supply Board completed the Shannon Power Scheme in 1929. The scheme extended Lough Derg for another 4 miles downstream, from Killaloe to the great dam and headworks of Parteen.
The Fishing Gazette published this photograph under the headline “A Morning’s Catch on the Shannon,” and the story read: “Miss Elise Hopkinson, who is eighteen years old, caught one of these fine salmon, a 28-pounder. The other three were taken by her father, Mr. A. H. Hopkinson. All four fish were caught before lunch on the Lower Clare Water, Killaloe. Two of the salmon weighed 33 lb each, the other two 28 lb each. An even lot of well-shaped fish.” Photograph courtesy of the Fishing Gazette (25 August 1928), 209.
CLEMENTINE MORISON’S 61- POUND DEVERON SALMON
On Tuesday, 21 October 1924, Clementine Morison (her friends called her “Tiny”) caught her 61-pound fish in Lower Shaw Pool on the River Deveron on a Brown Wing Killer Fly. This information, culled from a letter she sent to Keith Rollo, a noted salmon angler and author, was published by the Fishing Gazette on 8 November 1924.
Clementine Morison with her gillie (Robert Sim); two 16-pounders and a smaller fish caught by Sim, who had followed her down as she fished a higher pool; and Morison standing beside her perfectly proportioned 61-pounder. Photograph courtesy of the Fishing Gazette (8 November 1924), 448.
10 THE AMERICAN FLY FISHER DOREEN DAVEY’S 59½- POUND WYE SALMON
The 59½-pound Wye salmon caught by Doreen Davey on 24 March 1923 is the biggest spring fish ever caught on rod and line in Britain, and also the second biggest rod-caught Wye salmon—so said J. Arthur Hutton in a chapter about salmon catches on the Wye that he wrote for Jock Scott’s Game Fish Records in 1936.
When this picture of Doreen Davey’s 59½-pound Wye salmon was reproduced in The Tale of a Wye Fisherman—and remember that it was, and still is, the record rod-caught spring salmon— only the fish and the gillie (her chauffeur, John Jellis) were shown. Was Davey cut out as a result of male chauvinism? Photograph courtesy of the Fishing Gazette (31 March 1923), 243.
ANNIE OLDFIELD’S 51¾-POUND NAMSEN RIVER SALMON
Malcolm Greenhalgh, noted game fish- erman and freshwater biologist, pho- tographed the painting of Annie Oldfield’s fish that he found hanging on the wall of a Norwegian fishing lodge. The catch data— weight, length, and girth—were hand painted on the canvas, but the method used was not included. My friend Roy Flury thinks that the fish was probably caught harling with a fly, which was the most popular method back in 1921 when Oldfield fished the Moum beat on the Namsen.
Annie Oldfield’s fish was documented, albeit after a delay of some thirty years, in Where to Fish (London: The Field, 1952). Photograph courtesy of Malcolm Greenhalgh. FALL 2013 11 INGRID FLEISCHER’S 59½- POUND VOSSO SALMON
In December 2011, I received a photo- graph and some notes regarding Ingrid Fleischer’s huge salmon, caught on a single- handed fly rod when fishing the Bolstad beat of the Vosso River in Norway in 1960.
ANNETTE PLATOU’S 58- POUND EIRA RIVER SALMON
On 26 June 1954, Annette Platou caught a mighty salmon on the fly while fishing the famous Romsdal beat on Norway’s Eira River. The fish was 53¼ inches long and had a girth of 28¼ inches. If you visit the angler’s lodge on the beat, you will find that it is called the English House because of its association with early visiting anglers, and on its walls you will see a painting of Platou’s fish among the many other histor- ical paintings.
Ingrid Fleischer was only sixteen years old when she caught this fish. The photograph and details are courtesy of Jens Olav Flekke and Bjørn Riise, who are helping David Hatwell with his research on large Norwegian and other Scandinavian big fish. Photograph courtesy of Jens Olav Flekke and Bjørn Riise.
Annette Platou’s 58-pound salmon caught on the A painting of Annette Platou’s fish hangs on the walls of the famous Romsdal beat on Norway’s Eira River. English House, the angler’s lodge on the Romsdal beat on the Eira Photograph and details sent by Bjørn Riise to David River. Photograph and details sent by Bjørn Riise to David Hatwell Hatwell for publication in Giant Salmon, volume 3. for publication in Giant Salmon, volume 3.
12 THE AMERICAN FLY FISHER LADY JEAN WARD’S THREE 40-POUNDERS
A renowned salmon-fishing family, the Wards bought eighteenth-century Kinnaird House and estate on the Tay from the Duke of Atholl in 1926, having been tenants from the early 1920s, and proceeded to cover the walls of the billiard room with their own specimen fish. Lady Jean Ward caught a 43-pound salmon on 10 October 1927 on the upper Stobhall beat of the Tay, and in 1929 a 40- pounder in Ferry Pool. She caught another 40-pounder at Dalguise in September 1955.
The luxurious Kinnaird House, home of many cased salmon. Photograph courtesy of Frederick Buller.
LAURA KATE PEARSON AND HER FRIEND J.M.T.
During the years when I was collecting and digesting material about heavyweight Atlantic salmon for my book, The Domesday Book of Giant Salmon, I had good cause to remember the Pearson family, for that name cropped up again and again. To start with, I received a letter from the Reverend Nigel Pearson. His great grandfather, Lieutenant Colonel N. G. Pearson, had caught two 50-pounders after purchasing the Gartland property on the Namsen River in Norway from Lady Guest, the widow of Merthyr Guest, who, in turn, famously caught a 64-pound salmon on the river on 20 July 1889. This was not the end of the Pearson accom- plishments; the Reverend Pearson told me that a friend of the family, Mrs. “Saucy” Williams, caught a 54½-pound salmon on the Gartland beat in 1937. Then in March 2012, I received details of some big salmon caught by Laura Kate Pearson and a friend, about whom all we know are her initials, J.M.T. In 2011, I had decided to docu- ment the achievements of lady anglers in catch- ing big salmon because, being hugely outnum- bered by male salmon anglers, records of these feats were largely scattered. The photograph, taken on 6 July 1935, shows Pearson (in dark Laura Kate Pearson (left), J.M.T. (right), and their catch, left to right: coat) and J.M.T. with their catch. The largest Pearson’s at 43 pounds and J.M.T.’s at 7, 40½, and 35 pounds. A close look at fish, weighing 43 pounds, was caught by the photograph reveals that the 43- and 35-pound salmon are cockfish, whereas Pearson, and the other three fish, weighing 7, the 40½-pound salmon is a henfish. What a magnificent river the Namsen 40½, and 35 pounds, were caught by J.M.T. The was in its heyday. Let us hope that it can be nursed back to its former glory as photograph, captioned “Our Evening,” came to “the queen of salmon rivers.” Photograph courtesy of Simon Pearson. me via a chain of kind people: Olivier DeVictor, Simon Pearson, and David Hatwell. Laura Kate Pearson, who died in 1936, was Simon Pearson’s great grandmother.
FALL 2013 13 MARGERY “SAUCY” WILLIAMS’S 54½- A LADY’S FIRST AND LAST POUND NAMSEN RIVER SALMON SALMON: A 50-POUNDER
In 1928, Margery “Saucy” Williams, wife of the Reverend R. H. Venables Kyrke sent a letter to the edi- Williams who was a missionary in China, caught a 54½- tor of the Fishing Gazette that was published on pound salmon on the Gartland beat. It was recorded in Where 3 December 1923, giving details of some large to Fish (London: The Field, 1951–52). salmon taken from the Stjemberg beat, which he Thanks to the great grandson of the owner of the beat, leased on Norway’s Vefsen River. He concluded Reverend Nigel Pearson, I received a full account of his letter with the following note: Williams’s catch, and you can appreciate from the poem that follows why Williams acquired the soubriquet of “Saucy.” Yet another big fish was taken by a lady fishing from my lowest lodge, which I had placed at the Saucy’s Fish disposal of her husband when I moved up to my top beats. A few days after their arrival he asked ’Twas on a Wednesday evening, her if she would like to try for a fish, and she Not a very pleasant night, said she would, so he rigged up some tackle and The lamp was lighted, and the room was warm, went up the river. When he returned he asked When those within were startled by an unexpected sight her if she had had any luck? Yes! I got one she And all at once, were to the window drawn replied. Was it a good one? Yes! I think so! He went out to the ice house to find a 50-pounder! Behold our Saucy’s face against it pressed; This was her first, and I believe her last, fish. But “I’ve got a minnow,” said the smiling one. what made the capture more extraordinary was But those who knew her guilefulness soon guessed the fact that the rod and line had been discard- Something as usual (!) to her luck had come. ed by her husband’s father some 25 years before and given to him as more or less worthless, and And then they saw the prize, too big it had not been used for a quarter of a century! For any man to carry up alone! Yours faithfully, Isak and Bertil and the fish between! R. H. Venables Kyrke Oh what a monster lay upon the stone. The Chalet Symonds Yat, Ross-on-Wye Fifty-two inches was his noble length, And twenty-nine, he measured round the chest! The weight, which must have taken all her strength, Beat every record, even Father’s best.
From “forty up to fifty” th’ excitement grew apace, Then “one, two, three, four” followed, and then a “half” put on. So now “Fifty Pounder” he will take his place And by Marge, our “Holy Sister,” this wondrous deed was done.
So we’ll trust in far-off China Where she goes for other “fish” So difficult, and harder to be won— All grace and tact and wisdom, all that her heart could wish May guide her till the setting sun.
From Field and Stream, August 1919, p. 395. Bound volume 1919–1920, vol. 24.
14 THE AMERICAN FLY FISHER HJØRDIS NORDAHL’S 51-POUND, 6- OUNCE NAMSEN RIVER SALMON
Although salmon caught on to the photograph of Hjørdis bait—that is, on anything other Nordahl and her fish because it than the fly—are not featured in is extremely well arranged. (I my book, The Domesday of Giant have an interest in such things Salmon (unless, of course, they because I was a naval air pho- exceed a weight of 60 pounds), it tographer on H.M.C.S. The is important to note that I have Warrior in 1946–1947.) not explored the catch records of To start with, the fish is per- fish between 50 and 60 pounds fectly proportioned and in caught on bait, simply because if splendid early-summer condi- their numbers were added to the tion. It is hanging full sided task that I have completed, the and fills the left-hand side of book could not have been pub- the frame while the captor, half lished in my lifetime. That said, I kneeling and half sitting, fills have occasionally broken my own the right-hand side of the rules when the catch is of special frame. The tree, clouds, and interest. In this instance, I would rocks combine to fill in the like to draw the reader’s attention empty spaces most attractively.
Hjørdis Nordahl’s 51-pound, 6-ounce fish, some 48 inches long, was caught in 1983. It was the biggest Namsen salmon of the year, and it took five minutes short of an hour to land. How was it caught? On a Rapala, of course! Photograph courtesy of Ola Hulstad’s Namsen I Vahre Minner.
KATRINE OPGARD’S 53½- POUND ALTEN RIVER SALMON
The Alten is the most productive big-fish river in the northern hemisphere, and, because she lives locally, Katrine Opgard is allowed to fish there. On 17 June 2008, she hooked, played, and landed a 53½-pound salmon while spinning from the bank of one of its best beats. The story of her catch is a remarkable one, especially when it is borne in mind that the fish was foul hooked in the tail. Hers is prob- ably the second largest foul-hooked salmon ever landed. In September 1927, Gladys Blanche Huntingdon landed the largest, at 55 pounds, after a four-hour struggle that took her a mile downstream on the River Awe. Gladys followed this up with another angling feat when she caught a 49-pounder on a prawn in Brandon Pool on the Awe in 1933.
This photograph taken by Magne Kveseth of Katrine Opgard and her fish appeared on Salmon Fishing Updates, an Internet site for salmon anglers. Photograph courtesy of Magne Kveseth, c/o Salmon Fishing Updates and Altaposten newspaper. FALL 2013 15 GEORGINA BALLANTINE’S 64-POUND BRITISH RECORD ROD-CAUGHT SALMON
On 7 October 1922, Georgina catch you some ‘brae’ in the river Ballantine was harling with her Leven—what you Sassenachs call father—she fished while he han- bream.” His bream were, in fact, dled the boat—on the Glen - roach. Moreover, the local lads delvine beat of the River Tay couldn’t catch them. when she hooked a huge Then I noticed in a copy of The salmon. There has always been Field (October 1992) that auction- some mystery about what bait eer Neil Freeman, who has long she was using. It is usually specialized in angling books and reported that she was using a angling memorabilia and obvious- dace, but because the species is ly knows a great deal about vintage not indigenous to Scotland, it tackle items, said that Ballantine seems unlikely. However, it is caught her salmon on a Malloch clear from a letter she wrote to dace bait, which implies the exis- the magazine Angling in April tence of a proprietary artificial bait 1954, in which she refers to a of the name. Problem solved. “spinning lure,” that the dace in In 1978, I visited Ballantine’s question was artificial and not home at Caputh to photograph her natural. house and the place where she I also thought the choice of caught her fish. The owner of the dace may well have reflected the estate, A. P. Lyle, and the original general disinterest in almost any owners of Ballantine’s cased salmon fish species other than salmon kindly allowed me to set my camera in Scotland. I remember being tripod on their billiard table. told by my mentor, Harry Ballantine’s mighty fish was Briton, when I asked him about presented to the patients and staff Georgina Ballantine and her 64-pound rod-caught the availability of pike baits of Perth Hospital but not before it salmon, which holds the British record. Photograph when I was about to fish Loch was sent off to Malloch’s of Perth courtesy of the Fishing Gazette. Lomond for the first time, more to have a plaster cast made. Later, a than fifty years ago, “No bother, limited edition of the cast was you can get the local boys to commissioned.
MRS. MACKINEN’S 55-POUND, 2-OUNCE DRIVA RIVER SALMON
Mrs. Mackinen caught a beautifully shaped 55-pound, 2-ounce salmon on the Driva River in Norway, c. 1930. It is likely that the fish was caught harling—probably on fly. Doubtless all will be revealed in due course.
Mrs. Mackinen and the 55-pound, 2-ounce salmon that she caught on the Driva River. Photograph courtesy of Bjørn Riise.
16 THE AMERICAN FLY FISHER MARJORIE PHELPS’S 42-POUND LAERDAL RIVER SALMON
In 1949, the Batchworth Press (London) published Fishing Dreams, a book by T. T. Phelps, a highly respected author who had considerable knowledge of salmon and trout fishing in Britain but—more importantly—had a rare knowledge of Norway’s Laerdal River. The following description (page 125) gives you an idea of the scope the river provided for the dreaming fisherman.
The Laerdal is unique in that it is within the bounds of possi- bility to catch a fifty-pound salmon or a twenty-pound sea trout, though such prizes are rarities, and hence much of its fas- cination. I have never met an angler who has been lucky enough to bring off this double event, but I have known several who have caught salmon over fifty pounds, and one who has had a sea trout over twenty pounds (on the dry-fly). For my own part I failed to reach either of these weights; my nearest achieve- ments were forty-seven pounds (cock salmon) and seventeen pounds (sea trout).
Phelps goes on to describe the angling skills and deeds of his wife Marjorie (page 238):
Left-handed and gifted with the sense of timing and rhythm, Marjorie Phelps with her gillie, Jens, standing which only musical genius could provide, and with the wonder- ful wrists and fingers of the skilled pianist, her casting was a joy by the 42-pound cock salmon that she caught to see, and I used to wander down the river to admire the ease on a fly in the Bö Pool after a desperate struggle. and accuracy of her fishing. Almost invariably in our Norwegian expeditions she succeeded in catching the largest for besides the fishing she loved the valley and its gillies and salmon of the season, and often the largest trout. In 1936 she inhabitants, and was equally beloved by them. We used to cut headed our record with a salmon of forty-two pounds and a out paper silhouettes of salmon over forty pounds and of sea trout of eleven pounds, and also killed more in numbers than trout over ten pounds and the walls of my fishing room are cov- any other rod. It was in playing this big salmon, which she ered with her trophies. Although so skilled herself, no one took hooked and killed in Charlie Bö one evening, that she strained more interest in other people’s fishing. She was never happier her heart so badly that on our return to England all further fish- than when instructing some boy enthusiast from Winchester ing on the Laerdal was forbidden her. This grieved her greatly, College in the arts and mysteries of the dry-fly.
ELEONORE STROMSLAND’S 50- POUND NAMSEN SALMON
Eleonore Frederikke Knudtzon Stromsland caught a 50-pound salmon on the Namsen River in Norway on 9 August 1936; it was the largest taken on the Namsen that year. Amazingly, Stromsland is still fishing the Namsen (at Moum) in 2012, despite her age (ninety-two). This information was kindly passed on to me by David Hatwell.
Eleonore Stromsland and the 50-pound salmon she caught on the Namsen River. Photograph courtesy of David Hatwell.
FALL 2013 17 A List of Large Salmon Landed by Ladies
DATE WEIGHT (lb./oz.) LOCATION COUNTRY CAPTOR Unknown 25 00 River Carron Scotland Fiona Willis Unknown 48 00 Restigouche Canada Mrs. Stanford White August 1885 57 08 Namsen River Norway Hannah Covington c. 1890 43 00 River Speen Scotland Lady Helen Bridge October 1890 40 00 River Shannon Ireland Mrs. Audley Kingdom 1892 35 00 Lake Killarney Ireland Hannah Covington 1897 42 00 River Spey Scotland Mrs. Arthur Sassoon 1899 57 00 Namsen River Norway Miss Wheen 1900 53 00 Vosso River Norway Lady Howarth 1901 53 08 Namsen River Norway Mrs. Radclyffe 1903 53 08 Namsen River Norway Miss E. Spiller 1911 58 08 Vosso River Norway Lady Howarth August 1911 45 00 Steinkjer River Norway Mrs. Molineux 1913 46 08 River Tay Scotland Miss Wolfe Barry September 1919 47 00 River Spey Scotland Phillis Spender-Clay 1921 50 00 Leardal River Norway Phyliss Schwabe 1921 51 12 Namsen River Norway Annie Oldfield July 1921 53 00 Eira River Norway Lady Leslie July 1921 52 14 Namsen River Norway Mrs. Scott Isachsen October 1922 64 00 River Tay Scotland Georgina Ballantine 1923 57 06 Evanger River Norway Mrs. P. Barlow March 1923 59 08 River Wye England Doreen Davey February 1923 41 00 River Tay Scotland Mrs. Graham 1923 50 00 Vefsen River Norway A lady guest of R. H. Venables Kyrke October 1924 61 00 Deveron Scotland Clementine Morison c. 1924 54 00 Vosso Norway Isabella Charrington September 1924 42 00 River Tay Scotland Mrs. Radclyffe September 1924 41 00 River Tay Scotland Mrs. Radclyffe October 1927 43 00 River Tay Scotland Lady Jean Ward 1927 44 00 River Tay Scotland Esme Glyn 1927 45 00 River Tay Scotland Margaret Coats September 1927 55 00 The Awe Scotland Gladys Blanche Huntingdon 1927 36 08 Loch Lomond Scotland Mrs. Leckie-Ewing September 1927 27 00 River Aline Scotland Lady Graham 1928 54 08 Namsen River Norway Margery Williams 1928 50 00 River Tay Scotland Lettice Ward 1928 28 00 River Shannon Ireland Elise Hopkinson c. 1928 38 00 Aberdeenshire Dee Scotland Mrs. Vaughan Lee 1929 40 00 River Tay Scotland Lady Jean Ward 1929 48 08 Hampshire Avon England Mrs. Baker c. 1930 48 00 Restigouche Canada Mrs. Stanford White April 1930 44 00 River Wye England Barbara Williams April 1930 42 00 River Wye England Barbara Williams May 1930 44 00 River Blackwater Ireland Mrs. H. Somers c. 1930 29 08 The Brora Scotland Jessie Tyser c. 1930 55 02 Driva River Norway Mrs. Mackinen 1931 38 00 Aberdeenshire Dee Scotland Mrs. Vaughan Lee
18 THE AMERICAN FLY FISHER SOURCE METHOD Wilma Paterson and Peter Behan, Salmon and Women, 1990 Fly Jock Scott, Game Fish Records, 1936 Ladies’ record on fly The Field, 31 December 1910 Fly Wilma Paterson and Peter Behan, Salmon and Women, 1990 Fly Stationery Office, Dublin, The Angler’s Guide, 1948 Unknown The Field, 31 December 1910 Unknown The Field, Where to Fish, 1926 Unknown Laksefisket I Namsen Och de Andere Elvine Fly Ronald S. Swanson, Record Atlantic Salmon, 2008 Unknown The Field, Where to Fish, 1926 Unknown Horace Hutchinson, Country Life Library of Sport, Fishing, 1904 Fly The Field, Where to Fish, 1926 Unknown Thorbjorn Tuftnes, Kjentmann Under Laksfossen, 2002 Fly The Field, Where to Fish, 1926 Unknown Jock Scott, Game Fish Records, 1936 Fly Daily Sketch, 13 March 1929 Probably fly The Field, Where to Fish, 1952 Unknown Personal communication with Bjørn Riise, 2011 Fly Ronald S. Swanson, Record Atlantic Salmon, 2008 Unknown The Fishing Gazette, 2 December 1922 Harling a dace bait The Field, Where to Fish, 1926 Unknown Jock Scott, Game Fish Records, 1936 Spinning Nigel Houldsworth, Fisherman’s Map of Salmon Pools Unknown The Fishing Gazette, 3 December 1923 Unknown The Fishing Gazette, 8 November 1924 Fly Personal communication with her daughter, September 2006 Spoon A. Courtney Williams, Angling Diversions, 1945 Fly A. Courtney Williams, Angling Diversions, 1945 Fly Nigel Houldsworth, Fisherman’s Map of Salmon Pools Unknown Wilma Paterson and Peter Behan, Salmon and Women, 1990 Unknown Wilma Paterson and Peter Behan, Salmon and Women, 1990 Unknown Jock Scott, Game Fish Records, 1936 Prawn Jock Scott, Game Fish Records, 1936 Record for fly caught Wilma Paterson and Peter Behan, Salmon and Women, 1990 River record Personal communication with her son the Rev. Nigel Pearson, March 2009 Unknown Wilma Paterson and Peter Behan, Salmon and Women, 1990 Fly The Fishing Gazette, 25 August 1928 Unknown Jock Scott, Game Fish Records, 1936 Unknown Wilma Paterson and Peter Behan, Salmon and Women, 1990 Unknown The Field, Where to Fish, 1953–54 Unknown Jock Scott, Game Fish Records, 1936 Unknown J. Arthur Hutton, Wye Salmon and Other Fish, 1949 Spinning J. Arthur Hutton, Wye Salmon and Other Fish, 1949 Spinning Stationery Office, Dublin, The Angler’s Guide, 1948 Unknown Jack Chance, Debrett’s Salmon Stories, 1983 Fly Personal communication with Bjørn Riise, 2012 Fly Jock Scott, Game Fish Records, 1936 Unknown
FALL 2013 19 DATE WEIGHT (lb./oz.) LOCATION COUNTRY CAPTOR July 1931 55 02 Nid River Norway Lisbeth Brekke 1932 45 00 River Wye England Mrs. Beddington 1932 45 00 River Tay Scotland Lettice Ward 1933 49 00 River Awe Scotland Gladys Blanche Huntingdon 1934 50 00 Vefsen River Norway Joyce Farrer February 1935 27 00 River Tweed Scotland Lady Joan Joicey July 1935 43 00 Namsen Norway Laura Kate Pearson July 1935 40 08 Namsen Norway J.M.T April 1936 48 00 Hampshire Avon England Mrs. Shawe 1936 35 00 Hampshire Avon England Peggy Baker 1936 42 00 Laerdal River Norway Marjorie Phelps 9 August 1936 50 00 Namsen River Norway Eleonore Fredrikke Knudtzon Stromsland 1938 62 14 Namsen River Norway Miss Curtis c. 1943 40 00 The Lochy Scotland Mrs. S. Pilkinton 1950 37 08 The Welsh Dee Wales Lady Mallabar c. 1950 44 00 The Spey Scotland Duchess of Northumberland c. 1950 30 00 Hampshire Avon England Vivian Baker June 1954 58 00 Eira River Norway Annette Platou c. 1955 46 00 Erriff River Ireland Alice Marsh September 1955 40 00 River Tay Scotland Lady Jean Ward 1956 50 04 Alten River Norway Jaqueline Vernes June 1956 50 00 Alten River Norway Mrs. Pulitzer October 1956 27 00 The Luce Scotland Hon. Mrs. H. Bridgeman 1960 59 08 Vosso River Norway Ingrid Fleischer c. 1960 34 00 The Helmsdale Scotland Lady Constance Liverpool c. 1960 50 00 Vosso River Norway A formidable female angler c. 1960 50 00 Alten River Norway Suzan Coe c. 1960 50 00 Alten River Norway Mary Brooks 1962 42 00 Findhorn Scotland Anne Wise 1963 30 08 Yorkshire Esk England Ivy Hayton April 1963 33 08 The Spey Scotland Caroline Ashley-Cooper 1965 53 00 Alten River Norway Margaret Du Bois June 1965 26 08 The Ness River Scotland Patricia Wotherspoon July 1968 53 00 Alten River Norway Clare de Burgh 1972 43 00 River Tweed Scotland Lady Burnett March 1974 31 08 River Tay Scotland Florence Miller 1980 30 00 River Tay Scotland Florence Miller 1980 30 00 River Spey Scotland Pamela Coleclough September 1980 45 06 River Spey Scotland Lilla Rowcliffe 1981 52 00 Stryn River Norway An American lady 1983 51 06 Namsen River Norway Hjørdis Nordahl 1984 46 00 Forde River Norway Mary Jane Rympa June 1984 50 08 Vosso River Norway Torril Haraldsen July 1985 50 00 Alten River Norway Lala Jorgensen June 1987 40 00 Vosso River Norway Davina Morley 1988 25 00 River Beauly Scotland Diana McAndrew November 2003 27 00 River Tweed Scotland Margaret Buller 2005 41 00 Orkla River Norway Bodil Reitan August 2006 51 00 Alten River Norway Shirley Deterding June 2008 54 00 Alten River Norway Mollie Fitzgerald June 2008 53 08 Alten River Norway Katrine Opgard
20 THE AMERICAN FLY FISHER SOURCE METHOD Trondheim Fisheries Administration, Norway, 2011 Unknown J. Arthur Hutton, Wye Salmon and Other Fish, 1949 Spinning Wilma Paterson and Peter Behan, Salmon and Women, 1990 Prawn Wilma Paterson and Peter Behan, Salmon and Women, 1990 Prawn Correspondence with Trevor Farrer, 2 March 2008 Unknown Wilma Paterson and Peter Behan, Salmon and Women, 1990 Spinning at Bisterne Photograph and information courtesy of Simon Pearson Unknown Photograph and information courtesy of Simon Pearson Unknown Wilma Paterson and Peter Behan, Salmon and Women, 1990 Unknown Wilma Paterson and Peter Behan, Salmon and Women, 1990 Prawn T. T. Phelps, Fishing Dreams, 1949 Fly Verdens Gang, June 2012 (Norway’s largest tabloid newspaper) Harling Namsen I Vari Minner, 1985 Unknown John Ashley-Cooper, A Salmon Fisher’s Odyssey, 1982 Fly Wilma Paterson and Peter Behan, Salmon and Women, 1990 Spinning John Ashley-Cooper, A Salmon Fisher’s Odyssey, 1982 Fly Wilma Paterson and Peter Behan, Salmon and Women, 1990 Fly Personal communication with Bjørn Riise, 2011 Unknown Jack Charlton and Tony Francis, Salmon Run, 1992 Probably fly Nigel Houldsworth, Fisherman’s Map of Salmon Pools Unknown Unpublished records (1920–2013) held at Floors Castle, Roxburghe Estate, Kelso, Scotland Fly (foul hooked) Thorbjorn Tuftnes, Kjentmann Under Laksfossen, 2002 Fly John Ashley-Cooper, A Salmon Fisher’s Odyssey, 1982 Fly Personal communication with David Hatwell, 2011 Fly Jack Chance, Debrett’s Salmon Stories, 1983 Fly Philip F. K. Crowe, Out of the Mainstream, 1970 Unknown Ronald S. Swanson, Record Atlantic Salmon, 2008 Unknown Ronald S. Swanson, Record Atlantic Salmon, 2008 Unknown John Ashley-Cooper, A Salmon Fisher’s Odyssey, 1982 Fly Wilma Paterson and Peter Behan, Salmon and Women, 1990 Fly John Ashley-Cooper, A Salmon Fisher’s Odyssey, 1982 Fly Unpublished records (1920–2013) held at Floors Castle, Roxburghe Estate, Kelso, Scotland Fly Wilma Paterson and Peter Behan, Salmon and Women, 1990 Fly Jack Chance, Debrett’s Salmon Stories, 1983 Fly Wilma Paterson and Peter Behan, Salmon and Women, 1990 Fly Personal communication with James Miller, March 1974 Spinning Personal communication with James Miller, 1985 Spinning Wilma Paterson and Peter Behan, Salmon and Women, 1990 Fly Arthur Oglesby and Lucy Money-Coutts, The Big Fish, 1992 Spinning Fiske Journalen Yearbook, No. 5 Unknown The Domesday Book of Giant Salmon, Vol. 2, 2010 Rapala plug Wilma Paterson and Peter Behan, Salmon and Women, 1990 Shrimp Ronald S. Swanson, Record Atlantic Salmon, 2008 Spoon Ronald S. Swanson, Record Atlantic Salmon, 2008 Spoon Wilma Paterson and Peter Behan, Salmon and Women, 1990 Unknown ©FrederickBuller Wilma Paterson and Peter Behan, Salmon and Women, 1990 Fly The author was Mrs. Buller’s fishing companion Fly Personal communication with Bjørn Riise, 2011 Unknown Personal communication with Shirley Deterding August 2008 Fly Personal communication with Mollie Fitzgerald, October 2008 Fly 2013 Personal communication with Ivar Leinan, Alta Association, 2008 Spinning
FALL 2013 21 Leon L. Martuch Receives 2013 Heritage Award
Azat “Danny” Gilfanov
Leon L. Martuch proudly displays the Heritage Award presented to him by Perk Perkins on behalf of the museum.
HE AMERICAN MUSEUM of Fly Fishing honored Leon L. of Fly Fishing to preserve and promote the sport and its envi- Martuch with the museum’s 2013 Heritage Award at the ronment for future generations. TRacquet & Tennis Club in New York City on September Martuch was an early advocate for the museum and, accord- 18. The award honors and celebrates individuals and organiza- ing to former executive director Paul Schullery, his role was sig- tions whose commitment to the museum, the sport of fly fish- nificant in the 1970s and 1980s. “When Leon became president ing, and the conservation of our natural resources set stan- of the museum,” writes Schullery “we turned an institutional dards to which we all should aspire. corner that I don’t think any of us could fully discern at the time Martuch is a legend in the sport of fly fishing. He worked but that was monumentally important. Leon was a leading fig- alongside his father, Leon P. Martuch, to revolutionize fly-fish- ure in the tackle industry, and his enthusiastic presidency of the ing equipment and helped to make their company, Scientific museum made it clear to all but the least reasonable that this Anglers, an industry leader. Martuch used his background as a was indeed a museum for the whole sport and the whole indus- chemist to develop, produce, and patent fly-fishing equipment try.” Even after Martuch was elected trustee emeritus, he con- throughout his career, and he was a pivotal part of standardiz- tinued to support museum programs throughout the years. ing fly line—an innovation many historians consider one of The Heritage Award celebration would not have been possi- the top-five most significant contributions to the sport. Since ble without the support of the Dinner Committee. Thanks to his retirement, Martuch has devoted much of his time serving Karen Kaplan, Gary Sherman, Richard Tisch, David Walsh, on the boards of Trout Unlimited and the American Museum Andrew Ward, and Nancy Zakon for their tremendous support.
22 THE AMERICAN FLY FISHER Azat “Danny” Gilfanov Sara Wilcox
Master fly tier Roger Plourde created this special fly, the Michigan Star, in honor of Leon L. Martuch. Its Kathleen Guzman and Homer Shirley of Heritage Auctions colors resemble the colors of the museum’s logo. donated their time to support the museum’s live auction.
Azat “Danny” Gilfanov Azat “Danny” Gilfanov
Guest of honor Leon L. Martuch enjoyed the The museum thanks all the Heritage Award evening with his wife, Shirley, and grandson Alan. attendees for supporting this memorable event.
We would also like to thank the Leadership Circle, including fly line and Michigan Hillbilly Fly were created compliments of E. M. Bakwin, Pete Bakwin, Foster Bam, Austin Buck, Jane the Orvis Company and Scientific Anglers. Cooke, John Dale, Tim Hixon, Karen Kaplan, Christopher We also appreciate the individuals who supported and Mahan, Fred W. Middleton, Brad and Pamela Mills, Amy and donated items for the live and silent auctions: ANDE; Joseph Perella, Eric Roberts, Robert and Karen Scott, Richard Beaverkill Rod Company; Jason Borger; Roger Clark; Captain Tisch, David Walsh, Andrew Ward, Frances L. Wolfson, and Brian Cone; Peter Corbin; Crocodile Bay Resort and Marina; Nancy Zakon. The Leadership Circle is a group of museum Captain Tony DiLernia; Echo Farm Hunt Club; Fishpond; event supporters who contribute greatly to the success of our FlyWays Dove; Pat Ford; Galvan Fly Reels, Inc.; Goodnews fund-raising events. River Lodge and Michael, Kim, and Faith Gorton; Luther Hall; Additionally, the museum offers many thanks to Tim Hixon Holland & Holland Hunting Lodges; Captain Mike Kozma; and Leigh H. Perkins for their roles as honorary co-chairs of the Mari and Nick Lyons; Walter Matia; Captain Joe Mustari; event; Kathleen Guzman of Heritage Auctions for donating auc- David Nichols; Dave Pecci; Captain Dale Perez; Captain Greg tion services; Richard Tisch for being the master of ceremonies; Poland; Bob Popovics; Pen Reed; Rio Manso Lodge; Rocket and Mike Gorton of Goodnews River Lodge, Jim Lepage of Charters; Kris Rollenhagen; Gary Sherman, DPM; Dr. and Scientific Anglers, and Perk Perkins of the Orvis Com pany for Mrs. Stephen Sherman; Simms Fishing Products; Ted Simroe; being guest speakers. Skyhorse Publishing; Mark Susinno; John Swan; Jacques We would like to thank two of our corporate sponsors, the Torres; Urban Angler; George Van Hook; and Paul Volcker. Orvis Company and Sentient Jet, for their support of the event. To celebrate Martuch’s achievements, a commemorative !
FALL 2013 23 Fly-Fishing Festival
HE SIXTH ANNUAL Fly-Fishing Festival was an outstanding success. Almost 450 attendees and nearly thirty vendors, fly Ttiers, appraisers, antique dealers, artists, and educators turned out for the August 10 event. Author Sara Low was on hand to sign copies of A Guide’s Guide to Fly-Fishing Mistakes. Carmine Lisella and Bob Selb donated their appraisal services to festival attendees. Kelly Bedford demonstrated fly tying, and Paul Sinicki demonstrated the art of casting to children. The museum wishes to thank Finn & Stone, Mulligan’s of Manchester, the Vermont Country Store, Berkshire Bank, and rk Miles for their sponsorships. We are grateful to our volunteers— Bill Cosgrove, Ron Wilcox, Rose Napolitano, Andrew Napolitano, Jennifer Lalli, and Dan Denn—who helped move tables, tents, and chairs; worked the concession stand; and welcomed our guests at the entrance. !
Photos by Sara Wilcox
Carmine Lisella offered free appraisals to event attendees.
Casting for Recovery’s booth.
A variety of vendors participated in the 2013 Fly-Fishing Festival, including artist Luther Hall.
24 THE AMERICAN FLY FISHER Sara Low, New York State licensed fishing guide and fly-fishing instructor, signed copies of her new book, A Guide’s Guide to Fly-Fishing Mistakes.
Trout in the Classroom students shared stories about their participation with Trout Unlimited.
Volunteer Kelly Bedford demonstrated fly tying.
Covey & Nye, purveyor of fine guns, showed off some of their wares.
Paul Sinicki and Jennifer Lalli taught fly casting to a group of children. FALL 2013 25 Sara Wilcox
Sara Wilcox
This year’s Angling and Art benefit sporting art sale, held June 18 through July 7, featured fifteen artists: internationally acclaimed Woody Jackson, John Swan, and George Van Hook; regional artists Andrew Orr, Mark Tougias, Stella Erich, Linda Durkee, Jason Borger, and Susan Harding Merancy; published artist Matt Patterson; and Canadian artists Diane Michelin and Sylvie Malo-Clark. Among works by emerging Vermont artists were watercolors by David Morse, photographs by Matthew Lerman, and oil paintings by Thomas Miller. Ice cream and fly fishing were made for summer! On July 22, the museum welcomed visitors to the grounds for National Ice Cream Day. A huge thanks to everybody who made it out for fly tying, casting, and free ice cream.
1% for the Planet Recent Donations to the Collection
The American Museum of Fly Fishing proudly became a Charles R. Eichel of Manchester, Vermont, donated a busi- 1% for the Planet nonprofit partner in June 2013, joining a net- ness card of Rolie & Holly Hollenbeck, Little Rock Fishing work of more than 3,000 nonprofit organizations doing great Camp. Richard G. Tisch of Pound Ridge, New York, gave us an work to help the planet. 1% for the Planet is a growing global original Peter Corbin pencil drawing, The Fall, and Frederick movement building and supporting an alliance of more than S. Polhemus of Shelburne, Vermont, donated an original Flick 1,200 companies financially committed to creating a healthy Ford watercolor painting, Trophy Brown Trout. planet by donating 1% of their sales to a network of environ- mental organizations worldwide. For more information, visit onepercentfortheplanet.org. In the Library Thanks to the following publishers for their donations of 2013 titles that have become part of our permanent collection: Skyhorse Publishing sent us Sara Low’s A Guide’s Guide to Fly-Fishing Mistakes: Common Problems and How to Correct Them and Angelo Peluso’s Fly Fishing the Surf: A Compre - hensive Guide to Surf and Wade Fishing from Maine to Florida. Arcadia Publishing sent us the Booth Society, Inc.’s Spearfish National Fish Hatchery.
26 THE AMERICAN FLY FISHER Sara Wilcox Upcoming Events Events take place on the museum grounds in Manchester, Vermont, unless otherwise noted.
October 14-31 Online Benefit Auction
December 7 Gallery Program Hooked on the Holidays 1:00–4:00 p.m.
Always check our website (www.amff.com) for additions, updates, and more information or contact Christina Cole at (802) 362-3300 or [email protected]. “Casting About,” the museum’s e-mail newsletter, offers up-to-date news and event information. To subscribe, look for the link on our website or contact the museum.
B ACK I SSUES! Vol. 1: Nos. 3, 4 Vol. 20: Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 Vol. 2: Nos. 1, 3 Vol. 21: Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 Vol. 3: No. 1 Vol. 22: Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 Vol. 4: No. 2 Vol. 23: Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 Vol. 5: Nos. 2, 3 Vol. 24: Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 Vol. 6: Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 Vol. 25: Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 Vol. 7: Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 Vol. 26: Nos. 1, 2, 4 Vol. 8: Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 Vol. 27: Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 More than one hundred people attended the June 22 opening Vol. 9: Nos. 1, 2, 3 Vol. 28: Nos. 1, 2, 3 reception of The Wonders of Fly Fishing exhibit, which features Vol. 10: Nos. 1, 2, 3 Vol. 29: Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 the best of the best from the museum’s extensive collection and Vol. 11: Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 Vol. 30: Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 offers a glimpse into the growing world of saltwater fly fishing. Vol. 12: Nos. 1, 3 Vol. 31: Nos. 1, 2 Wonders highlights the remarkable history of American fly Vol. 13: Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 Vol. 32: Nos. 1, 2, 3 fishing through the display and interpretation of angling Vol. 14: Nos. 1, 2 Vol. 33: Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 artifacts, literature, artwork, and archives, and tells the stories Vol. 15: Nos. 1, 2 Vol. 34: Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 of the people, events, and innovations that have shaped the sport Vol. 16: Nos. 1, 2, 3 Vol. 35: Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 into what it is today. Here guests take a closer look at an exhibit Vol. 17: Nos. 1, 2, 3 Vol. 36: Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 about what fish see, how they see, and the colors that they see. Vol. 18: Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 Vol. 37: Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 Vol. 19: Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 Vol. 38: Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 Vol. 39: Nos. 1, 2, 3 Back issues are $10 a copy for nonmembers, $5 for members. To order, please contact Laura Napolitano at (802)362-3300 or via e-mail at [email protected].
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FALL 2013 27 CONTRIBUTOR
Dave Hatwell
Frederick Buller, MBE, has played a role in the angling world since joining the Freshwater Biological Association based at Wray Castle on Windermere in 1943, where he studied eel and charr behavior and became involved in the perch-trap- ping project. He joined the Fleet Air Arm in 1946 and was seconded to the Canadian carrier HMCS Warrior to train as an aerial photographer and mapmaker. In 1947, his forces training allowed him to open a photographic company, which enabled him to start a fishing tackle business, expanding rapidly into shooting goods. He was elected as chair of the Gun Trade Association in 1967, the same year his first angling book was published. Based on more than fifty years of research, Buller has written eleven books—including Pike (1971), Freshwater Fishing (1975, coauthored with Hugh Falkus), and The Domesday Book of Giant Salmon (2007)—plus count- less articles for journals published worldwide. In 1997, he received the Austin Hogan Award for his contributions to this journal since 1993. His most recent contribution was a Notes and Comment piece, “Afterword,” which appeared in the Winter 2013 issue. In 2002, Buller was awarded the Country Landowners Association Lifetime Achievement Award for services to Angling, and in January 2010, he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).
The American Museum of Fly Fishing presents The Wonders of Fly Fishing Visit and discover our American tradition! Open through 2014
Exhibition sponsored by Orvis and CVNHP
28 THE AMERICAN FLY FISHER A Game Fish Is Too Valuable a Resource to Catch Just Once
Sara Wilcox
American Rivers is part of an important dam removal right here in Manchester. The Dufresne Dam was built in 1908 along the Batten Kill and has been obsolete since the 1940s. This dam removal—begun in summer 2013—will restore the migration of brown and brook trout along this famously challenging river.
ITH THESE WORDS—“A game fish is too valuable a be made available to researchers, students, and the general resource to catch just once”—published in his 1939 public in a number of formats. WHandbook of Freshwater Fishing (New York: Frederick • Exhibitions and collections. The museum’s in-house and A. Stokes Company), fly-fishing legend Lee Wulff ushered in traveling exhibitions are superb examples of public pro- the concept of catch and release to the angling community. gramming. We are currently working with two conserva- Throughout the second half of the twentieth century, the prac- tion organizations to enhance our exhibition, The Wonders tice of catch and release became one of the most important of Fly Fishing. In the coming months, we will work with tools of fish conservation and was strongly supported by two major fish conservation organizations to design and anglers, conservation organizations, and many states across the install one display case in the museum highlighting the country. Studies have shown that this basic conservation tech- history of an international fish conservation organiza- nique has contributed to the preservation of many fish species. tion, and another wall case outlining the general history But catch and release is only part of the history of conservation of conservation, from the earliest writings about angling efforts that affect our angling natural resources. resources to current fish-tagging projects that are yielding The American Museum of Fly Fishing is pleased to surprising results. Many organizations are interested in announce its newest initiative: documenting and presenting being represented in the permanent collection, and we are the history of the conservation organizations, conservation working with them to identify artifacts that can help tell methods, and conservation projects undertaken to preserve their story through exhibitions and other programs. We the fish and the environments enjoyed by millions of anglers will also begin to design an exhibition for our gallery that around the world. Here are some of our early plans: will showcase as many organizations as possible. • Journal articles. The Summer 2013 issue of the American • Annual conservation symposium. Beginning in 2014, the Fly Fisher included an article about the history of museum will annually bring several experts together to American Rivers. Throughout its forty-year history, this present and discuss current conservation topics, such as conservation organization has identified and assisted with fish tagging and methods of fish preservation. The inau- the removal of obsolete dams across the country to gural symposium will take place in Manchester. The loca- restore fish migration routes. In future journals, we will tion and topics of future symposia will be determined bring you additional articles written by other conserva- after reviewing feedback and recommendations from the tion organizations whose impact directly affects our first symposium. angling waters. • Conservation research center. We will work with a number of conservation organizations to identify projects (both The museum is excited as we move forward with plans for successful and not so successful) that those organizations this important conservation initiative. The preservation of want to archive in the museum’s collection. The informa- angling history is what we do, and the preservation of conser- tion will include documents, photographs, video, and other vation efforts is now part of our mandate. forms of documentation that represent the processes and CATHI COMAR planning behind conservation projects. These records will EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR The American Museum of Fly Fishing 4070 Main Street • PO Box 42 Manchester,Vermont 05254 Tel: (802) 362-3300 •Fax: (802) 362-3308 E-MAIL: [email protected] WEBSITE: www.amff.com
THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF FLY FISHING, a or place an advertisement in this journal. We nationally accredited, nonprofit, educational encourage you to give the museum con - institution dedicated to preserving the rich sideration when planning for gifts, be quests, heritage of fly fishing, was founded in and memorials. Manchester, Vermont, in 1968. The museum serves as a repository for and conservator to the world’s largest collection of angling and JOIN! angling-related objects. The museum’s collec- Membership Dues (per annum) tions, exhibitions, and public programs pro- vide documentation of the evolution of fly Friend $10,000 fishing as a sport, art form, craft, and indus- $5,000 try in the United States and abroad from its $1,000 origins to the present. Rods, reels, flies, tackle, Sponsor $500 art, books, manuscripts, and photographs Business $250 form the basis of the museum’s collections. Benefactor $100 The museum provides public programs to Associate $50 fulfill its educational mission, including exhi- The museum is an active, member-oriented bitions, publications, gallery programs, and nonprofit institution. Membership dues special events. Research services are available include four issues of the American Fly Fisher; for members, visiting scholars, students, edu- unlimited visits for your entire family to cational organizations, and writers. Contact museum exhibitions, gallery programs, and Yoshi Akiyama at [email protected] to special events; access to our 7,000-volume schedule a visit. angling reference library; and a discount on all items sold by the museum on its website and VOLUNTEER! inside the museum store, the Brookside Angler. To join, please contact Laura Napol - Throughout the year, the museum needs volun- itano at [email protected]. teers to help with programs, special projects, events, and administrative tasks. You do not have to be an angler to enjoy working with us! Contact Laura Napolitano at lnapolitano @amff.com to tell us how we would benefit from your skills and talents. SUPPORT! The American Museum of Fly Fishing relies on the generosity of public-spirited individuals for substantial support. Please contact us if you Scan with your smart- wish to contribute funding to a specific pro- phone to visit our gram, donate an item for fund-raising purposes, collection online!