UPCOMING EVENTS

October14, 2006 -  Eighth Annual Dinner and Auction
June 17, 2006 - Fourth Annual PA Fly Fishing Heritage Day
Eighth PFFMA Commemorative Fly
Honoring Our Charter Members
Chauncy and Charlie: Gentlemen Anglers
"Fishing with Vince" by Joe Baker
 

October 13, 2007 9th Annual Dinner & Auction

Beyond our wonderful array of silent and live auction items and delectable edibles, we had some very special activities for the 2007 Annual Fundraising Dinner & Auction.
 

Ed Shenk Reception - We began with a special reception at 5:30 pm  to honor Ed Shenk, the Master of the Letort.  Ed is not only a legendary fly angler and innovative fly tier, but he is also an author and professional instructor.  He has devoted a lifetime of practice and study in the laboratory of the Letort Spring Run. He has many great stories to tell about fishing not only in Pennsylvania, but Wyoming, Montana, Argentina and others. Ed will be there to meet and mingle with the attendees.  He was also the featured fly tier for this year's commemorative fly.

Split & Glued by Vincent C. Marinaro - Bill Harms and Tom Whittle, authors of this amazing book which was recently released, were available for discussions about the book and signings.  On these pages, Harms and Whittle connect Marinaro’s life and times to the larger world of fly-fishing and the history of bamboo rod-making.  The authors will be making a special presentation to the PFFMA during the evening.

Ed Shenk's Letort Hopper - As in all past events, each attendee will receive a Commemorative Fly and this year we are honoring Ed Shenk's Letort Hopper. This Letort Cricket is a classic "terrestrial" that has taken trout all over the world.  Ed developed the cricket as a result of knocking a juicy, black cricket from a stump along the Letort and watching it get inhaled by a nice brown trout.  His first thought on naming the new fly was the melanistic cricket, but the Letort called to him and the rest is history.  Ed has fished the Letort for 70 years. This year is extra special since every fly will have been tied by Ed Shenk himself.

“SPLIT & GLUED BY  VINCENT C. MARINARO”

  Written by Bill Harms & Tom Whittle
   Foreword by Hoagy B. Carmichael
  Illustrations by Kim Mellema

 “Split & Glued By Vincent C. Marinaro ” is the inscription Vince put on each of his fly rods and serves as the title for this new work. Harms and Whittle analyze Marinaro’s rods and account for his path to becoming a maker of bamboo fly rods--his design criteria and building practices.

Vince Marinaro has long been acclaimed as one of Pennsylvania’s most influential fly-fishermen and authors--a career that was both extensive and varied. In addition to presenting local lore within the Cumberland Valley, Harms and Whittle connect Marinaro’s life and times to the larger world of fly-fishing and the history of bamboo rod-making.

 This publication was prepared by the authors in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Fly Fishing Museum Association and the Marinaro Estate, with a portion of the proceeds to benefit the museum.

This book is in 8 ½" x 11" format, full-color throughout,  approximately 300 pages, containing 11 original paintings,  225 photographs,  50 drawings, plus charts of all Marinaro’s rod tapers. Now available for purchase at www.stonycreekrods.com

 Eighth Annual Dinner & Auction

Descriptions and Photos of a Sampling of 2006 Auction Items!

Fourth Annual PA Fly Fishing Heritage Day

June 17, 2006 was a fabulous day! The day was filled with fun from beginning to end and the weather, once again, cooperated with beautiful sun and perfect temperatures.  There was all-day casting instruction, vendors and exhibitors, fly tyers in action, entomology classes, and the popular Fish Swim Race on the Yellow Breeches, Women's Fly Fishing Network Session and speakers discussing fiberglass rod building (starting from fibers!), fly fishing and conservation, and a demonstration of handmade landing nets.

Check out the flyer from this year for a closer look. 

We hope you will consider joining us this year, June 16, 2007!

Satellite Exhibit - Angler's Alcove, Williamsport

On October 23, 2004, the Susquehanna Chapter of Trout Unlimited (SCTU) and the Brown Library of Williamsport hosted the formal opening of the first PFFMA Satellite Exhibit.  The permanent display case is located in the Angler's Alcove, on the third floor of the library.  The Angler's Alcove is a cooperative effort between the SCTU and the library to bring this one of a kind collection of all things related to fishing to the public.  Many books are rare or limited editions, along with an impressive list of purely Pennsylvania authors.

The display case was generously paid for by the SCTU.  The current exhibit (Part 1 of 2) is entitled From Revolution to Railroads - Pennsylvania Fly Fishing in the 1700s and 1800s. Part I highlights fly fishing in Pennsylvania during the 1700s.  Part II will highlight fly fishing in Pennsylvania during the 1800s.

PFFMA has, as one of its goals, to establish several satellite exhibits throughout the state.

The first year, it was the Gaines Popper, then the Wooly Bugger, followed by George Harvey and his Spruce Creek Dry Fly and then Al Troth's Elk Hair Caddis in 2002 and Jim Leisenring's Spider for 2003, John crowe's Crowe Beetle in 2004 and Clouser's Minnow in 2005.  For each of our annual fundraising dinners, the PA Fly Fishing Museum Association has provided a commemorative fly as a “thank you” for every attendee and to pay tribute to the ingenuity of Pennsylvanians.

For the 2006 Fundraising Dinner, we will feature the Honey Bug and honor its inventor, Paul Berger. The Honey Bug is a wet fly or nymph, well known all over the East as a persistent trout taker.  An internet search will reveal several hits on the Honey Bug still in use today, but not much is available about Paul Berger.  The PFFMA was recently contacted by Paul Berger's grandson, Steve Berger.  Steve will be sharing some of his grandfather's treasures along with stories and articles about Paul and we will bring those stories to you.  We are very excited to make this connection.  And, in addition to our fine list of talented fly tiers that tie the Commemorative Fly every year for PFFMA, we will probably have some Honey Bugs tied by Paul himself, and his grandson!

So make plans to attend the Annual Dinner & Auction and add the Honey Bug to your collection of Commemorative Flies.

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Chauncy and Charlie: Gentlemen Anglers

As we researched the history and stories of Charlie Fox and Chauncy Lively, evaluated the items to display and interviewed family members and individuals who knew them, there was one recurring fact.  These two men, who contributed so much to the world of fly fishing, were the epitome of gentlemen anglers.  There are many accounts of their patience, generosity, and gentleness.  In the PFFMA exhibit at the Allenberry Resort Inn in Boiling Springs, we highlight their many contributions to fly fishing through their writings, innovations, and conservation efforts.  We also hope the exhibit will give you the opportunity to learn new stories about who they were on a more personal level.

 We wish to thank Anne Lively and Claudia Lively DeVito and Charles A. Fox and Family for their generosity in making this exhibit possible.  PFFMA is again fortunate to have Robert Bullock, Chief of Exhibition Management, PA Historical & Museum Commission, design and fabricate these exhibits.

Take the virtual tour

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"Fishing with Vince"
PFFMA Board member Joe Baker wrote a wonderful piece about Vince Marinaro entitled "Fishing with Vince".  This three part story was first published in the April 2001 issue of Central PA Magazine and was then featured in three consecutive issues of the PFFMA newsletter.  The entire article can be viewed on the Central PA website.

Mr. Baker works for Indiana University of PA as an archaeoligist, editor and web designer.  He is also a successful freelance writer and photographer. He lives in Boiling Springs, where he moved for the fishing.

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