Many of my friends over several decades have helped me in all aspects of fishing and its related hobbies and activities. These include friends such as Chuck Edghill, Lefty Kreh, Mark Sosin, Norm Bartlett, Ed Russell, Art Scheck, Dave Klausmeyer, Bill May, Jim Heim, Gary Neitzey, Joe Zimmer, George Reiger, Irv Swope, Jack Goellner, and so many others. To all these fly anglers—close buddies and casual acquaintances—along with those I may have forgotten with a memory dimmed by the years—I say thank you.
In addition, I have picked up ideas from a number of publications over the years, including Fly Fisherman, Fly Tyer, American Angler in particular, but also a host of other magazines in the fly fishing/fly-tying genre or general fishing magazines with fly fishing/tying coverage or columns. Books, too, have always been an interest of mine, and there is a plethora of books on all aspects of fly fishing, fly tying, and tying for particular geographic regions and specific species. Seminars, too, have led to an influx of ideas and techniques from which I have gained much.
I also give credit to an old man who 50-odd years ago took a boy under his wing to teach him about the fishing of which the boy’s parents and family knew nothing. Fred Klemcke was about 60 and I was about 11 when my parents moved to a home adjoining his property. Fred’s friendship and help over the several years before he retired and moved to Maine taught me about fishing, fly fishing and fly casting, trout fishing, and fly tying.
Lastly, thank you to Brenda, my wife, who photographed specific shots for the book. She also gave me the time for this project and encouraged me with this, as she does with all of my efforts, and indeed with life.
Boyd Pfeiffer