Most of you guys who fly fish have heard of Lefty Kreh. Even if you haven’t, everything from fly lines, rods and flies to casting has been heavily influenced by him. A true giant in the game, and a real gentleman too. He passed away today.
Tight lines, Lefty.
SR
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I bought his book on knots back in the ’80’s, well before “knot wars”.
I recall everyone saying the terminal tackle had to be perfect to fool trout (and walleye). Then I saw Lefty’s photo on the cover of Fly Fisherman magazine holding this HUGE Brook trout with a inch long tag end of leader sticking out of the fly.
That was the day I stopped being so particular on tag ends of the line knots.
He loved his fishing!
Great innovator: flies, rods, lines, techniques, you nailed it. He’ll be missed
Oh sure…Lefty Kreh. Perhaps best known to us casual fly anglers for his association with 3M/Scientific Anglers. I still have several boxes of the fly line from 15 years ago tucked away somewhere.
Steve, was that picture of you and him taken at a Great Waters Expo? Ironically, I see the Great Waters Expo is being held this coming weekend.
Hard to believe Tom Helgeson has been gone now almost 8 years. He was the one who originated that expo as well as Midwest Fly Fishing magazine which I subscribed to for many years until just after his passing. 
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Andy that was at the Expo a couple of years ago. On the far right was my good friend Edd Twigg, and at the time I was delighted to have him in the picture with me. Little did I know that a few months later Edd would pass away, and that would be the last picture of him I had.
Lefty walked out in front of the crowd that day and started casually making casts that had everyone breathless, it was really amazing watching him use a fly rod.
S.R.
Lefty was a fly fishing champion ! Rest in peace.
Tom Helgeson has been gone now almost 8 years. He was the one who originated that expo as well as Midwest Fly Fishing magazine
I had a Christmas present of fly tying classes given to me that Tom instructed in the basement on Bright Waters on Grand and something.
It was Tom that first spoke what turned out to be a lifetime dream of fly fishing Christmas Island South of Hawaii.
And Lefty’s tag end of the leader was on the cover of 3M’s Scientific Anglers magazine.
Both men touched many.
Mend in Peace
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