James Leisenring

Until his death in 1951, James was the towering figure in American wet-fly fishing. “The Skues of America”. An expert toolmaker from Allentown, PA, he fished the Brodheads and the Little Lehigh extensively. Research in color, shape, and movement of natural insects provided him with the knowledge to develop deadly fly patterns and specific techniques in their imitative construction. According to Sparse Grey Hackle, “his flies were not outclassed in either pattern or workmanship by the Fly Fishers best”. His techniques on how to fish them remain unique, spawning a culture in the art of wet fly fishing.  His one book,  The Art of Tying the Wet Fly, (1941) and the revised and enlarged edition byVernon S. Hidyin 1973 The Art of Tying the Wet Fly and Fishing the Flymph, continues to be the benchmark in wet fly fishing and tying world wide.