Lefty Kreh: A Living Legend - by Clay Gill

Recently I went to Houston for some family business with an attorney friend and we had time to duck into the Shallowater Expo at the Astro complex. This show is the ultimate collection of fly fishing curiosities and personalities.

What we did not know is the fate that awaited us just inside the door. As we strode into the convention complex, it was a sea of commercialization and education regarding flyfishng-in progress. About one hundred steps into the hall, a stocky man in a fishing hat invited us to try our casting. He was Mr. Bernard “Lefty” Kreh. This gentleman is always willing to help complete strangers who walk up to him. Needless to say, our casting changed forever that day. Lefty truly forgot more than we will ever know on fishing. Later in the afternoon, it got even better. A friend from Austin who knows Lefty very well, introduced me to him and we spoke of fishing and fly tying. I was surprised to hear Lefty say,“flies are fussed over a lot, but rather just a hank of hair and feathers lashed to a hook”. He went on to say that a person only needs a handful of varieties, (three or four types), to fish successfully all over the world. He would know and understands this better than almost anyone. A tip I got as an afterthought from Lefty, was his recent appreciation for weed guards and the use of some light plastic coated leader wire--and don’t forget the epoxy at the head! With this he quickly walked over to a young girl at the casting pool who had large loops flying lazily over her head. She was about to be changed forever. Lefty will never be duplicated. The mold only made one.

As a note to my introduction to this living legend, I went to fly fish heaven that day when my “Hall of Fame” collection got its ultimate addition. Yes- Mr. Kreh gave me a large chartreuse over white deceiver with epoxy head and red throat. That card and fly have the premier spot in the shadow box, next to Mr. Dave Whitlock's “Near Nuff Frog” given to me in San Marcos Texas. Some people collect different things, but this was one of my all time goals. Lefty is a generous man, full of life and optimism.

In stature, Mr. Kreh is not a giant of a man, but his shear presence and ability is powerful. In the fly fishing world he leads, and in my opinion, there is no living equal. His ability to impart knowledge and capability is legendary. The generosity and warmth to everyone make him such a charismatic and magnetic personality. He is truly a man who never met a stranger or did not like something about everyone. What a thrill it was to meet the Babe Ruth of fly-fishing.

Following his spirit, let us all take ownership of our environment, and protect it. The generations to come will speak of what we do to convey it to them. As always, leave the places we visit better than we found them, and as Lefty signs--“tight lines, but not too tight”.