If the Baseball Hall of Fame belongs in Cooperstown, N.Y., and the Horse Racing Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., then perhaps it is justice that brings the American Museum of Fly Fishing to Manchester, Vt.
The Orvis Co. originated in Manchester in 1856, and it is recognized as having been instrumental in promoting fly fishing in the United States and making it a widely popular recreational activity, as well as contributing greatly to the study and refinement of the pastime.
The museum was founded in 1968 with the mission to "promote an understanding of and appreciation for the history, traditions and practitioners of the sport of fly fishing."
Having compiled a collection of artifacts numbering in the tens of thousands dating back five centuries, and the world's largest collection of publications on fishing topics, the museum is the only one specializing in fishing that has been accredited by the American Association of Museums.
Now in its third location in Manchester, the museum is housed in a renovated early 19th-century farmhouse. Adjacent to Orvis's flagship store and fly-fishing school, it is a worthwhile voyage for seasoned anglers and beginners alike. It takes no more than half a day to cover the museum thoroughly, so a visit fits nicely within a variety of Manchester-area itineraries.
The coming of fishing season every spring may be heralded as a grand tradition in male bonding, but the sport has seen enormous contributions from women as well. The current exhibit, A Graceful Rise: Women in Fly Fishing Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, pays tribute to the key roles women have played. The exhibit runs through the end of 2012.
Women's importance in the sport rises to the level of legendary in the person of Dame Juliana Berners, a nun believed by some to be the author of the 15th-century publication The Treatyse of Fysshynge with an Angle, the earliest-known printed fishing guide. Berners's existence remains unconfirmed, and is doubted by most scholars. Yet the myth of a fly-fishing nun spreading the word about angling will forever be part of the sport's lore.
More locally and recently, Mary Orvis Marbury gained acclaim by managing the fly-tying operations for her family's company in the late 1800s. Cornelia (Fly Rod) Crosby from Phillips, Maine, began fishing her local waters as a young girl in the 1800s, and become expert enough to earn herself a syndicated column, Fly Rod's Notebook.
Joan Salvato Wulff is an alltime leader in fishing competitions, who once defeated an all-male field in a National Fisherman's Distance Casting event. She won titles for both deep sea and freshwater fishing in the 1960s and 1970s.
The patterning of fishing flies is in itself a craft that has historically been practised by women, and some have gained great renown for their talent. Winifred Ferdon (Winnie) Dette, from Roscoe, N.Y., in the Catskills became one of the most famous flytiers in the United States.
On the British side of the Atlantic, Megan Boyd became so exalted for her mastery that the American Fly Fisher magazine referred to her fly patterns as "the Tiffanies of the 20th century." The handicraft of both Dette and Boyd is showcased, along with that of several other accomplished female flypattern creators.
Sculptures and paintings inspired by fly fishing are also included. Sculptor Debbie Elmer is the creator of Unsung Pioneers: Discovering the Early Women of Fly Fishing, a project honouring prominent women in flyfishing history. A painted plaster sculpture of Winnie Dette from that collection is featured in the exhibit. Several works by Diane Michelin, a Canadian watercolour artist specializing in fly fishing themes, are on display.
Some major female celebrities have been accomplished anglers. A blow-up of a March 1942 Life magazine cover features Hollywood star Ginger Rogers, clad in jeans and fishing gear. The photo was taken at Rogers's Oregon ranch along the Rogue River, where she spent much of her time fishing after her acting days. Television and film actress Heather Thomas can be found casting off a fishing boat in Jackson Hole in one of the exhibit's photos.
The Garner L. Grant Library within the museum contains more than 7,000 volumes. Among the highlights is the angling collection of Esquire magazine co-founder Arthur Gingrich. The library is open to members and to re searchers. A complete collec tion of the museum's quar terly publication, American Fly Fisher, dating back to 1974, is available for review by the general public, and copies of all issues are for sale at the museum gift shop.
The Orvis flagship store next door features fishing and other outdoor gear, as well as a vast array of other gear, including clothing, stuffed animals, pet products and gift items.
The fly-fishing school offers novices two-part lessons that start on the indoor-outdoor trout pond at the store and conclude on a boat on Equinox Pond several kilometres away. More advanced instruction is also available.
Those looking for alternate outdoor activities will find plenty to do in and around Manchester year-round. The town is a gateway for Bromley and Stratton ski areas as well as Vermont's mountain walkway, the Long Trail.
It's also no stranger to bargain shoppers; factory outlets range from The Gap to Polo Ralph Lauren, and include Crabtree & Evelyn and Yankee Candle. There also are many independent stores worth checking out, including Northshire Bookstore, Magic Sleigh Christmas shop and Mother Myrick's Confectionary.
The American Museum of Fly Fishing, 4101 Main St., Manchester, Vt. 802-362-3300; amff.com. Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, closed major holidays. Museum admission is $5 for adults, $3 for children ages 5 to 14, or $10 for a family.
