The Season of Reflection
By Joel Anderson
Thinking back over my career as a fly fisherman, fly tier, and more recently as bamboo fly rod maker, there have been many individuals who have influenced my progression. Some of these personalities I’ve known only through their writing. Others I have had the extreme pleasure with which to share a stream. They have all taught me so much, and I am infinitely grateful for their lessons. But no two fishermen have had a more profound affect on my own maturation process as a fly fisherman than the two gentlemen to whom I'd like to pay tribute in this essay. Interestingly, their lessons had less to do with fishing tactics and more to do with their innate ability to inspire, nurture, and encourage others to success. It’s also interesting to note that both fishermen were teachers by trade.
