FM HALFORD - Neil - Sep 09, 2013

FM HALFORD
Frederic Michael Halford, April 13, 1844 ? March 5, 1914, arguably one of the most influential figures in fly fishing history. Credited with being the father of modern dry fly fishing practice and theory he cast a long shadow that still can be seen today.
Certainly Halford was not the first fly fisher to use a dry fly, but he was the one that is credited with codifying and popularizing the sport. Halford was born to money and he started fly fishing when he was 24 years of age when, through the generosity of a family friend he was able to fish the Wandle, a river in south-east England, and today runs through southwest London. It is only 9 miles long and ultimately runs into the Thames. It was during Halford's time on the Wandle that he first came across people fishing with a dry fly.