Charles K.
Fox
One of the
World's Great Fly Fisherman
by
Eugene P.
Macri jr.
In
Memoriam
1908-1997
Copyright© 1998 Macri International and
Flyfisher.com This is a friendly copyright. We allow you to
copy or store the article. You may use it for your own use. It
may not be sold, modified or reprinted without written
permission. Please do not abuse this in any way. Thank
You
Once upon a time there was a place that
some fly fishers called Camelot. To those who had visited
,it was a magical world. It had a spring borne from rock
layers that witnessed the dawn and death of the
dinosaurs. The waters flowed clear as gin with watercress
and moss, and the aromatic smell of mint filled the
air. The waters were icy cold and would take the heat
from a hot summer´s day. Insects would emerge in
quantities that would bring giant piscatorial legends to
the surface, and shake the souls of those who waded its
cold waters.  Its waters were a haven for a breed of fish
that would test the world’s greatest fly fishermen. In
most instances they would leave beaten but proud. But all
had a story to tell of the huge trout that had refused and
occasionally taken their fly, and for the man they had
met. They came from all over the world and like a
pilgrimage to the Holy Land or Mecca, this mystical place
captivated them. And like all good legends this stream had
its own river keeper. A Merlin-like figure who seemed to
have the wisdom that other humans lacked. He protected and
cared for the stream and its creatures. The anglers the
world over would stop at his court for his blessing and
guidance. He honored them all, --novice or expert, he had
time for everyone. Yet this river keeper and the stream
existed not only in a magic book or in the mind of those
anglers but also in the real
world.
He was
not a wizard, or magician and his only court was a little
wooden table and bench where he would often sit and observe the
fish, tie flies, and talk to the hordes of anglers who stopped
to meet him. He was the quintessential gentleman of fly
fishing. His name was Charlie Fox and his stream
was the LeTort Spring Run in
Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He was perhaps one of the most famous
fly fisherman who lived since Izaak Walton, and one of the most
influential. He was a conservationist before anyone really knew
what one was. For over fifty years he faithfully guarded one of
the most sacred streams in the world. His efforts included
protecting the fish and stream through proper environmental
 management, to physically hauling and
strategically placing gravel in the stream, so that nature
would increase the chances of the spawning fish.
(Photo
to the left: Charlie Fox and Ernie Schwiebert at a banquet
for Charlie Fox held by the Letort
Regulars).
His books are considered
classics in the literary world of fly fishing, The
Wonderful World of Trout and Rising Trout are a testament to a
man’s love of nature and his fellow man. Some of the most
famous people passed his way including the late publisher and
founder of Esquire magazine, Arnold Gingrich. Arnold would make
the pilgrimage to the LeTort with other anglers from the four
corners of the earth. Arnold often stayed at Charlie’s and the
late Gary Mortensen’s fishing cabin on the
 southwest branch
of the Miramichi in Canada while salmon fishing. Gingrich
asked Charlie to write a couple of articles for Esquire.
But Charlie hesitated. Charlie obliged after Arnold’s
insistence. Charlie had written for Esquire in its finest
hour. Yet, he always felt a little embarrassed about it.
He told me once, Gene, "I shouldn’t have been writing for
Esquire. I’m not a writer of that caliber. But Arnold
wanted these articles on salmon fishing. So I did it for
him. And you know he took care of his friends. He really
did. When I got the check for the articles, well, I really
couldn’t believe it....it was a lot of money in those
days. In fact, it’s a lot of money today!"
(Photo
of Charlie Fox cutting his birthday cake by the light of a
lantern at a picnic on the
Letort).
Go To Part 2 of Charlie
Fox
| 
