Jim Kershner’s this day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

E.K. Stedman, railroad clerk and devoted fisherman, wrote what he called an “idyll” of the tail end of the fishing season.

For one thing, he extolled the virtues of the “Swiftwater” section of the St. Joe River.

“It is not only fishable and get-at-able, but produces results,” he wrote.

“And further, is augmented all along its course by smaller tributaries, also heavily stocked.”

He also described his favorite rods. One was of split bamboo and 10 feet long, “for use in the St. Joe proper,” and the other 9 feet long for use in the smaller tributaries.

As for flies, he wrote that “a large selection is not necessary for these waters,” and listed a few varieties, some of which will sound familiar to present-day fly-fishers and some of which will not: “Bannock chief, coachman, gray hackle, Rube Wood, royal coachman, McGinty, brown hackle, ginger quill, black gnat, white miller and brown ant.”

“Maybe while you are reading this and the smoke from the briar (pipe) curls aloft, it will recall some evening scene spent among the wild woods, when the camp fire glowed cheerily, when the chosen comrade was congenial, and the time … you recounted, each to the other, the day’s pleasures and disappointments along some favorite stretch.”