It’s interesting and somewhat ironic how certain sporting venues change dramatically once certain celebrities become involved. For example, fly fishing as we knew it, let’s say about 30 years or so ago, was a relatively quiet and contemplative sport. Then when “A River Runs Through It,” starring Brad Pitt, was released, that same fly fishing changed dramatically, because of that movie. States like Montana, which was historically known for the quality of its trout fishing, suddenly became a Mecca, drawing wealthy clientele from all over the country and perhaps even the world. What was once a very rural, low-population state, devoted to cattle ranching, the timber industry and tourism, suddenly became the place to go and be seen. Land values increased dramatically, creating a boom for the real estate industry.

To check the real estate market, I looked up 420 University Ave. in Missoula, where I rented a room as a college student for $25 a month. That property is now valued at over $900,000! Granted, it’s a little over 3,200 square feet and a short walk to the university campus—still, that’s a lot of money! 

A little more research determined that the median home price in that city is now $526,000. That, my angling friends, is what the right kind of publicity can do to an area and its trout fishing.

In 1993, about a year after I left the DEC, I was approached by Bert Darrow, a longtime friend, excellent angler and sometimes guide. Bert explained that he was starting a fly fishing school, and asked if I was interested in joining him. When I said “yes,” Bert said he would get back to me. 

The next time I heard from Bert, he indicated that he had partnered with Karen Graham.

Being a little miffed, I asked Bert who Karen was. That’s when he explained that Karen Graham was a supermodel who had worked for Estée Lauder and appeared on any number of Vogue Magazine covers. Bert went on to explain that because of her celebrity, Karen had a lot of contacts who would provide a clientele for the school. 

He named the school Fly Fishing with Bert and Karen. The pair ran the school for several years, which is when I had the opportunity to meet her. At the time, Karen had a beautiful old home on the banks of the Roundout Creek in the town of Rosendale. I went there a few times with my nephew for lunch. After lunch, we looked at the river and did a little fly casting in Karen’s backyard.

When I told her that I had a camp on the East Branch of the Delaware River, just outside of Downsville, where I fished almost every weekend, she asked if she could come along. The first time that we went to the East Branch, the river was very high, likely because the River Master had called for water, in order to meet the flow requirements at Montague. So we really couldn’t fish because of the high water. Instead, we had lunch, and I told Karen about the history of the East Branch in relation to the low flows and the Water Releases legislation of 1976. 

The next time we went to the East Branch, it was a very warm, overcast day with high humidity. We met Dave Brandt in Downsville and headed to one of our favorite pools. When we arrived, because of the warm air and high humidity, the river was covered in a thick layer of fog, making it impossible to see the water. The fog was so bad that we could not fish. Instead, went off to the Schoolhouse Restaurant for a beer and to talk fishing. 

The last time I fished with Karen was along the Esopus Creek, not far from the cemetery on Route 28. That evening, we ran into a pretty good hatch of green drake mayflies, which frankly surprised me. I did not know that the species of mayflies inhabited that reach of the Esopus. Despite that hatch, neither of us caught a trout that night. 

Karen eventually sold her house along Rondout, and in 2001 was retained by ESPN to host the TV series “In Search Of Fly Water.” That series ran until 2004. I don’t know if episodes are available online. 

So from a world-class model, Karen went on to become an  accomplished, well-known angler and TV host. Not bad in a period of less than 10 years. And I can tell you without hesitation that ESPN would not have hired Karen unless she was an expert at her craft. In spite of her fame, I knew Karen as a kind, rather laid-back woman, whom I enjoyed knowing and fishing with.