Sad News - Mel Krieger Has Passed Away

[admin]

I just got word from an acquaintance that Mel Krieger has passed away.

 

Mel Krieger of the fly fishing teaching and travel fame has passed on to that special place for fly fishermen. His wife Fanny is currently the President of International Women's Fly Fishing, as a pair they have done much to promote the sport and bring folks into the fold.

 

Sad news as it was Mel who first inspired me to start fly casting. I watched a demo he put on in Edmonton, Alberta, snapping tippet above some lady's head. It was awesome.

[admin]

I can't believe no body had anything to say about the passing of Mel. Anyway, I wanted to share a quote of his I received in the mail today.

 

"Some time ago I was brought back to earth by an incident in one of my fishing schools. I usually show a movie call 'The Way of the Trout,' which concludes with a strong please for catch-and-release fishing. right after the final dramatic scene, which ends with the release of a large rainbow trout, an eleven-year-old boy impulsively jumped up and said, "I wouldn't let that fish go!' As he sat down, a little embarrassed, he explained,'I wouldn't let that fish go. I've never caught a fish that big.' In the awkward silence that followed, I realized that most of the people in that room - and, for that matter, he vast majority of anglers - wouldn't have let that fish go, either. I don't remember exactly what I said to that class and to that young man, but I do remember feeling awfully inadequate."

 

Mel Kreiger in "The Essentials of Fly Fishing"