I think it does no good to try and name THE person who has had THE MOST influence on fly fishing. We are all products of our forebearers. That includes Ernie Schiebert and Lefty Krey. And I think it actually slights all of those whom we may think should be named.

But I know there is a short list of names of those whom we all know have left very large footprints in the sands of the history of fly fishing that will never truly disappear. Schwiebert and Krey are certainly among them! So are the likes of Lee and Joan Wulff, Krieger, Whitlock, and Powell...just to name a few. But let's not forget...and I am in no way being flip or sucking up...the amazing reach and power of the Internet, and that it dwarfs all that has come before it in its ability to reach people all over the world with information in formats most useful for learning and motivating. And with that in mind, I submit that 2 more names that must be considered for that list are:

Jim Birkholm and Deanna Travis