Kenneth Shewmaker, Act One: A Fine, Dry Fly

History professor Kenneth Shewmaker has won Dartmouth's Distinguisded TeachingAward twice. He has also taught many of his students how to fly-fish. Today heStands waist-deep in the White River, fly-fishing,. His wife, Liese, sits in a foldingchair on the bank reading a novel.

SHEW MAKER:(indicating his wife) Liese would rather read a good book than fish a good trout stream. (He shakes his head.) Don't think she can't fly- fish. She just isn't hooked. I still love to have her along with me for a little conversation and picnic.

I discovered fishing when I came to Dartmouth; 30 years ago. I had a spinning rod and I was out therewith garden hackle—worms, sometimes hardWare, lures. But gradually I noticed how much fan my friends were having With their fly rods and how relatively little fun I was having with my spinning rod. Had to make the switch, I had tie cheapest little fly rod you could buy. That was a mistake. (He laughs.) The first of many. I got my fly caught on trees, bushes, broke the barbs on rocks, hit the water too hard and scared the fish, you name it. I finally got good at angling with a fly, and that spinning rod hasn't budged from my garage in years. The White River has become like a second home to me, from Bethel to where it joins the Connecticut River.

When I started out I Was eating the fish. I've about quit that altogether. I'm here for the pure thrill of the catch. Out in nature, watching a brown trout take my fly and run—it's about as close to heaven as I can get on this earth. (Smiling ata Liese) Of course at least once a year she insists on a trout dinner, so I try to bring home a nice one for her.

Like anything else, you have to be a student of the sport to advance in it. I've studied the flies—some are quite historical. I study the fish and their habits. I have genuine respect for these trout. There was one particularly large brown trout here in the White River that I caught at least three times. I know because I clipped his fin like the Fish and Game wardens do. He was such a beautiful, wary trout.

One of the nice things about fly-fishing is the overlap between my favorite recreation and an area of history that interests me very much. For many years I've been researching Daniel Webster 1800. Of course, you know that he was one of our country's first true fly-fishermen? Yes, he was! Avid, avid. A deserter from the British army taught him when he was a boy. It's a fine story. I researched it and wrote an article for "The American Fly-Fisher." {Hesmiles, then turnsserious) History and then fishing. Let me stress that teaching arid research always come first. Always. But give me a few years of retirement arid I'll reverse that! (He laughs.)

(He sees something in the water and speaks softly.) Get the camera ready Liese! I see somebody interesting...

(A trout rises and Sbew maker casts a fine, dry fly. Liese takes the picture. End ofscene.)