The Thirtieth anniversary limited edition lithograph from original watercolor, The Bubble, by fly tyer and artist John Betts, 4 " x 16% ", with ample margins designed for museum-quality An International Cast framing. Available in Anniversary LY FI s HING. People all over the world indulge in this sport. Some even Edition (edition of300 prints signed think about its history and want to share their findings and knowledge in The and numbered by the artist, unframed, $75) and Celebration Edition (edition FAmerican Fly Fisher. This Spring 1998 issue is the most international I've had of thirty prints in a shadowbox framing the pleasure to work on. that includes the signed, numbered, and First, Alvaro Masseini of Italy brings us "Fly Fishing in Valsesia, Italy: An An- remarqued print as well as a fly tied by cient Technique." In his article, Masseini discusses a fly-fishing technique found in Betts that reflects the mayflies in the the valley of the Sesia River in northern Italy. He explains its equipment and print, $25o-twelve of these will be offered at Museum dinner/auctions, history-a history that has basically been passed on orally, not in written form. leaving only eighteen available here). Then, in "A Fourth-Century European Illustration of a Salmon Angler:' Frederick Order by phone (802) 362-3300 or by Buller of England follows a lead to a bronze plate that was engraved with a repre- mail: AMFF, PO Box 42, Manchester, sentation of a fisherman during the Roman occupation of Britain. VT 05254. Shipping and handling is Jiirgen F. Preylowski of Germany is back with a photo essay culled from his col- $5 for the Anniversary Edition, $12 for the Celebration Edition. VISA, lection of historic fly-fishing photographs. The text, "He Avoids Fashionable Cos- Mastercard, and AmEx accepted. tume:' was originally published in the February 1985 issue of Fliegenfischen. Richard C. Hoffmann of Canada translated the article for us, which addresses clothing and equipment deemed appropriate in Europe in the early part of this century. (Every spring journal needs a fashion section!) Some of the images were taken by Alexan- der Behm (see Winter 1998, vol. 24, no. 1, pp. 20 to 23), the others by an unknown photographer. My favorite appears on page 17, highlighting the camaraderie of Julie Helene Brehm, Horst Brehm, and Baron von der Ropp. Here in the United States, we're celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of the American Museum of Fly Fishing. On page 20, Board of Trustees President Richard G. Tisch highlights recent accomplishments, goals, and our appreciation of mem- ber support in "The Museum Reaches 30.'' We're also proud to have honored Trustee Gardner Grant with the Museum's Heritage Award this year at our success- ful benefit dinner in New York City (see Museum News for story and photos). As part of celebrating our thirtieth birthday, two artists have made their art available to the membership in limited edition prints. Pictured above is The Bubble, a watercolor by John Betts that turned out to be the most coveted piece in his art show last summer. The other, The Pool by Brett James Smith, is pictured on the in- side back cover, where Executive Director Gary Tanner tells you more about both of them. Happy wading. KATHLEENACHOR, EDITOR Preserving the Heritage Journal of 4the American Museum of Fly Fishing of Fly Fishing SPRING 1998 VOLUME 24 NUMBER 2 TRUSTEES E. M. Bakwin Walter T. Matia Michael Bakwin Janet Mavec Fly Fishing in Valsesia, Italy: An Ancient Foster Bam Wayne Nordberg Paul Bofinger Michael B. Osborne Technique. ............................2 Donn Byrne, Sr. Allan K. Poole Alvaro Masseini James H. Carey Pamela B. Richards Roy D. Chapin, Jr. Tom Rosenbauer A Fourth-Century European Illustration of Peter Corbin Robert G. Scott Thomas N. Davidson James Spendiff a Salmon Angler. ........................6 Charles Ferree Arthur Stern Frederick Buller Reed Freyermuth John Swan Duncan Grant Richard G. Tisch He Avoids Fashionable Costume. ...............14 Gardner L. Grant David H. Walsh James H. Hunter Richard J. Warren Jiirgen F. Preylowski Woods King I11 Joe Wells (translated by Richard C. Hoffmann) James C. Woods The Museum Reaches 30 ....................20 TRUSTEES EMERITI Richard G. Tisch G. Dick Finlay David B. Ledlie W. Michael Fitzgerald Leon L. Martuch Honoring Our Membership. ..................21 William Herrick Keith C. Russell Robert N. Johnson Paul Schullery 24 Stephen Sloan Museum News. .......................... OFFICERS Contributors. ...........................28 President Richard G. Tisch Vice Presidents Arthur Stern Pamela B. Richards o N T H E c o v E R : From the files of Jiirgen F. Preylowski, a photograph David H. Walsh by Alexander Behm, dates uncertain. Preylowski documents angling dress Treasurer James H. Carey in his photo essay, which begins on page 14. Secretary James C. Woods STAFF Executive Director Gary Tanner The American Fly Fisher is published four tlmes a year by the Museum at PO. Box 42, Manchester, Vermont 05254. Administration Marianne Kennedy Publliation dates are winter, spring, summer, and fall. Membership dues include the cost of the Paula M. Welch Events eS- Membership ~ournal($30) and are tax deductible as provided far by law Membership rates are listed in the back of each issue. All letters, manuscripts, photographs, and rnater~als intended for publication in the laurnal should be sent to THE AMERICAN FLY FISHER the Museum. The Museum and journal are not responsible for unsallcltcd manuscripts, drawings, photographic Editor Kathleen Achor material, or memorabilia. The Museum cannot accept respansiblllty for statements and interpretations that are Design eS- Production Randall Rives Perkins wholly the author's. Unsolicited manuscripts cannot be returned unless postage is provided. Cantrlbutions ta The Copy Editor Sarah May Clarkson American Fly Fisher are to be considered gratuitous and the property of the Museum unless otherwise requested ConsultingEditor Margotpage by the contributor. Articles appearing in this journal are abstracted and mdexed m Htstorical Abstracts and America: Contributing Editor Paul Schullery History and Lzfe. Copyright D 1998, the American Museum af Fly Flshing, Manchester, Vermont 05254. Original mater~alappearing may not be reprinted w~thoutprior permission. Second Class Permit pastagc pad at Manchester Vermont 05254 and addltlonai offices (USPS 057410). The Amencan Fly Fisher (ISSN 0884.3562) POSTMASTER:Send address changes to The Amencnn Fly Fisher, PO. Box 42, Manchestcr, Vermont 05254. SPRING 1998 1 Fly Fishing in Valsesia, Italy: An Ancient Technique by Alvaro Masseini T IS COMMON KNOWLEDGE that in addition to the classic Anglo-Saxon in the Piedmont region, covers a surface our contemporary fly-fishing tech- traditions, other methods developed in- area of 1,000 square kilometers. The Iniques originated in England at the dependently in geographic areas located Sesia River springs from the Monte beginning of the sixteenth century. It is far from the great arteries of European Rosa, which, at 13,899 feet, is one of the also well known that during the same communication. In these culturally highest mountains in Europe. It runs period, similar techniques spread in "closed" areas, a fishing tradition grew through the provinces of Vercelli and northern Spain, although historians do based on the use of artificial flies, but Novara and flows from the north into not agree whether these techniques these methods were rather different the great Po River. A mountain and originated in Spain or were imported by from the "English technique." high-hill area, Valsesia is characterized foreign pilgrims during their trip to the One of these areas is the valley of the by meadows and forests in the north sanctuary of Santiago Compostelo. Sesia River in northern Italy. The typical and wineries in the south. Many fly-fishing historians agree that fly-fishing technique there is called Umberto Eco wrote in The Name of even in ancient Greece, some species of Valsesiana. I became aware of the Val- the Rose that during the Middle Ages the fish were caught with artificial flies sesiana technique and its variation, impervious territory of the high valley made of feathers. pesca a frusta, when I saw anglers using of the Sesia River, almost inaccessible, But only a few people are aware that them and when I read about them in sheltered the followers of the heretic Italian fishing manuals published before monk Fra Dolcino. This large group of the 1970s. Since then, one can seldom people was persecuted and slaughtered ABOVE: Fishing with the classical find articles on the Valsesiana technique at Varallo in 1307 by the papist troops of Valsesiana rod: two pieces of natural reed in specialized magazines, and there is no the Bishop of Vercelli. with the bamboo top (thefisherman is information published at all about the The Sesia River is a large-size alpine Arturo Pugno, an expert of this tech- pesca a frusta. stream in which grayling and brown nique, the president of the local The Sesia River valley, located in and marble trout find the best environ- association of anglers). northwest Italy near the city of Vercelli ment. The latter species-the Salrno 2 THE AMERICAN FLY FISHER I Landscape of the Sesia River near the I town of Varallo. trutta marrnoratu~isa biotype exclu- ate). Even today, no current book exists Valsesiana and the pesca a frusta (a vari- sively found in Italian alpine and to illustrate this technique: it was ation of Valsesiana, using the rod like a Slovenic rivers that can reach a weight taught, and learned, through experi- whip). of more than 20 pounds. This secluded ence. The Sesia River's fame for its exquis- environment of alpine valleys produced It is clear that this technique was not ite trout dates back to the eighteenth a peculiar fly-fishing technique. affected by any external influence.