Fly Fishing Legend Dave Whitlock Passes from Stroke Suffered on Thanksgiving Night.

[PatMiles]

Honoring Fly Fishing Icon Dave Whitlock - Fly Fisherman

The passing of Dave was a loss of a legend to the fishing community. Here we celebrate his contirbutions to the modern fly fishing sport.

www.flyfisherman.com

Dave Whitlock, one of the most important figures in the history of modern fly fishing and one of the most iconic figures to ever grace the pages of Fly Fisherman magazine, passed away on Nov. 24, 2022, succumbing to a significant stroke he suffered at his home on Thanksgiving night.

News of Whitlock’s passing began to circulate in the fly-fishing community on the morning of Black Friday, November 25, 2022, and it was soon confirmed by Whitlock’s wife, Emily, on the couple’s “Dave & Emily Whitlock Fly Fishing” Facebook page.

“It breaks my heart to let you know that we lost Dave last night to a massive stroke,” she wrote on the couple’s social media account. “He was working on his boat next to our casting pond when it hit, and was flown to Tulsa for care. But he broke the tippet and drifted gently back to the deep water, the wild that he loved and spent a lifetime exploring, writing and painting about.

“We shared 30 wonderful years together and I was able to see, firsthand, the huge mark he made on our sport. He was so honored when Fly Fisherman magazine recently named him as one of four greats that make up the Mt. Rushmore of fly fishing. But I think he left an even bigger mark on those who knew him and who got to share a river with him. The shimmering leap of a trout, the heavy pull of a largemouth or the feisty dance of a bluegill were things that he dearly loved, made his heart race and brought out his big smile...every time!

The flyfishing world is profoundly diminished.
Pat

 

[Brians356]

Honoring Fly Fishing Icon Dave Whitlock - Fly Fisherman

The passing of Dave was a loss of a legend to the fishing community. Here we celebrate his contirbutions to the modern fly fishing sport.

www.flyfisherman.com

Dave Whitlock, one of the most important figures in the history of modern fly fishing and one of the most iconic figures to ever grace the pages of Fly Fisherman magazine, passed away on Nov. 24, 2022, succumbing to a significant stroke he suffered at his home on Thanksgiving night.

News of Whitlock’s passing began to circulate in the fly-fishing community on the morning of Black Friday, November 25, 2022, and it was soon confirmed by Whitlock’s wife, Emily, on the couple’s “Dave & Emily Whitlock Fly Fishing” Facebook page.

“It breaks my heart to let you know that we lost Dave last night to a massive stroke,” she wrote on the couple’s social media account. “He was working on his boat next to our casting pond when it hit, and was flown to Tulsa for care. But he broke the tippet and drifted gently back to the deep water, the wild that he loved and spent a lifetime exploring, writing and painting about.

“We shared 30 wonderful years together and I was able to see, firsthand, the huge mark he made on our sport. He was so honored when Fly Fisherman magazine recently named him as one of four greats that make up the Mt. Rushmore of fly fishing. But I think he left an even bigger mark on those who knew him and who got to share a river with him. The shimmering leap of a trout, the heavy pull of a largemouth or the feisty dance of a bluegill were things that he dearly loved, made his heart race and brought out his big smile...every time!

The flyfishing world is profoundly diminished.
Pat

Who are the other three on that flyfishing Mt. Rushmore? (Gary LaFontaine for one?)
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[TC260]

Who are the other three on that flyfishing Mt. Rushmore? (Gary LaFontaine for one?)
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I looked up their list, Lee Wulff, Joe Brooks, Dave Whitlock, Lefty Kreh. Like any short list, could be many others on the list too but regardless, Dave Whitlock was one of the giants of fly fishing. The few times I spoke to him he was always very kind and helpful. I asked him to sign a book once when I was in my early twenties and he didn't just sign his name and run. He cared enough to sit down and talk for a few minutes along with drawing a picture to go with the autograph.

 

[PatMiles]

I looked up their list, Lee Wulff, Joe Brooks, Dave Whitlock, Lefty Kreh. Like any short list, could be many others on the list too but regardless, Dave Whitlock was one of the giants of fly fishing. The few times I spoke to him he was always very kind and helpful. I asked him to sign a book once when I was in my early twenties and he didn't just sign his name and run. He cared enough to sit down and talk for a few minutes along with drawing a picture to go with the autograph.

Gary Borger for sure.

 

[Bugs]

If there was room for a 5th person on the mount, I nominate George Harvey

 

[PatMiles]

I looked up their list, Lee Wulff, Joe Brooks, Dave Whitlock, Lefty Kreh. Like any short list, could be many others on the list too but regardless, Dave Whitlock was one of the giants of fly fishing. The few times I spoke to him he was always very kind and helpful. I asked him to sign a book once when I was in my early twenties and he didn't just sign his name and run. He cared enough to sit down and talk for a few minutes along with drawing a picture to go with the autograph.

This will give you folks a hint of how Dave treated his friends and followers.

 

[Leo Smith]

I have fly fished for 50 years. And I was humbled by him . And forever will be.

 

[RegionRat]

I won't claim to have know him well, but met him several times. He was a guest lecturer at our club a few times and was a very easy guy to spend time with. A very talented man with a great outlook on life.

Prayers for him and all his loved ones. Memory Eternal.

 

[ronsatspokane]

Interesting, my neighbor who was an avid fly fisherman for most of his life just moved into assisted living with his wife of many years. I'll have to ask him if he knew Dave. Highly likely he did. Gene Lorenson has paintings hanging all over the place including the capital in Olympa Washington. He created the fly of the month club in this area and ran it for decades. He illustrated a number of books on fly fishing over the years including this one:

Amazon.com

 

[Brians356]

Interesting, my neighbor who was an avid fly fisherman for most of his life just moved into assisted living with his wife of many years. I'll have to ask him if he knew Dave. Highly likely he did. Gene Lorenson has paintings hanging all over the place including the capital in Olympa Washington. He created the fly of the month club in this area and ran it for decades. He illustrated a number of books on fly fishing over the years including this one:

Amazon.com

Is there a more addicted flycaster in Spokane than Mark Few?
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[ronsatspokane]

Is there a more addicted flycaster in Spokane than Mark Few?
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Didn't know he was. I do now. Looks like he like to chase monsters with a fly rod.

 

[Brians356]

Looks like he like to chase monsters with a fly rod.

Who doesn't?
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[ronsatspokane]

Who doesn't?
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Something I promised myself I'd get back into when I retired and had time. Retired 3 years ago and still haven't had the time. I did upgrade my gear in preparation for it though.

 

[rebs]

My sincere condolences to his family. May the Lord comfort them in this time of great loss
May he rest in peace

 

[urbanrifleman]

My dad John Walker and Dave grew up as childhood friends. They were taught to fly fish by Dave's grandfather. So in that they both learn to fly fish together. My dad still has lots of original Dave Whitlock art including a rainbow trout with my dad in the background.

I'm not sure he knew.

This is my Dad. He was featured in the Tulsa world. I didn't even know they made a video.

 

[MikeT49]

I learned a lot from reading Mr. Whitlock's books and articles. May he rest in peace. A couple of other fly fisherman who jump started my fly fishing education were Doug Swisher and Carl Richards. They deserve at least honorable mention for the mountain.