The American Fly Fisher Journal of the American Museum of Fly Fishing SUMMER 2007 VOLUME 33 NUMBER 3 A Summer Spin Crayfish. Illustration by D. W. McGary. OMETIMES FISHING ISN’T just about fly fishing. Some - ing the war years, addressing such details as obstacles to getting times even the American Fly Fisher isn’t just about fly fish- to water in the days of gas rationing, water pollution in days Sing. Sometimes we actually acknowledge other methods of before serious regulation, and motorless boating. But while fishing. And what better time to do that than summer? giving a sense of the work of it, he also captures its joys: the rit- Think about it. I’m guessing that many of our readers got uals, the bait gathering (worms, crayfish, minnows, hellgram- their first taste of this sport during long, warm, slightly more mites), and the being-out-in-it that we all love—a world of carefree days. I’m also guessing that more folks than not start- turtles and snakes, herons and egrets, sandpipers and ducks, ed with a rod not loaded with fly line. Some impaled living and various flies (horse-, dragon-, damsel-, butter-). When the things on a hook to attract bigger living things. Some trained twelve-year-old McGary gulps down an ice-cold orange drink a thumb to play its part when lobbing line from a bait-casting at the end of a hot, dehydrating day, the reader is right there reel. Some marveled at the efficiency and simplicity of a spin- with him. This memoir about a boy, his grandfather, and some ning rod. Many of us found our way to fly fishing through one fish is a great summer read. “Challenges and Delights” begins of these alternate routes. on page 2. Not only are these methods part of fishing history, but for We fly fishers and the rest of the world lost Ernest most of us, they are part of our personal histories, and there- Schwiebert in December 2005. In January 2007, his friend Jim fore part of who we are as fly fishers. Rikhoff was among a small group who gathered to bury his So I was most enthusiastic to be able to offer you a look at ashes by Argentina’s Caleufu River on Douglas Reid’s estancia. Paul Schullery’s “Spinners and Sinners: Crossing the Divide With “Homage to Patagonia: Schwiebert’s Friends Deliver His between Angling Subcultures.” Dating his own foray into seri- Ashes” (page 19), Rikhoff shares a little of this journey. ous fishing to his acquisition of a Garcia Mitchell 300 spinning We’re also sad to report the passing of museum friend reel, Schullery gives a brief history of spinning lures and reels, Gerald A. Hayes Jr., who died in February in Pennsylvania. The and of the fast evolution of the sport after World Wars I and II, museum has received many generous memorial contributions when progress in materials and leisure time came together in in his name. For more about Jerry, turn to page 22. an almost explosive way. He discusses the tensions among bait, As always, we report on important happenings in Museum spin, and fly fishers in terms of regulations, philosophy, con- News (page 24). We recognize and thank our annual fund servation issues, and class. He debunks some firmly held ideas donors on page 26. We announce our joint exhibit with the by and about both spin and fly fishers. Ultimately, he recog- Peabody Museum of Natural History (page 20). And we nizes the allure of both methods—at least personally. This encourage you to keep those cards and letters coming, as our engaging article begins on page 13. friends have done on page 23. About the same time I happened upon “Spinners and These sultry summer days, think back to your own fishing Sinners,” I read another piece that wasn’t really about fly fish- beginnings. ing per se, but had so much texture and historical sense of place that I wanted to find a home for it in these pages. The title pretty much sums it up: “Challenges and Delights: Fishing the Susquehanna at Steelton in 1943.” D. W. McGary gives an KATHLEEN ACHOR account of being a boy fishing that part of Pennsylvania dur- EDITOR THE AMERICAN MUSEUM Journal of the American Museum of Fly Fishing OF FLY FISHING SUMMER 2007 VOLUME 33 NUMBER 3 Preserving the Heritage of Fly Fishing TRUSTEES Challenges and Delights: Fishing the E. M. Bakwin Carl R. Kuehner III Susquehanna at Steelton in 1943 .................2 Michael Bakwin Nancy Mackinnon Foster Bam Walter T. Matia D. W. McGary Pamela Bates William C. McMaster, MD Duke Buchan III John Mundt Spinners and Sinners: Crossing the Divide Peter Corbin David Nichols between Angling Subcultures ..................13 Jerome C. Day Wayne Nordberg Paul Schullery Blake Drexler Raymond C. Pecor Christopher Garcia Stephen M. Peet Homage to Patagonia: Schwiebert’s Friends Ronald Gard Leigh H. Perkins George R. Gibson III John Rano Deliver His Ashes..........................19 Gardner L. Grant John K. Regan Chris Gruseke Roger Riccardi Seeing Wonders: The Nature of Fly Fishing: James Hardman Kristoph J. Rollenhagen An Exhibition ...........................20 James D. Heckman, MD Robert G. Scott Arthur Kaemmer, MD Richard G. Tisch In Memoriam: Gerald A. Hayes Jr. ...............22 Woods King III David H. Walsh James C. Woods Letters ................................23 Museum News ...........................24 TRUSTEES EMERITI Charles R. Eichel Robert N. Johnson Contributors ............................25 G. Dick Finlay David B. Ledlie W. Michael Fitzgerald Leon L. Martuch William Herrick Keith C. Russell ON THE COVER: D. W. McGary’s photograph of his grandson exploring the Paul Schullery same ledges he did as a child is featured in McGary’s article “Challenges and Delights: Fishing the Susquehanna at Steelton in 1943,” which begins OFFICERS on page 2. Chairman of the Board Robert G. Scott President Nancy Mackinnon The American Fly Fisher (ISSN 0884-3562) is published Vice Presidents George R. Gibson III four times a year by the museum at P.O. Box 42, Manchester, Vermont 05254. Stephen M. Peet Publication dates are winter, spring, summer, and fall. Membership dues include the cost of the David H. Walsh journal ($15) and are tax deductible as provided for by law. Membership rates are listed in the back of each issue. Secretary James C. Woods All letters, manuscripts, photographs, and materials intended for publication in the journal should be sent to Clerk Charles R. Eichel the museum. The museum and journal are not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, drawings, photographic 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. Contributions to The American Fly Fisher are to be considered gratuitous and the property of the museum unless otherwise requested STAFF by the contributor. Articles appearing in this journal are abstracted and indexed in Historical Abstracts and America: History and Life. Copyright © 2007, the American Museum of Fly Fishing, Manchester, Vermont 05254. Original Executive Director William C. Bullock III material appearing may not be reprinted without prior permission. Periodical postage paid at Collections Manager Yoshi Akiyama Manchester, Vermont 05254 and additional offices (USPS 057410). The American Fly Fisher (ISSN 0884-3562) Administration & Membership Rebecca Nawrath EMAIL: [email protected] WEBSITE: www.amff.com Art Director Sara Wilcox POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The American Fly Fisher, P. O. B ox 42, Manchester, Vermont 05254. Account Manager Patricia Russell THE AMERICAN FLY FISHER Editor Kathleen Achor We welcome contributions to the American Fly Fisher. Before making a submission, Design & Production Sara Wilcox please review our Contributor’s Guidelines on our website (www.amff.com), or Copy Editor Sarah May Clarkson write to request a copy. The museum cannot accept responsibility for statements and interpretations that are wholly the author’s. Challenges and Delights: Fishing the Susquehanna at Steelton in 1943 by D. W. McGary D. W. McGary A view of the Susquehanna in 2006, taken by the author from the boat-launch ramp on which he begins his story. HEN THE WATER is perfect, the In the middle of summer, the launch As I got about 10 yards from the launch late evening air warm and pleas- area is a busy place. Not only do people ramp, a boat gradually emerged on the Want, and you still have energy to put their boats in there, others come ramp. It was being backed down on a keep at it, it is very hard to accept the real- down to the shoreline and fish off the trailer behind a huge, immaculately ity that you are just not going to catch large rocks that line the edge of the clean, shiny-black SUV. The boat was at anything. And when that happens, you water. Some people come there and just least 16 feet long, black fiberglass, flecked either pack it in and go home, or you find sit on folding chairs alongside the ramp with metallic gold. On the back of the something else to do along the river. Not or skip flat stones over the water or go boat was a 225-horsepower outboard so long ago, on a perfect evening in July wading. There is almost always someone motor, and there was a large electric while fishing along the Susquehanna, I there to talk to or something to watch, motor on the bow. Sticking up along the admitted defeat, sat on a rock with my and I expected to find some diversion sides of a central console were six fishing feet dangling in the water, reeled in my there before going home.