Last Cast as Flyline Editor
The tenure of FCO Flyline editors is often quite long and mine was not an outlier. Nevertheless, I was pleasantly surprised when my entreaties to step down were heard by our stalwart members, Paul Franklin and Kevin Quinn. They have agreed to jointly manage and post your Flyline newsletter beginning with this December 2025 edition.
The Paul and Kevin dynamic duo asked me to write a few words about my past 15 years as your Flyline editor. I won’t bore you with details – like the immediate transition in 2011 from a mailed, paper copy of the Flyline to an online version (that was a steep learning curve!). Nor will I recant how my naturally bleeding heart got me into this position by agreeing to relieve long-time Flyline editor, Mark Metzdorff, who continued to put together and arrange mailing the paper Flyline for years (more than one for sure) after moving out of state while concurrently editing the newsletter for his new home state’s fly fishing club.
Instead, I look back on the years of connection with members of our Club who took the time to share their words and experiences that I, in turn, could share with you. During the years as your editor, I corresponded with members between meetings. I had the pleasure of receiving submissions from members from Portland to Vermont, British Columbia, and even New Zealand. Seeing an email with a story from Barry Mayer always put a smile on my face. Local members sent articles and pictures from faraway adventures in Belize, Chile, Kiribati, Tierra del Fuego, and India. Some sent beautifully written philosophical thoughts about fly fishing. Others penned streamside poetry. The literary history of our Club is one we should all be proud of and we should continue to share it with new members. One great way to accomplish this is through our 60th Anniversary Edition of The Creel.
The importance of connection with our fellow humans became acutely important in 2020 when the pandemic forced all of us to basically hide from one other. It was a particularly difficult time for me as my partner, Patrick, passed away unexpectedly in September of that year. The Club leadership supported the Flyline as a way to keep members engaged remotely. Fly fishers desperate for camaraderie found stories from their fellow members who took to rivers and lakes for safe solitude. In retrospect, my duties as editor helped stave off the loneliness of separation from friends and an empty house. For those who took the time to reach out and send articles, I am grateful.
Speaking of gratitude, I appreciate the support and acknowledgement from the FCO Board and the Fly Fisher Foundation Board members. Over the years, they have helped make the editor’s tasks interesting and worthwhile. I especially want to thank all of you who have submitted materials for the Flyline. I was always excited when I received a piece for Literary Angler – probably because I understood the effort the author put into their creative writing. Receiving news for Member Matters helped me know “what’s up” which was especially important during the pandemic and more recently, during our Club’s “renewal efforts.” A big shout out is due to all the FCO Presidents who penned a monthly, and now semi-monthly “President’s Message.” And finally, my deep gratitude goes out to those who have written or submitted ideas for the Conservation Corner. Those articles may be the most challenging to write – sometimes opinion mixed with facts – other times a bit of investigative journalism. That is where I started with the Flyline – helping my late husband, Keith, write for the Conservation Corner in the early 2000’s when the nascent Conservation Committee started to make its mark on the Club. My experience as your Flyline editor has been a rich one, and I believe the work gives so much more to the editor than creating the posts requires. Thank you all for your support, enthusiasm for fly fishing, and love for the fish.
Tight lines and a soft tread,
Lisa Hansen
