Joe Humphreys ”Mr. Penn State” Reveals what he’s Learned in 90 years of Fly Fishing

Joe Humphreys was born in 1929 and at 96 years old he is still night fishing, chasing hatches, teaching children how to cast and catch fish, and inspiring fly fishers around the world. Joe is the only person in the world to be in both the Fly Fishing Hall of Fame and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. He is a coach, teacher, author, presenter, and former director of the Penn State Fly Fishing Program—which is now named after him. In this episode of Loop to Loop he sits down with Fly Fisherman editor/publisher Ross Purnell and reveals how he rode his bike 10 miles to Spring Creek during the Great Depression (minute mark), how he landed his Pennsylvania state record brown trout in 1977 (minute mark), how the Penn State Fly Fishing Program began (minute mark), how George Harvey tested his ability to tell the truth (minute mark), the best fly to use during a Green Drake Hatch (minute mark), and how he learned to "shoot" line with his trademark bow & arrow cast. In this 2-hour interview Joe even brings out his 1940s-era Paul H. Young bamboo rod that has caught thousands of trout in his hands.