Series 5

Ted Trueblood had a professional and personal affiliation with Scientific Anglers for approximately 17 years. The company developed and sold fly-fishing equipment, so this series contains much basic how-to information about fly-fishing.

Box 18 contains Trueblood’s correspondence with Scientific Anglers. Also found here are drafts of texts written for promotional pamphlets and instructional booklets. Box 19 contains company publications that incorporated Ted’s writings. One booklet, To Cast a Fly, is considered a classic among fly fishers (see folder 35). Newsletters about SA products can be found scattered throughout the correspondence files.

Scientific Anglers was founded in 1945 by Leon P. Martuch and remained a family business until late 1973 when it was sold to 3M Corporation. Most of Ted’s correspondence was with Leon P.’s son, Leon L. Martuch, known as “Chum.”

Trueblood worked for the company without any formal contract. In fact, the letters indicate that Chum and his father had a high regard for Ted’s abilities and considered him a personal friend. In return Trueblood included some personal details in his letters---about his extended camping honeymoon (April 7, 1964) and his wife’s mycological research grants (July 1, 1971), for example.

The most important aspect of this series, however, is its broad spectrum of technical information about the sport of fly-fishing. In June 1964 the author sent the company a scholarly article about the history of fly lines. In November 1966 he wrote a draft for a pamphlet, The Man Behind the Counter, containing facts about selling fly-fishing equipment to novice fisherman. In October 1966 the draft of Fly Fishing for Bass and Panfish was submitted; the booklet is stored in Box 19, folder 23. A similar booklet, Fly Fishing for Trout was sent to SA in June 1969.

Ted’s meticulous field research with SA’s newly developed lines, rods, and reels is evidenced in his product reports to Chum Martuch. “I am now positive that a white fly line scares smart trout, both in the air and on the water . . . I could see trout dart away before the line touched the water when I cast. Cruising trout would not pass under this line while it was floating, even though I had cast some time before.” (Letter dated June 27, 1973)

A two-page letter dated October 13, 1968, is packed with details about eight different line and rod combinations that the author tested on a Salmon River fishing trip. “Once I got the hang of the action I had no trouble holding a shallow loop . . . Your matching of lines to rods, or the other way around, is just right.” Whether the reader is an expert or novice fly-fisherman, or wishes to learn more about the art of sports writing, they will find this series informative and valuable.

Box 18: Correspondence & Writings

       Folder   1            1960-61
                      2            1962
                      3            1963
                      4            1964
                      5            1965-66
                      6            1967
                      7            1968
                      8            1969
                      9            1970
                    10            1971
                    11            1971 Salt Water and Fly Fishing pamphlet draft
                    12            1972
                    13            1973
                    14            1974
                    15            1975
                    16            1976-1980
                    17            Correspondence with Leon L. Martuch, 1979, 1982

Box 19: Published Brochures & Catalogs

       Folder   1            Anglers Hall of Fame, 1961
                      2            Brochures, 1962
                      3            Brochures, 1964
                      4            Brochures, 1965-66
                      5            Brochures, 1967
                      6            Brochures, 1968
                      7            Brochures, 1969
                      8            Brochures, 1972
                      9            Catalog, 1967
                    10            Catalog, 1968
                    11            Catalog, 1969
                    12            Catalog, 1970
                    13            Catalog, 1971
                    14            Catalog, 1972
                    15            Catalog, 1973
                    16            Catalog, 1974
                    17            Catalog, 1975
                    18            Catalog, 1976
                    19            Catalog, 1977
                    20            Catalog, 1978
                    21            Fly Fishing Bulletin, 1971
                    22            Fly Fishing Bulletin, 1972
                    23            Fly Fishing for Bass and Panfish, 1967
                    24            Fly Fishing Hall of Fame, 1962
                    25            Fly Fishing Hall of Fame, 1964
                    26            Fly Fishing Hall of Fame, 1965
                    27            Fly Fishing Hall of Fame, 1966
                    28            Fly Fishing Hall of Fame, 1969
                    29            Fly Fishing Handbook, 1977
                    30            Fly Fishing Only (Newsletter), Fall 1970
                    31            Fly Fishing Only, Spring, 1972
                    32            Fly Fishing Only, Fall, 1975
                    33            Product Reports, 1962-64
                    34            To Cast a Trout Fly
                    35            To Cast a Fly
                    36            Scientific Anglers Fly Fishing Bulletins

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This page last changed: 22 January 2004