Vol. 35, No. 2, Spring, 2009
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The American Fly Fisher Journal of the American Museum of Fly Fishing SPRING 2009 VOLUME 35 NUMBER 2 Profiles in Fly Fishing THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF FLY FISHING Preserving the Heritage of Fly Fishing en All FRIENDS OF THE MUSEUM don Gor Alan Airth (’08) Robert Brucker (’08) C. Austin Buck (’08) Larry Cohen (’08) S MANY OF YOU are aware, it’s the Martha. To learn more about this legend Donald Christ (’08) nature of publications for staff to be from one who knew him, turn to page 10. David DiPiero (’08) Aworking on an issue’s words and Kay Brodney, tournament caster, is the Domenic DiPiero (’08) images—like the ones you hold in your subject of this issue’s “Gallery” piece (page John Dreyer Sr. (’08) hands right now—months in advance of 17). Brodney, once a trustee of the museum, Fredrik Eaton (’08) said issue’s in-house arrival. Here we are in donated two early fiberglass fly rods made Michael Geitz (’08) deep-freeze January putting together the by the Reelon Rod Co. Nathan George, in Jon Gibson (’08) last of the words you will read in the Spring “Casting for Action, Not Attention: Kay Thomas Gravina (’08) 2009 issue. By the time you open its pages, Brodney’s Fiberglass Rods,” highlights this James Houghton (’08) even we in the Northeast will be donning our early-1980s acquisition and gives us some John Kaiser (’08) waders and hitting the local trout streams, Brodney background as well. Fred Kambeitz (’08) which today seems like a distant dream. With this issue, we launch what we hope Charles Kirkland Kellogg (’08) I have a springlike excitement, though, will become a semiregular department called Peter Kellogg (’08) about this issue. If you want to learn a little “Keepers of the Flame.” The idea is to high- Steve Lampe (’08) about some of the characters who have light the contributions of contemporary Mike McCall (’08) shaped (and are shaping) fly-fishing histo- artisans and craftsmen. Trustee John Mundt, Stephen Myers (’08) ry, you’ve come to the right place. in this inaugural column, begins with “Per Robert O’Hara III (’08) Clarence Anderson notes that until the Brandin: Split-Cane Rodbuilder.” Mundt Frederick G. Weeman (’08) pub lication of A. J. Campbell’s Classic & tells us a bit about how Brandin got from Patrick Welsh (’08) Antique Fly-Fishing Tackle, John G. Landman opening that first Orvis Madison bamboo Greg Wheeler (’08) of Brooklyn, New York, was just another kit in the late 1960s to becoming a rodbuilder obscure rodmaker of his time, sorely ig - with “an order backlog ap proaching a denotes additional levels of giving nored in rodmaking histories. By insisting decade and a closed waiting list.” You’ll find STAFF on Landman’s importance, Campbell ele- this profile on page 18. vated the rodmaker’s status, provoking News of museum activities, both recent Catherine E. Comar interest in Landman in collectors and his- and future, can be found on page 20. In Executive Director torians alike. This interest has, according to “Notes from the Library” (page 19), Gerald Yoshi Akiyama Anderson, ultimately served to reveal that Karaska re views a recently acquired title: Deputy Director some of Campbell’s conclusions were pre- Diane K. Inman’s The Fine Art of Angling: Sarah Moore mature. In “The Invisible Man: John G. Ten Modern Masters, a book that showcases Project & Administrative Coordinator Landman” (page 2), Anderson shares what images by contemporary angling artists. he has since learned about Landman, not- With springlike enthusiasm, we take spe- Kim Murphy ing that his own examination “may inspire cial notice of those who helped us be a Events Coordinator others to correct its errors and improve on museum in 2008, both financially (see pages Patricia Russell its inadequacies.” 22–24) and by volunteering (see Executive Account Manager In “Chauncy Lively: An Innovative Fly Director Cathi Comar’s “Thank You, Vol - Sara Wilcox Tier and a Consummate Fly Fisherman,” unteers” on the inside back cover). And Director of Visual Communication Hoagy B. Carmichael reflects on his friend- many thanks to each and every one of our ship with “the fly tier’s fly tier.” Lively, the members, whose support makes possible originator of reverse palmering, authored our ability to continue to, in accordance THE AMERICAN FLY FISHER the now-difficult-to-obtain Chauncy Lively’s with our mission statement, promote “an Kathleen Achor Flybox and was a longtime columnist for understanding of and appreciation for the Editor Pennsylvania Angler magazine. Carmichael history, traditions, and practitioners, past Sara Wilcox gives a good biographical overview of and present, of the sport of fly fishing.” Design & Production Lively and his wife Marion, noting especial- ly the importance of the couple’s friendship KATHLEEN ACHOR Sarah May Clarkson with rodmaker Paul Young and his wife EDITOR Copy Editor TRUSTEES Michael Bakwin Foster Bam Pamela Bates Duke Buchan III Peter Corbin Jerome C. Day Blake Drexler Christopher Garcia Ronald Gard George R. Gibson III Gardner L. Grant Journal of the American Museum of Fly Fishing James Hardman SPRING 2009 VOLUME 35 NUMBER 2 James Heckman, MD Arthur Kaemmer, MD Woods King III The Invisible Man: John G. Landman .............2 Carl R. Kuehner III Clarence Anderson William P. Leary III Douglas F. MacKenzie Chauncy Lively: An Innovative Fly Tier Walter T. Matia and a Consummate Fly Fisherman ...............10 John R. McMahon Hoagy B. Carmichael William C. McMaster, MD Bradford Mills Gallery: Casting for Action, Not John Mundt Attention: Kay Brodney’s Fiberglass Rods ...........17 David Nichols Nathan George Wayne Nordberg Erik R. Oken Keepers of the Flame: Raymond C. Pecor Per Brandin: Split-Cane Rodbuilder ..............18 Stephen M. Peet John Mundt Leigh H. Perkins Frederick S. Polhemus Notes from the Library ......................19 John Rano Gerald Karaska Roger Riccardi Kristoph J. Rollenhagen Museum News ...........................20 Philip Sawyer Robert G. Scott Contributors ............................21 Franklin G. Schurz Jr. Gary J. Sherman, DPM Museum Donors ..........................22 Ronald B. Stuckey Richard G. Tisch ON THE COVER: Chauncy Lively at his tying vise. From the Chauncy Lively David H. Walsh Archive, courtesy of Anne Lively and Claudia Lively DeVito. James C. Woods The American Fly Fisher (ISSN 0884-3562) is published four times a year by the museum at P.O. Box 42, Manchester, Vermont 05254. TRUSTEES EMERITI Publication dates are winter, spring, summer, and fall. Membership dues include the cost of the Charles R. Eichel journal ($40) and are tax deductible as provided for by law. Membership rates are listed in the back of each issue. Single G. Dick Finlay copy price is $10.00 per issue. All letters, manuscripts, photographs, and materials intended for publication in the jour- nal should be sent to the museum. The museum and journal are not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, drawings, W. Michael Fitzgerald photographic material, or memorabilia. The museum cannot accept responsibility for statements and interpretations that William Herrick are wholly the author’s. Unsolicited manuscripts cannot be returned unless postage is provided. Contributions to The Robert N. Johnson American Fly Fisher are to be considered gratuitous and the property of the museum unless otherwise requested David B. Ledlie by the contributor. Copyright © 2009, the American Museum of Fly Fishing, Manchester, Vermont 05254. Original mate- rial appearing may not be reprinted without prior permission. Periodical postage paid at Manchester, Vermont 05254; Leon L. Martuch Manchester, Vermont 05255; and additional offices (USPS 057410). The American Fly Fisher (ISSN 0884-3562) Keith C. Russell EMAIL: [email protected] WEBSITE: www.amff.com Paul Schullery POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The American Fly Fisher, P. O. B ox 42, Manchester, Vermont 05254. OFFICERS We welcome contributions to the American Fly Fisher. Before making a submission, Chairman of the Board David H. Walsh please review our Contributor’s Guidelines on our website (www.amff.com), or write to President George R. Gibson III request a copy. The museum cannot accept responsibility for statements and interpre- Vice Presidents James Heckman, MD tations that are wholly the author’s. Stephen M. Peet Richard G. Tisch Secretary James C. Woods Clerk Charles R. Eichel Treasurer Robert G. Scott The Invisible Man: John G. Landman by Clarence Anderson Photos by Clarence Anderson Ca. 1900 J. G. Landman maker’s mark. HE HISTORY OF American rodmak- were plenty of other obscure builders THE HUNT FOR LANDMAN ing seemed, toward the close of the producing unremarkable rods in limited Tlast century, to have been thor- numbers, generally using ready-made The overwhelming majority of oughly investigated by Martin J. Keane’s rod fittings, such as those supplied by Landman-attributed rods bear other Classic Rods and Rodmakers, Ernest Thomas Chubb. Campbell took it upon names—the retailers, that is, who com- Schwiebert’s Trout, a few other less influ- himself to elucidate, with convincing missioned them—but this is not the only ential books, and numerous studies in zeal, that Landman was no such minor reason Campbell’s “single most obscure” the American Fly Fisher, such as those of leaguer, but on the contrary deserved appellation is so appropriate. Whether by Mary Kelly. To be sure, many details of recognition as an important manufac- design or accident, Landman left few the lives and careers of the major rod- turer of top-quality rods of all vari- tracks in the places they might be expect- makers remained uncertain, or even en - eties—“some of the most beautiful ever ed: advertising (or other mention) in tirely unknown, but most students of the to enter the market”—for many of the sporting periodicals, for example, or subject would probably have believed it most prestigious tackle retailers, such as sponsorship of the casting tournaments inconceivable that the name of one of the historic New York City houses of so popular in his day.