Bernard “Lefty” Kreh has converted more people to fly fishing than anyone ever likely will, giving selflessly with his teaching skills, innovations, humor, and adding to the level of satisfaction that many of us have experienced from the sport. His writing career began in 1951. With first-hand experience, his how-to columns led to writing newspaper outdoor columns and articles in many of the major outdoor publications, Lefty has also authored and collaborated on more than 30 books and many DVDs. Some of the most notable and most recent are: Fly Fishing in Salt Water, Fishing the Flats, Lefty Kreh’s Longer Fly Casting, and Lefty Kreh’s Ultimate Guide to Fly Fishing. In the 1930s, nicknamed by kids in his neighborhood, he became “Lefty,”, a scrappy little southpaw with a knack for sports. He worked his way through Frederick
High as a commercial catfisherman, selling his night time bounty each morning. Lefty graduated in 1942 and enlisted in the 69th Infantry Division. Lefty met his beautiful wife Ev at the ticket counter at the old Tivoli Theater. They had two children—Victoria and Larry. Joe Brooks introduced Lefty to fly fishing and Tommy Tochterman sold Lefty his first fly outfit in 1947, a Pflueger Medalist reel and South Bend fiberglass rod. But Lefty and the fly rod were not fast friends. Perfecting his cast was a slow, arduous process. To him, the tried-and-true casting method was, simply put, inefficient. Lefty honed his new fishing technique, and, in 1965 penned an article for Outdoor Life entitled “New Way to Fly Cast.” From 1972 to 1990, Lefty wrote three columns a week for the Baltimore Sun, teaching area outdoorsmen. Lefty has traveled the world and fly fished in 22 countries, finding the best fisherman in town to teach him their waters and ways. He can tell you where the best trout streams are in England or what to use for barramundi in Australia. Lefty’s tales transport you like a childhood bedtime story, full of characters, mishaps and good fortune. For Lefty, it is less about catching the fish, and more about the environment he’s in and company he keeps. His greatest enjoyment comes from helping others. To Lefty, there is no difference between celebrity and common folk in the fishing world—an average individual is on the same playing field as the highest celebrity.
He has caught over 100 species of fish and wet hooks with scores of celebrities such as Ted Williams, Jimmy Dean, close friend Tom Brokaw, CEOs and even presidents. Lefty’s Deceiver from the late-1950s, is world-renown, effective from stripers to sailfish, from Russia to South America. His casting legacy and conservation efforts have garnered him awards, accolades, and inductions into numerous halls of fame. In 2012, Maryland paid homage with the “Lefty Kreh Fishing Trail” along the Gunpowder River. Dozens of restoration efforts and virtually every water quality regulation in the state of Maryland since 1973, have been accomplished with Lefty’s help.
Bernard “Lefty” Kreh – Inducted into the Fly Fishing Museum of the Southern Appalachians Hall of Fame during the Virginia Fly Fishing and Wine Festival on April 8, 2017 in the Recreation category for his many contributions to fly fishing as an outdoor writer, fly fishing instructor, author of 30 fishing books, an innovative fly tyer and as a fly rod designer.
