The Why Behind the Fly

It was a mid August evening on a remote trout stream in central Pennsylvania, and I was all set to wet my line in the hopes of hooking a beautiful trout. The water was clear and the air humid as I approached the bank with my fly rod tucked under my arm. As I readied myself to cast, I repositioned my Nittany Blue cigar, careful not to obstruct my view of the stream with my exhale, as I targeted a feeding brown with what seemed a satiating appetite. A more practiced fly Fisherman would have attempted to 'match the hatch' where as I tied on a size 6 streamer and readied myself to cast, quartering downstream and swinging the fly across, envisioning the take, the fight, the landing.

I heard a friendly voice from behind me, asking how the fishing was. My buddy Ben and I had been friends since the end of our Penn State tenures, and after school we continued to stay connected as we both appreciated the outdoors and specifically tricking finicky trout with thread and precision. Ben was kind enough to offer me a spot on his weekend getaway with his Dad Jack, up in the Allegheny's at a well known yet private Rod & Gun club where they are members. I acknowledged Ben and was right back in the zone, focused on the task at hand in the dying daylight.

The cast, the mend, the strip. Slam! The brown inhaled the streamer and a fight ensued on my Cabelas Genesis 4 wt. Upon landing the fish, I looked up and saw an older gentleman sitting under the canopy of what seemed to be an old hut. He didn't have the same urgency to be on the water, perhaps he was reminiscing on all the times he had been in my boots, trying to get just one more fish before dark. He acknowledged my catch and continued to take in the evening scenery.

I turned to see Ben and his Dad walking towards him and other members of the club across the bank. Jack called out from across the stream, "hey Barry, do you want to meet Joe Humphreys?" I was floored. Where would we be going to meet him? Was the living legend of Pennsylvania fly fishing actually here on the property? I picked up my net, notched my fly accordingly on my rod, and began trotting with pace downstream to cross to the other side. I recognized him right away. It was Joe Humphreys, a living legend in the world of fly fishing. I couldn't believe my luck. Here, on this remote stream, I had the opportunity to meet and chat with one of the greatest fly anglers of all time.

Joe was so gracious, he knew I was a big fan. I told him my story of getting into fly fishing, swapping stories about fishing and life. I had already researched about his experiences fishing all over the world and his passion for teaching the next generation of anglers. In person he was unassuming and humble, making our interaction personable as if he had known me since I was a kid. His enthusiasm was infectious, and I couldn't help but feel lucky to be sharing the water with him.

As I recall, Ben and I fished and landed trout all day, and I watched in awe as Ben expertly cast his line and maneuvered his fly across the water. His knowledge and ease of use displayed years of experience, evident in every cast he made. Joe had been his teacher, his mentor on the water and I realized then I was in the company of serious practitioners of the sport. I decided to dedicate serious time and effort for the next time I'd have the opportunity.

As the sky finally turned black and the stars came out, we packed up and made our way up to the clubhouse. I left the stream that day feeling inspired by my chance encounter with such a fishing legend, and with a renewed appreciation for the beauty and challenge of fly fishing. It was a memory I'd cherish for a lifetime.