Jack Berryman to Speak About Northwest Fly Fishing Pioneers July 11

Noted fly fishing writer and photographer Jack Berryman will give a talk entitled “Three Steelhead Fly Fishing Pioneers in the Northwest: Wahl, Olson and Knudson, 1900-1990” at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, July 11 in Western Libraries Special Collections (Wilson Library 6th floor).

The event is free and open to the public.

In his talk, Berryman will present a biographical summary of the career and contributions of three renowned Northwest steelhead fly fishing pioneers, Ralph Wahl and Ralph Olson (who are featured in Berryman’s book, Fly-Fishing Pioneers & Legends of the Northwest) and Alfred Knusdon (who was the subject of one of Berryman’s past columns in Northwest Fly Fishing). Berryman will detail the contributions of each individual to the sport and culture of fly fishing, illustrating his talk with slides.

Jack Berryman grew up in central Pennsylvania fishing for trout and bass, and hunting both small and large game. He earned a doctorate from the University of Maryland and was hired by the University of Washington’s School of Medicine in 1975. After moving to the Pacific Northwest, he became even more enamored with fishing, spending many summers guiding on Alaska’s Kenai River. In 1986, he began a freelance writing and photography career, ultimately publishing over 300 articles and numerous photographs in a wide variety of adventure, travel and outdoor magazines.

Berryman is a member of the Society of Environmental Journalists and a past columnist for Salmon Trout Steelheader and Northwest Fly Fishing. His most recent book, Fly-Fishing Pioneers & Legends of the Northwest (2006) won the 2007 Outdoor Writers Association of America’s Excellence in Craft Award for best book.

For more information about the event, please contact Tamara Belts, Special Collections manager, at (360) 650-3193 or Tamara.Belts@wwu.edu