Q&A with fly-fishing legend Joe Humphreys

Outdoor News caught up with Joe Humphreys – arguably the most famous fly-fisherman in the country – for a quick chat. Amazingly, at 91 years old, he still regularly pursues huge brown trout night fishing in the streams around his central Pennsylvania home, like he has throughout his adult life.

A member of the Fly-Fishing Hall of Fame who taught an accredited fly-fishing course at Penn State for 19 years, Humphreys is considered a legend in some quarters. 

He has written a number of books and produced instructional videos, given talks and demonstrations around the country for decades, held the Pennsylvania state record for brown trout caught on a fly, and most recently was the subject of a nationally popular movie, “The Story of Joe Humphreys – Live the Stream.”

Here, he talks about the state of fly-fishing today and his career.

ODN: This pandemic is unprecedented and it has resulted in many more people than ever fishing. What do you think about the COVID effect?

Humphreys: “Mentally, fly-fishing’s a great relief – it’s therapy to be on a trout stream, so it’s no wonder that more people are fly-fishing now. It’s safer to be doing things outdoors with the threat from the coronavirus, and many more anglers than normal have been exposed to fly-fishing during these troubled times – and that’s a good thing. There was some crowding on the streams early on, but I think that will work itself out.” 

ODN: Besides what has happened this year, is there another event or development you have seen that’s had a great impact on fly-fishing?

Humphreys: “You may be surprised to hear me say this, but the movie “A River Run’s Through It,” released back in 1992, had a tremendous effect on the sport. Fly-fishing became all the rage – it drew thousands of people to the streams. We have far more people involved in this game now. And I think that’s a plus because we have more people looking out for water quality, and they really want to see our streams remain fishable.

“The biggest thing is water quality. If we don’t have water quality, then we don’t have fishing. I think what might be of concern today is what’s happening nationally with the administration now taking a lot of regulations off relative to clean water, and that’s a worry.”

ODN: In addition to water quality, another huge influence on wild-trout waters is temperature, particularly with brook trout headwaters streams in the East. Are you concerned about trout streams warming and climate change?

Humphreys: “We’re finding now our summers seem to be so much warmer. When I was a kid, we never had three or four 90-degree days in a row. When I was younger, I never remember the blazing heat like we’ve had the last few years. 

“But I took a meteorology course a long time ago at Penn State, and the professor’s comment was, the climate moves in cycles. I believe that’s still true today. We will have periods of colder years and periods of warmer years – so it may be we are going through a major cycle. 

“I do think the heat is a threat to wild-trout streams. For instance, the lower end of famous trout stream Penns Creek in central Pennsylvania is very marginal now, and it didn’t use to be, it’s part of what’s going on? These hot days, oh my gosh, lower Penns Creek is now nothing but chubs and bass every season.”

ODN: When you were offering fly-fishing instructional sessions, what did your students most want to know?

Humphreys: “I’ve been on the road for many years teaching the ins and the outs of the game, and teaching casting and fishing techniques on the stream. Nymphing seemed to be of the most interest. And people want to know how to adjust leader designs and casting techniques. They want to learn line control to get drag-free drifts to catch more fish.”

ODN: Over the years you fished with famous people like Jimmy Carter and Dick Cheney and hosted a show on ESPN. Looking back, what did you enjoy most?

Humphreys: “My favorite fishing partners have always been students. I taught thousands at Penn State. Since then, I worked with kids who never caught a fish in their life. In recent years I have been teaching veterans groups. I feel strongly about this. It’s important to me to just help keep this industry going and educate people about fly fishing.”

ODN: Night fishing on streams doesn’t seem like the ideal activity for a senior citizen – do you see yourself continuing?

Humphreys: “I do, because I can still do it. Night fishing is always an adventure. I love the ambience and the beauty of a perfectly moonless night, and the feel of those big fish when I hook them. It’s so exciting, and it gives me the drive to survive.”

To see Humphreys in action catching a huge trout, check out the video below.