A visit from Steve Woit

[Mike N]

I was happy to host a visit by author and researcher Steve Woit at my home this week. Steve is of course the author of “Fly Fishing Treasures - The World of Fly Fishers and Collecting,” and is researching the work of Mary Orvis Marbury. We had a great discussion and then visited my ponds and fishing cabin. Steve photographed my Orvis collection and I am excited to see what the research of this Yale grad discovers about Mary Orvis, an icon of American fly tiers.

[Midway Tommy D]

Oh my, Mike, what an honor! Good for you!

[Jonathan P. Kring]

Very Nice. I have more fly fishing stuff than 10 people need. Haven't fly fished much since high school. Gonna give it a try here in Tn. this Summer.

[reelsmith.]

.
Two of my favorite collector pals.

Steve is a great guy to spend time with. I'm sure it was fun and educational.

Dean.

[RonG]

I’m sure you guys had a good time talking about vintage tackle. Steve had some nice treasures at the St. Augustine show.

Mike, it looks like you slimmed down. Looking good

[kyreels]

Mike, looking good. Steve too. Hope you dragged him out to the cabin to enjoy some WVA hospitality.

[john elder]

Very nice, Mike! Glad you got to show off your stuff to someone who appreciates it as much as we do!

John

[Eric J]

Steve really gets around! I saw him at the Midwest Fly Fishing Show near Detroit last week. He had a very tempting Orvis 1874 for sale among his other treasures.

[Richard Lodge]

It sounds like a great and interesting visit. Mike, either you were on your way to work when the photo was taken or you misunderstood the dress code for the visit. Or maybe Steve did!
I suspect Steve always has great things to show and sell. I was lucky enough to buy a great little brass clamp reel from him at Lake George. The smallest one I've ever seen!

[flyfishingtreasures]

Thanks to Mike for such an interesting and productive visit!

My perusal of his early collection of Orvis catalogs, carded flies, letters and other material will prove useful in the research I am doing on the founding of the Orvis fly tying operation. Mary Orvis Marbury's fly tiers produced an amazing number of patterns and types of flies (lake, trout, salmon, flies with patent gauze wings, flies with gut bodies and scale wings, etc.).

I was also surprised to see that Orvis was making a market in hackles, including Pennell hackles and others in many different sizes, as well as deer fly hackles for fly tiers.

Mike has a wonderful property. Photo of the proprietor (with pipe) by his cabin attached.

Thanks again for his hospitality.

Steve Woit
Fly Fishing Treasures

[Mike N]

Oh my, what a fancy lad.

[kyreels]

Mike was going for the James A. Henshall look.