The email came a while ago.
Casting great/fly fishing icon Mel Krieger passed away this morning after battling an undiagnosed sickness that was only recently discovered to be a brain lymphoma.
Krieger’s casting videos, books and clinics taught many how to fly cast, and his methods for doing so were admirably simple.
Boiling away a lot of the obfuscation surrounding casting, Krieger was also an entertainer; he made learning to cast a fun gig, and did so in a non-threatening manner. It was a little like having your kindly grandfather teaching you how to do something enjoyable.
Godspeed, Mel.
So sad to hear about Mel. I had the pleasure and honor of meeting Mel last April a the Golden Gate Angling and Casting club. He even gave my buddy and I some person
al tips. What a great guy! He will be sorely missed.
Guido(Quote)
A very very sad news… He did a lot for fly fishing in South America.
REST IN PEACE Mr. Mel Krieger.
Eduardo Sanchez(Quote)
I just purchased his DVD “Casting Faults & Fixes”. I’ve read his book, “The Essence of Fly Casting”, and studied his DVD of the same book. I am blessed to have the opportunity to teach casting at the Pasadena Casting Club’s pond, and use every opportunity I can to say the same things he has said.
He was truly a great teacher. Although I never met him, I’ll certainly miss him.
Rest in peace, Mel; ya done good.
Kentucky Jim(Quote)
It was little know that Mel was an avid golfer in his later years. as a close friend I never fished with Mel but played many rounds of golf with him between his teaching gigs at our conclaves. Always the student and teacher, we spent much of our golfing Time comparing it to casting. the pauses accelleration and the follow through. he had a new book in the works to expound on our conversations about it. most sadly it will not be finished.
Mel certified me for the CCI and in the casting at the last moment I dropped my rod and used his 6 wt to take the test having casted it the day before. the magic of Mels hand was on that rod as I zipped through the drills.
I will never forget his colorfill and loud language floating accross the golf course when some shot went astray.
All will miss him, the fly fishing elf as I affectionately called him.
warmest memories,
Roger Maler
Roger Maler(Quote)
A really sad news…
But he let us all, a big and great legend of flyfishing world.
He´s now in a new gorgeous, glorious heaven of he love the most: the flyfishing, in a river of his lovelly Patagonia around the blue sky in the gardens of God.
Sincerelly,
Carola Ferrada.
Carola Ferrada(Quote)
I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Krieger during a flight from Rio Gallegos to Buenos Aires, Argentina. What were the chances that me, a resident of Sun Valley, Idaho, would meet Mr. Krieger in Patagonia rather than in Idaho? We exchanged numbers and agree on meeting the next time he came to Idaho but, it was never meant to be.
A few days ago chatting on line with my nephew (who was only about 6 when that flight took place) about fly fishing and he told me that he attended a few of Mr Krieger’s clinics down in Patagonia. Life had gone almost in a full circle.
My prayer are with his son (who was a teacher at my nephew’s school) and the rest of his family
Maria Roldan Bonadeo(Quote)
Very sorry about Mel.
I was lucky to be his interpreter in one of his trips to Chile, my country.
I feel very proud of having met such a nice human being.
Have a nice trip dear friend!
We’ll meet again in some unknown river somewhere.
Raúl.
Raúl Navarro Vizcaya(Quote)
I was tetsed by Mel for my Casting Certification a few years ago and after I passed he asked me to rmember this ..Andrew he said” I want you to do two things for the rest of your days instructing… bring back the adventure to fly fishing and never stop learning… promise me that you will do this” and I did. And I will always remember this, god bless Mel and I pray for comfort to your friends and family. Andrew Stiles, CCI, FFF, Richmond, Virginia
Andrew Stiles(Quote)
Adios mel , tube el agrado de asistir a una de tus clinicas y me marco profundamente, los grandes hombres se van pero el legado queda por siempre.
Suerte en tu viaje…
alex iparraguirre(Quote)
Adios Mell, de seguro estas ahora en el rio mas maravilloso donde pudieces pescar con un sol en el atardecer que se refleja en tu cara, gracias por todo lo que dejastes, seras siempre recordado en todo lugar que sepa del Flyfishing.
suerte y buena pesca…….
Leonardo Fox(Quote)
Compadre – via con Dios.
I met mell fundraising auction for the American Museum of Fly Fishing. Found we shared many friends. A very very entertaining man with a generous soul. Oh yes – a superb caster and instructor – truly a poet in all ways. The Jewish Leprechaun. A mensch. He shared his zest for life and especially fly casting with all. There will be fewer smile on planet earth with his departure. See you on the big spring creek Don Mel.
John Eustice(Quote)
Adios Maestro,
Gracias por todos los ensinamientos.
Deseo que en tu ultima viaje de pesca estea bién. Nel ParaÃso tendrá muchos peces y siempre será buena temporada. Besos al JC, dueno del Lodge.
Betinho(Quote)
Gracias por el conocimiento transmitido, hay tantas historias y vivencias plasmadas en la mente de muchos que tuvieron la posibilidad de escuchar de su propio hablar y otros por varios medios, entrevisats, videos, mensajes, etc, pero lo que es seguro es que lo aprendido con él, se traspasará de generación en generación y cada una de ellas sabrá de quien vino cada una de las teorias y vivencias planteadas y comprobadas dÃa a dÃa en cualquier curso de agua que se practique el Fly Fishing……
pescando en Paz Mel!!
Angel González Jiménez(Quote)
The world of fly casting has lost a gentle giant of a poet. Pure artistry in motion. Pure gift for gab yet always on point. Our trip to Tierra del Fuego’s Estancia Maria Behety will always be at the top of our ‘done that’ list. If only we had the chance to do another with you, Mel. You were one of The Great Ones and will sadly be missed.
May we meet again on the moving water of Life.
Melissa Bowers/Jay Diment(Quote)
Nos ha dejado un grande de la pesca con mosca y un gran ser humano, sencillo y fácil de querer, …
Como lo charlé con el un dÃa ;tengo el hábito de recordar a la gente por sus buenas cosas y esto vaya a las personas que equivocadamente y respetablemente lo mal consideraban o mal entendÃan. Por eso escribà algo de su faceta de maestro que nunca se publicó en ningún lado y lo quiero compartir con ustedes.
Además del escrito, está mi recuerdo en YouTube
Les ruego que me perdonen,no soy escritor, solo algo que sale de mi corazón.
A Mi Querido Maestro y Padre en la Pesca con Mosca “Sombrero de Piluso” Mel Krieger
CorrÃa el año 1994 y un amigo me invita a participar de una ClÃnica organizada por la AAPM en donde disertaba el que desde ese momento serÃa para mà “Mi padre en la Pesca con Moscaâ€.
Escribir de Mel Krieger como maestro o instructor es un placer que nunca habÃa tenido y me llena de orgullo. Pasar de verlo solamente en pelÃculas a en persona no tiene desperdicio; no solamente por el encuentro personal con alguien que se dedico toda su vida y se dedicó hasta hoy a la enseñanza, si no con el descubrimiento de una persona sencilla, brillante y difÃcil de no querer.
He participado de muchas charlas que ha brindado y la expectativa generada por su presencia siempre es reflejada en los numerosos participantes que siguen atentamente sus directivas y recomendaciones.
Es de destacar el programa de la Certificación de Instructores que hizo con la AAPM como un legado para aquellos que queremos seguir su predisposición a enseñar y a compartir con todos la sabidurÃa que aquilató tras tantos años de enseñar a pescar con mosca, tanto en el mundo, como en nuestro paÃs, que con su presencia, le da también a nuestros pesqueros una proyección internacional de gran nivel.
Su figura es una mezcla de Maestro, que brinda con placer sus conocimientos y del Profesor, quien lo hace por formar parte de su trabajo, pero su pasión excede esto para convertirse en un referente a nivel mundial de la enseñanza de este deporte.
En mi caso particular he tenido el grato honor de hacer algunas traducciones de sus videos al castellano, sobre todo el último de “Errores y Correcciones” y de esa manera poder sumergirme mas Ãntimamente en su mundo de gestos y miradas parecidos a mis maestros de escuela primaria.
Inclusive en el video para niños, filmado totalmente en nuestra Patagonia, se ve realmente como un maestro de esa vieja escuela intima que alguna vez tuvimos en nuestra infancia
Su gorro de “Piluso†es un toque distintivo que lo destaca entre la multitud que aglutina este personaje que no deja de sorprenderme cada vez que viene a nuestro paÃs y diserta como Poeta o como Ingeniero el arte del Flycasting. Desde lo más elemental a lo más complicado. Enfocado matemáticamente o como una poesÃa. Viéndolo caminar con ese sombrero por Buenos Aires me apasiona
Su DVD en la Patagonia es la culminación de sus excepcionales visitas a que nos tiene acostumbrados desde hace Cuarenta años, mostrando los espectaculares lugares de pesca con mosca que tiene Argentina tan deseados por extranjeros y pescadores locales.
En mi caso queda decir que solo con su mirada entiendo lo que me quiere decir, vas más allá de un idioma, es como decÃa al principio,â€Es mi Padre en la Pesca con Mosca “ y ahora que su aventura en la vida ha finalizado, me quedo con el recuerdo imborrable de por vida de mi Querido Maestro Mel Krieger
Gerardo Oscar Grau
Gerardo Oscar Grau(Quote)
Awww,
I started fly fishing and tying just under 2 years ago. I had seen him on the show “The New Fly Fisher” (they were talking about a trout unlimited event). I found him to be the type to encourage all to try fishing, plus he had a great way of teaching about conservation. He was great. Yes, my comment is late, but I had just heard the news..
John DeNicola(Quote)
There are two types of people in the world, Poets and Engineers,. Mel was BOTH….
RIP
Jerry Cavallo(Quote)
When I was just 12, my mother and I stayed at Bailey Creek in Northern California with several other beginner fly fishermen, where we were graced for a few days by Mel’s instruction on the big lawns there. It was one of the best experiences of my childhood. I remember on the last afternoon all of us walking the creek & fishing and having a blast. I also remember, at the lodge, Mel kicked back on a chair, shoes off but hat still on. I never saw him again, and I didn’t quite realize at the time what a privilege those few days were, but the memories I will never forget.
It’s always a good day to head to the lake!
Bill Adams(Quote)
I am from the same area where Mel grew up as a child. I was given a fly rod by my father at 12 and told just to ‘learn it by feel’. No other instruction was given. Ten years later I found Mel Krieger videos to be the turning point in my experience with fly fishing. After my father passed away and Mel’s videos truly helped me finish the lesson that my father had started so many years before I was very gratefull. No one else could have made learning as fun and educational while kindling my interest in life as a fly fisherman. Thank you Mel.
I have been in two militaries Navy/Army and I have taught anyone that would go with me how to ‘whomp whomp…’ This is something that I very proud of.
I was lucky enough to have spoke with Mel on the phone and tell him how much I appreciated his thoughts on nature and mankind and his overall take on life. He just laughed. He only knows now how many people he touched.
Thanks Mel
John Malmin(Quote)
I must have lived under a rock for the last six months. I was not aware of Mel’s passing until today. My world got too busy I guess. I met Mel for the first time in Suffern NY @ a fly fishing show while I was working the booth for T&T. He and Ernie Schwiebert were sauntering through the aisles, and they stopped by for a visit. I had pretty much started working for T&T and felt somewhat “small” by their presence. How wrong I was! Mel and Ernie made you feel good about your spot in the fly fishing community. Later on I was his “attending assistant” in a casting clinic at Eagle Brook School in Deerfield, Massachusettes. What a teacher! He made the often sometimes frustrating art of fly fishing for the student fun! I will never forget that weekend…cool blue sky, New England morning, dew drops licking your toe tops, and Mel excited about sharing, and teaching his life long passion of flyfishing to the shiverring “newbees!” Later that weekend he wrote in my copy of his book ” The Essence of Fly Casting” ….” March, 1988 – Oren, To our fishing fairy tales. Good luck my friend. Mel Krieger. Well Mel …thank you for taking my “newbee ” level up a few notches. I will miss you! I don’t know what the hereafter brings, but I wish to fish with you in a new Heavenly hole. Rest In Total Peace My Friend.
Oren Clark
Oren Clark(Quote)
Just started fly fishing and saw his documentary…
I feld so much touched by it so I wanted to meet him sometime or send him my thanks through mail.
Google told me he already passed away…
What a loss … he was the only man that let me feel by his video how much I loved flyfishing..
Thanks Mel… you tought me more in one vid than most in a lifetime..
Greetings, Rudi from Holland.
Rudi(Quote)
A true loss to the fly fishing community! I took my first fly fishng lesson from Mel at the fly casting ponds in Golden Gate Park over 25 years ago. Mel was a true gentlemen and I was very fortunate to meet him. RIP Mel! You will be truly missed.
Fernando
Fernando(Quote)
Truly sad to learn of the passing of mel.
I have just begun fly fishing a true newbie to the art, I found mels videos on the internet while searching for advise on casting and was blown away. The next day i went out to try what i had learned and wow it really worked, not every cast was great but i could hear mel in the back of my head every time i managed shoot out a good cast saying thats it just keep it up! Thanks Mel although i never had the privilege of meeting you, you’ve taught me much and ill watch those darn videos over and over and over
Marcus(Quote)
I had the good fortune of meeting Mel at Dave Sullivan’s Sport Shop where I worked. He would often visit Angelo Lo Castro who ran the Gun Dept and Fly Fishing Dept.I would also see Steve Rajeef as a youngster.They could also be seen at the fly casting ponds, a hidden gem in the GG Park.I was once invited to a crab feed at the lodge by Tom Bragg and he told me there was only one rule, no one-up stories.I also got Luke Brugnara his first job in the fishing dept. His father, Aleo was a probation officer her served with my father Emile Urbiztondo.I am hoping to one day go on a fly fishing expedition to Argentina with one of my good friends.
Wyatt(Quote)