th A nn iv er sa ry The America n Fly Fisher Journal of the American Museum of Fly Fishing Still Celebrating we’ve celebrat - ferent one? Who is the originator of a fly Foster Bam Erik R. Oken ed the museum’s fiftieth anniver - if two very similar or same flies are Dave Beveridge Annie Hollis Perkins sary this year (dinners! receptions! designed contemporaneously by two cre - A Peter Bowden Leigh H. Perkins a dedicated issue of the American Fly ators? Enjoy this history of a hopper fight, Fishe r!), we’re basking in the satisfaction beginning on page . Mark Comora Frederick S. Polhemus of accomplishment, especially after the “Even very experienced guides do not Deborah Pratt Dawson Roger Riccardi positive feedback about the summer see this often: a fine fisherman, an Ronald Gard Robert G. Scott issue. Many of you took time to tell us how Atlantic salmon, a bamboo fly rod, and a Alan Gnann Nicholas F. Selch much you enjoyed the museum timeline Bogdan reel all doing what they were Gardner Grant Jr. Warren Stern and our “Fifty Museum Favorites,” a show - made to do.” So writes Robert Sohrweide John Hadden Ronald B. Stuckey case of items beloved by staff. We had a in a reminiscence of his first salmon-fish - James Heckman, MD Tyler S. Thompson great time putting those pieces together, ing trip with his friend Rob. This Telling Karen Kaplan Richard G. Tisch and we’re thankful to good museum Tails piece, “Bamboo and Bogdan,” can be Woods King III David H. Walsh friends who contributed to our special found on page . William P. Leary III Andrew Ward anniversary edition. In March, the fly-fishing world lost the And now back to our authors, who legendary Lefty Kreh, a good friend to the Anthony J. Magardino Patricia Watson have been waiting patiently for publica - museum. We were grateful to receive Christopher P. Mahan Thomas Weber tion while we were off celebrating our - items from his tying room for our collec - Walter T. Matia Frankie Wolfson selves for an entire issue. tion, including his tying desk, which David Nichols James C. Woods The name A. J. Bradford isn’t widely Digital Marketing Coordinator Alex Ford Robert A. Oden Jr. Nancy W. Zakon recognized in the world of angling history, describes in detail in “Inside Lefty’s Tying but because of two well-known fly-fishing Room” (page ). Take a look. photos—widely distributed through turn- I’m sad to say that we’ve lost other of-the-twentieth-century promotional museum friends this year, including two in James Hardman Mich igan railroad materials, Field & July: Leon Martuch of Scientific Anglers David B. Ledlie Stream , and Forest and Stream —his face fame, who was a longtime museum trustee Paul Schullery was famous. Over the years, few publica - and past president, and the writer Art Lee. tions identified the angler at all, and some When Martuch was honored with the misidentified him (e.g., as Michigan con - museum’s Heritage Award in , former Karen Kaplan servationist William B. Mershon or executive director Paul Schullery wrote a President President Grover Cleveland). We at the tribute for the occasion; we share it with American Fly Fisher , it turns out, are you on page . Then, on page , Galen Robert A. Oden Jr. among those who got it wrong when we Mercer memorializes his good friend in Vice President assumed that a photo in the museum’s “Riverman: Remembering Art Lee.” Andrew Ward collection was labeled correctly. Robert E. Summer brought with it our weekly Vice President Kohrman sets the record straight in “Old kids clinic in July (page ) and our James C. Woods Brad: The Best-Known Fishing Guide in annual fly-fishing festival in August (page Secretary the Country,” giving a thorough history ). We’re happy to welcome so many of the photos, the angler they capture, friends to the museum grounds. Peter Bowden and the photographer. Head to the Pere And speaking of the kids clinics and Treasurer Marquette with us on page . the festival, I should mention that the Some of you may already be familiar museum is lucky to have a posse of dedi - with the who-invented-it controversy cated tiers who help us out with demon - Sarah Foster starring Ed Shenk and Ernie Schwiebert. strations and teaching events. In the spir - Executive Director In “The Letort Hoppers,” John Capowski it of thanking people who helped us make Yoshi Akiyama Samantha Pitcher notes that within the controversy are big - it to fifty, we’d like to thank our tiers pub - Deputy Director Assistant Director ger questions that are “easy to ask but dif - licly, especially those who have been tire - of Development Alex Ford ficult to answer.” What importance does lessly volunteering over the last decade Shane Quintana Digital Marketing the name of a pattern have in making it (page ). Coordinator Gallery Assistant the original? How different do a pattern’s Yes, we’re still celebrating. On to fifty- materials need to be from an existing fly one! Kelsey McBride Patricia Russell to make it a new one? To what degree Administrative Assistant Business Manager does a fly with the same materials fas - K A Sara Wilcox tened in a different fashion make it a dif - E Director of Visual Communication ’ E. M. Bakwin Karen Kaplan Michael Bakwin Kenneth Kosakoff and Mariann Covello Foster Bam and Sallie Baldwin David and Margaret Nichols Dave Beveridge Leigh and Annie Hollis Perkins Peter Bowden John Redpath Mark Comora Robert and Karen Scott Jon and Deborah Pratt Dawson Nicholas and Jean Selch Gardner Grant Jr. Marye and Richard G. Tisch Journal of the American Museum of Fly Fishing Summerfield Johnston Paul Volcker Alan and Nancy Zakon Old Brad: The Best-Known Fishing Guide in the Country .................. Robert E. Kohrman Shannon Brightman Robert McGraw Nick Dawes Tom and Laurie McGuane Time to Dream ........................... Alex de Latour Teresa and Robert Oden Jr. George Jacobi Tom Evans Erik and Jennifer Oken Alan and Linda Gnann Franklin Schurz Jr. The Letort Hoppers ........................ John Hadden Warren Stern John J. Capowski Skip and Meg Herman Ronald and Joan Stuckey Phyllis Herrick Tyler and Francis Thompson Telling Tails: Bamboo and Bogdan .............. Paul Tudor Jones Andrew and Elizabeth Ward Robert Sohrweide Art and Martha Kaemmer Patricia Watson Wendy and Woods King III Tom Weber Inside Lefty’s Tying Room ................... Christopher Mahan Robert Wilson Alex Ford Janet Mavec and Wayne Nordberg Steve Woit Frankie Wolfson Fly-Fishing Festival ........................ Our Tireless Tiers ......................... ’ In Memoriam: Leon Martuch ................. Louis Bacon Bill and Francesca Leary Paul Schullery Anthony Davino Walter and Pam Matia Charles Patrick Durkin Jr. Bradford and Pamela Mills Alan Guarino Jason and Shachar Scott In Memoriam: James and Susan Heckman Matthew and Taylor Scott Riverman: Remembering Art Lee ............... Tim Hixon James Woods Galen Mercer Summer Kids Clinics ....................... ’ Museum News ........................... Parker Corbin Albert Nichols Bailey Hallingby David E. Nichols Jr. Contributors ............................ Woods King IV Jason M. Scott John Neukom Broderick Smith : Andrew J. “Old Brad” Bradford standing in the Baldwin River in Michigan. From the collection of Robert E. Kohrman. The American Fly Fisher (ISSN - ) is published four times a year by the museum at P.O. Box , Manchester, Vermont . Publication dates are winter, spring, summer, and fall. Membership dues include the cost of the journal ( ) and are tax deductible as provided for by law. Membership rates are listed in the back of each issue. All letters, manuscripts, photographs, and materials intended for publication in the journal should be Kathleen Achor sent to the museum. The museum and journal are not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, drawings, photo - Editor graphic material, or memorabilia. The museum cannot accept responsibility for statements and interpretations that are wholly the author’s. Unsolicited manuscripts cannot be returned unless postage is provided. Sarah May Clarkson Contributions to The American Fly Fisher are to be considered gratuitous and the property of the museum unless Copy Editor otherwise requested by the contributor. Copyright © , The American Museum of Fly Fishing, Manchester, Vermont . Original material appearing may not be reprinted without prior permission. Periodical postage Sara Wilcox paid at Manchester, Vermont ; Manchester, Vermont ; and additional offices (USPS ). The Design & Production American Fly Fisher (ISSN - ) : [email protected] : www.amff.org : Send address changes to: The American Fly Fisher P.O. Box Manchester, Vermont Old Brad: The Best-Known Fishing Guide in the Country by Robert E. Kohrman hortly after the end of the nine - photographs. The image was captivating: photo as the Pere Marquette River but teenth century, a seemingly obscure an elderly angler in repose, carefully offered no additional information re - Sangler from rural west Michigan extracting a fly from the lip of a brook garding the angler or the photographer.4 was described as the “best-known fishing trout—an act to which every sportsman The poster size of the photo graph as dis - guide in the country.”1 The fisherman, might aspire. At the time, this com - tributed by the railroad allowed it to be Andrew J. Bradford, also known as A. J. pelling scene was perhaps the largest and prominently displayed on the walls of Bradford, often referred to himself as most popular angling photograph ever many train stations, cabins, and homes; “Brad” and in later years as “Old Brad.” to receive nationwide distribution. as a consequence, the attractive print He was from Baldwin, a small communi - One of Field & Stream’s most impor - proved to be a sensational promotion.5 ty, located astride the upper reaches of tant magazine competitors, Forest and To meet popular demand, the PMRR the Pere Marquette River and its various Stream, apparently took note of this distributed thousands of copies of the branches, a watershed recognized then event.