Reprinted from the July 2011 issue of the Northwoods Sporting Journal Fly fishing has changed a lot over the years. Advances in technology combined with accumulated knowledge of fish and ways to catch them has resulted in an explosion in new gear and methods. But what about the roots of fly fishing? How about the days when fly fishing was simply a man or woman with a rod, a … [Read more...] about Some Dry Fly Fishing History
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Last Hunt
Here, in its entirety, is a story I published in the Northwoods Sporting Journal in 2011. The last person Fred Barnes expected to hear from when he picked up the phone was his old pal Gene Burdette. It was with a somber voice on the other end of the line that Gene spoke with. “Fred……..I’m sorry. I know it’s been too long. Fred……….I want to go hunting.” An appearance of a … [Read more...] about Last Hunt
NWSJ Column: Last Hunt, Part III
LAST HUNT, PART III (reprinted from the Outdoor Sporting Library column in the Northwoods Sporting Journal) This month’s column marks the third of a three part story, entitled “Last Hunt”. In the previous two entries (Last Hunt Part I and Last Hunt Part II), we introduced a situation: seasoned Maine outdoorsman Fred gets a visit from a childhood friend after decades of … [Read more...] about NWSJ Column: Last Hunt, Part III
Upriver & Down
written by Greg Tuttle “Upriver & Down” (1965) was Edmund Ware Smith’s last book. It’s another great book, published by Holt Rinehart, with illustrations by Maurice Day. The story “The Last Hermit of the Maine Woods” is especially good. Best of all there are six “Jake’s Rangers” stories in it. Jake’s Rangers were a group of like-minded friends and outdoorsmen living in … [Read more...] about Upriver & Down
The One-Eyed Poacher and the Maine Woods
The One-Eyed Poacher stories were a product of Edmund Ware Smith's interactions over the years with game wardens and poachers, both of whom he respected, admired, and was great friends with. The epic struggle between game wardens and poachers in the Maine woods, and the stories that go along with that battle, needed to be told. In a stroke of genius, Smith decided to invent a … [Read more...] about The One-Eyed Poacher and the Maine Woods