“That was so successful they came back and asked me if I would do the same thing at a trade’s exhibit in Poznan, Poland in 1963. Now that was during the iron curtain time and I went to Poland and I spent three weeks there at the American exhibit demonstrating American fishing gear and technique. The American exhibit was one of the more popular locations in the entire complex. We estimate that we appeared before half a million people in that three week event. I could accommodate about 1500 people around a pool at one time, we’d move them in, move them out, move another group in, a very satisfying personal experience.”

“In 1965, I was asked to do the same thing in Budapest, Hungary. It was also an iron curtain country. The last one of those I did was in 1970. I went to Berlin and I did the same thing at a US exhibit there, that was at a time during the cold war when Berlin was completely surrounded by East Germany.

Another important thing, too, I relate these things only as an example of the benefits that have accrued to me as a result of having been involved in the manufacturing sport fishing equipment. Fishing equipment is positive. There are very few negatives to manufacturing fishing line. It’s been an enjoyable experience. I retired in 1992 after spending fifty and a half years with one company.”

 

Leon Chandler became known as ‘America’s Ambassador of Fly Fishing,’ as well as ‘Mr. Cortland.’ I couldn’t help but wonder how he was involved with the rest of the company. His fondness for Cortland and the folks he worked with was evident. When he’s not off fishing somewhere, Leon still drops by the plant a couple of times a week.

“Through the years… initially when I first started, we were making only fishing line, but as our company grew, and as fishing grew, we got into rod, reels, leaders and all sorts of accessories. Cortland is a unique little company, located in Cortland, NY, a little city of about 20,000 people. Cortland Line Company is completely employee-owned 100%, and that gives our people reason to take great pride in the quality of our products. While I’m not there anymore (I retired in 1992) I take great pride in the reputation which my old company deserves.”

When I asked Leon Chandler, and was graciously granted an interview, he provided me with a brief biography. I was amazed at the number of awards he had received. I asked which award meant the most.

“I appreciate and am honored by all of them. This one I received today has to be high on the list because that award, the Hall of Fame award, encompasses not only fly fishing, but all of sport fishing. Most of the other awards have been involved with my role in fly fishing. In 1992, I think it was, Fly Rod and Reel was kind enough to name me their Angler of the Year, which was very special. I can’t remember them all now, but I’m running out of wall space in my home.”

“Since I retired, I’ve bought a motor home, and I use it extensively for fishing. I live alone, my wife died several years ago. When she died, my life changed directions rather abruptly, and I started thinking then about buying a motor home. I did, and I use it for fishing. During the spring months, I fish the Catskill mountain streams, well known by the names of the Beaverkill and the Delaware. Then along about the middle of July, I go out west and I wander around Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, and sometimes I go up into Alberta and British Columbia. I have become a sort of fishing bum. I can assure you, no one enjoys a chosen lifestyle more than I enjoy mine. I know there are a lot of people that are envious of my lifestyle. I tell them it’s easy, all you have to do is work for one company for fifty years and retire and go fishing.”

I suppose any natural progression in a conversation about fishing works around to wanting to know the other’s secrets. Probably the most often asked questions in fly fishing, what’s your favorite fish, and what is your favorite fly had to be asked.

Leon’s reply, “My favorite fish is the bonefish. Bonefish are found in tropical water. One of the reasons I like them is that I like the places they live. Places like the Florida Keys, the Bahamas, Belize, the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, Venezuela and the best place of all — Christmas Island in the South Pacific. The bonefish is particularly appealing to me because of the uniqueness of the habitat they live in; deep waters. The areas where we fish for bonefish are what we call flats, shallow areas, which at low tide might be dry sand. When the tide comes in, it floods the flat. Then the bonefish come out of deep water, and they cruise the flat looking for crabs and other crustaceans.”

“The bone-fishermen stalks the flats looking for fish, and doesn’t cast until he see’s one. They’re very spooky because they’ve been in deep water and now they’re in shallow. The fly-fisher casts far enough ahead of them so they don’t spook when it lands, maybe eight or ten feet. He’s seeing all this and waits for the fish to approach the fly and then gives it a little action with his line. If the bonefish picks it up, (he’s trying to get back to deep water), he may run a hundred yards in one run. That’s the thrill of bonefishing. It’s kind of like hooking a fish on the goal line of a football field and having your fish instantly on the other goal line, and still going away. That’s the thrill of bonefishing. Bonefish are not considered edible, they’re always released. It’s a specialized kind of fishing that appeals to me and I use any opportunity I can to go bonefishing. In fact, in about two weeks now I’m heading for the Florida Keys to see if I can find a bonefish.”

Leon surprised me about his love for Bonefish. What he had told me about his travels led me to think he was a die-hard trout man. What catches fish for Leon Chandler? He has made the statement that even though he had a large influence in developing the fly line, presentation was the most important element in being successful at catching fish.

What flies does he use?
“It would depend on the conditions, of course, and depend on what’s happening. I think we catch more fish on the flies that we use more. For dry fly fishing I have pretty much settled into those style flies that have what I call a belly in the water. These are the parachutes and the comparaduns and flies of those type. I just naturally choose those because I have more confidence in them. It depends entirely on what’s happening. The first thing I do when I approach a stream is to sit down on the bank or on a log and watch and look to see what’s happening. I never rush right into the stream. I think Yogi Berra was quoted as saying one time “You can see a lot of things by observing.” So observation is particularly important in fly fishing, I think.”

“My dry flies would probably be the parachute Adams or the Comparaduns, different color depth and different sizes. I like bead-head nymphs. I’m using bead-heads almost entirely now, the hare’s ear and the pheasant tails and so forth. In streamer flies, I think if I could have just one fly, to take with me to strange water, it would probably be the woolly bugger, either a black or an olive woolly booger. The woolly bugger is an excellent fly.”

There is no way I can describe my feelings while interviewing Leon Chandler. One afternoon did not even begin to scratch the surface of the life this man has led. No award was ‘given’ to Leon; he worked and earned every one he has received. There is another side of him, however-- a sense of humor I was just able to glimpse. I have to share it. I only wish you could see his expression and hear his deep chuckle as he told this to me.
Leon Chandler On The Proper Way To Eat Oreo’s:

“The proper way to eat Oreo’s and milk, has to be practiced. You start by filling up a glass to whatever level you want with milk and then you very carefully stack the Oreo’s alongside the glass at the exact same level as the milk. Then you eat an Oreo, take a sip of milk, eat an Oreo, take a sip of milk, etc. If your Oreo’s run out before your milk is gone, then your sips aren’t big enough. If your milk is gone before your Oreo’s are gone, your sips are too big. So, in either event, you have to start all over. Then you have to practice, and practice, and practice. That’s the proper way to eat an Oreo.”

And this is Leon Chandler:

1965 Dolphin Award – Fishing Hall of Fame

1975 Spinx Leadership Award “Lifetime Career” category: Sporting Goods Dealer

1982 Award of Merit – AFTMA

1985 International Ambassador Award – Federation of Fly Fisherman

1986 Honorary Lifetime Membership – AFTMA

1988 National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame as Legendary Angler

1991 Fly Tackle Dealer Show presented an original Mike Stidman “Brown Trout” painting as a gift of appreciation from the Fly Fishing Industry

1992 “1992 Angler of the Year,” by Fly Rod and Reel Magazine, Personal Profile article in Fly Fisherman Magazine, Unsung Hero Award – Fishing Tackle Trade News

1994 Catskills Fly Fishing Center and Museum Hall of Fame, Lifetime Contribution Award – North American Fly Tackle Trade Association

2000 National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame, Enshrinement Award.

Copyright Susan Cox  

With kind permission from www.flyanglersonline.com