An author drives down a country lane and delights in finding a connection to one of her books. That would be me, one day not long ago, on State Road #268, Happy Valley, North Carolina. I was passing by the campus and just had to stop and take a photograph of this sign.
Cap Wiese was the headmaster at the Patterson School for a number of years in the mid-twentieth century. As a disciplinarian, he used fly fishing as a method of calming hyperactive boys and in the process changing their lives. In his honor, a room has been designated as the Cap Wiese Flyfishing Center.
I first heard of him when I was compiling information with Ron Beane for our Fly Fishermen of Caldwell County: Life Stories that came out in 2015. Cap's daughter wrote his chapter and titled it "Dean of Fly Fishermen." Much has happened since that book came out, including the creation of this center at Patterson School. He appears again in my newest book, this one with Alen Baker, Southern Fly Tyers: Life Stories of Those Who Tie Flies. He's in Chapter 4 and also in the appendix, page 211.
I took this photograph at the Red Awning Gallery in Hudson where my books are surrounded by the beautiful art of local artisans. This newest book is about art of its own kind. Designing a fly to fool a fish is a skill that should be celebrated. It will be.
Alen and I are presenting a program about the history of fly tying to the Caldwell County Historical Society on November 6, open to the public. If you think you'll pass on this because you couldn't care less about tying flies, please reconsider. These flies are painstakingly created using everything under the sun, from a rooster feather to the underbelly fur from a dead possum on the side of the road or to styrofoam packaging beads. Talk about creativity! Alen will display containers showing replicas of ancient flies the Cherokee once used here in our Appalachians.
I have never fly fished in my life. The very idea does not appeal to me at all because these fishers have told me one too many horror stories of being surrounded by forest critters - think bears - or stepping into knee-deep water filled with snakes. I've been a part of five books about fly fishing now, and I've become a true sideline enthusiast, which is where I'll remain for now. I have met the most wonderful group of men and women who care as deeply for the environment as they do the sport. Our world needs them to tell their stories. Join us to hear their stories on that November Thursday evening at the Caldwell Heritage Museum in Lenoir. See you then!
Catch of the day,
Gretchen
