We want things to last forever but they simply do not. Lefty Kreh, the greastest instructor of fly fishing in print and in person, Passed away today at 93. Active past the age of 90, he was truly our ambassador in a sport that needs an ambassador as one can glean from his quote from the top of the page. He was the real thing, the genuine article without a hint of pretense or snobbery and there may never be another like him.
I met him years ago at a fishing show and it was like meeting Ted Williams or Pedro Martinez. You knew you were in a special place, in rarefied air as they say, and Lefty made it special by taking a real interest in your question regardless of how many times he had been asked it. It was almost as if you had always known him!
He is gone but will not be forgotten. Read his work if you haven't or read it again if you have. You'll be the better for it!
R.I.P. Lefty
Ken
15 comments:
Sad, I think I'll go ty up some deceivers.
Ken, I am glad you got to meet such a genuine fellow fly fisherman, Lefty Kreh. It is always a privilege to meet such people that are truly genuine and not out for themselves, but rather to help others whether in fly fishing or other endeavors.
My favorite quote of his, and I know you have posted it before, "There's more B.S. in fly fishing than there is in a Kansas feedlot."
Rest in peace, Lefty.
A huge loss in fly fishing. Rough day - Stephen Hawking will leave a huge hole in the world... and Lefty a huge hole in the world of fly fishing. The world lost two great ones. They will both live on through the legacy they have created!
Will
The "feedlot" quote was politically incorrect for this age but it showed his human, salty side. I know of one blogger who got emotionally upset when I used that quote in a post.
He was also great at dispelling B.S. such as the use of ultra light tippets on sunken flies.
I'm going to fish a Deceiver today.
Ken
Used to enjoy his presentations up at LLBean Spring Fishing Events. Sadly both have passed! Even my wife a non-fisherman enjoyed his talks, and especially his quotes!
I have a lot of his books and I'm going to curl up with one by the wood stove tonite along with a nice single-malt and remember Lefty. RIP
Anonymous 8:05
That's doing it right!!
Ken
Lefty made the world and especially the fly fishing world a better place-thats a life well lived; he will be missed but not forgotten.
Saw him tie a deceiver at a L L Bean show after speaking, he explained each step and why he came up with it. Then he tied it again so quickly it looked like a high speed video. The question he answered was best color!!!! WHITE followed White then followed by white and maybe a yellow with some white. He then said he needed two fisherpersons who had never fished a deceiver, maybe 10 or 12 raised hands. He gave one to a lady and another to a older gentleman making them promise to fish the flies, again saying you can only have them if your going to fish them. R.I.P. I would also fish one today but with 23 inches of fresh snow I like the idea of tying up a few tonight and having a glass of red like anonymous said.
BobT,
I feel the same!
Tincup,
White always works!
Ken
I actually love his TFO Fly rod line, its one of my favorites. No frills, but some of the best preforming rods I know with probably the best no questions asked warranties. He really wanted people to be able top get into fly fishing and be affordable as well. You didn't need to spend a lot on a rod, to get decent quality and performance. RIP lefty, maybe I'll see you sometime on the next river around the bend?
DRYFLYGUY,
Good to hear from you!
I still have my TFO Finesse from 10 years ago. It's an excellent rod!
Ken
Looks like I'll be pouring out an Olde English for Lefty on the river tomorrow.
Lenny
Just saw your post on Lefty. The world's greatest fisherman, fishing ambassador, and even better guy than fisherman.
I have at least 10 of his books, but the best by far is his aptly named autobiography, "My Life Was This Big". Great fishing stories, really the history of fly fishing in America, and best of all his easy method of enjoying life by enjoying the company of others - from Ted Williams, to Fidel Castro, to Ernest Hemingway, to presidents and CEO's and to little kids and nameless Joe's on the river.
For those who were wowed by his casting demonstrations at Fly Fishing Shows consider this - Lefty was casting right handed! That's right, he was better with his off hand than probably anyone else with his dominant hand. He tore his biceps helping his beloved wife flip a mattress spring cleaning. But he was always ambidextrous, going back to his high school basketball days where he could shoot and drive with either hand. He also thought it helped teaching casting with his right hand, as most of the audience/students were right handed.
Rest in peace Lefty - though I doubt he's resting much in heaven if the fishing is good there as I've heard it is.
- Charlie
Just saw your post on Lefty. The world's greatest fisherman, fishing ambassador, and even better guy than fisherman.
I have at least 10 of his books, but the best by far is his aptly named autobiography, "My Life Was This Big". Great fishing stories, really the history of fly fishing in America, and best of all his easy method of enjoying life by enjoying the company of others - from Ted Williams, to Fidel Castro, to Ernest Hemingway, to presidents and CEO's and to little kids and nameless Joe's on the river.
For those who were wowed by his casting demonstrations at Fly Fishing Shows consider this - Lefty was casting right handed! That's right, he was better with his off hand than probably anyone else with his dominant hand. He tore his biceps helping his beloved wife flip a mattress spring cleaning. But he was always ambidextrous, going back to his high school basketball days where he could shoot and drive with either hand. He also thought it helped teaching casting with his right hand, as most of the audience/students were right handed.
Rest in peace Lefty - though I doubt he's resting much in heaven if the fishing is good there as I've heard it is.
- Charlie
Charlie,
Great comments on a great man! I'm a bit dismayed that some other bloggers have not even mentioned his passing. They are of a newer crowd who don't seem to value his legacy I guess. He is in the pantheon of fly fishing and will remain there for many who call fly fishing our sport!
Ken
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