It’s no coincidence that some of the most storied fly anglers have regarded smallies as an embodiment of the impulses that have prompted so many to pick up a fly rod in the first place. Track the tenures of Dave Whitlock, Lefty Kreh, Flip Pallot and so many others and you will see smallmouth at the top of the list; folks that know, know. The project suggests that the fly angling world would be wise to find inspiration in the niche corners instead of defaulting to tropes of “trout + salt” and the more consumer-driven mindset they breed, only to find themselves headed for the boring abyss of the mainstream, losing the spark that set the fire.
