WRITING ON THE FLY
By GEORGE LISET
I am a big reader, and I enjoy reading Ernest Hemingway. I enjoy Hemingway’s short stories, especially those featuring Nick Adams.
As a fly fisher I enjoy his story “Big Two Hearted River.” Having family in northern Wisconsin and having spent time in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, I am familiar with the rivers and pine barrens that are featured in the story.
When I saw that John N. Maclean put out an edition of the “Big Two-Hearted River” for which he did the foreword, I had to have a copy for my collection and personal library.
The book was featured in Trout Unlimited’s “Trout” magazine with John’s contact info. The article also mentioned that John’s father was the author Norman Maclean who authored the book “A River Runs Through It,” the book that made fly fishing popular.
John also wrote the book “Home Waters” which gives insights into his father’s book.
I contacted John and asked for two signed copies of each book. I wanted one for my collection and one each to donate to the Milne Angling Collection at the University of New Hampshire. The Milne Collection of Angling is the third largest collection of fly fishing books in the country behind only Montana State and Penn State. So as a Wildcat Alum, I was trying my best to help us move up that list.
John Maclean was born in Chicago and went to Shimer College in Mt. Carroll, Illinois. From there he started working for the City News Bureau of Chicago. A year later he started working for the Chicago Tribune and soon became one of their Washington correspondents. He was a regular on the famous “Kissinger Shuttle.”
I contacted Elizabeth Slomba who curates the Milne Collection and made an appointment to donate the books.
When I presented Elizabeth with the books she was enthralled. Handling them like fine china, she noticed how well they presented. I asked Elizabeth if the collection had any more of John’s books. Elizabeth mentioned that she was missing John’s Fire Series.
John had written a series of books on some of the major forest fires that occurred out west. Some of the books feature the Lolo Hotshots of which John is an honorary member. An award they don’t give out lightly. I asked John if I could purchase the series. When I explained to him about the Milne Collection he gladly donated the books. John also graciously donated a copy of his dad Norman’s River book which he also signed on the dedication page, under John’s name where his dad had dedicated the book to John and his sister.
I always wondered how difficult it must be to follow in the footsteps of a successful father. It is evident that through reading John’s books that he has his dad’s gift and more. The Milne Collection is open on a regular basis and by appointment only. It is well worth the visit and as I like to say, the college kids don’t bite.
George Liset of Dover is an award-winning outdoor writer and avid fly fisherman who shares insights of his time on the water exploring New Hampshire streams and rivers as well of those around New England. George is a graduate of Wheaton College, Illinois, and the University of New Hampshire. His column Writing on the Fly has been honored by the New England Press Association and the New Hampshire Press Association.