Searching for Sheridan - The story behind the Curtis Creek Manifesto

[Josh]

Like many of you, I love the Curtis Creek Manifesto. It's a funny, encouraging, easy read with some good info.

But how many of you caught the awesome backstory that The Fly Fishing Journal published a few years back about the book's wonderfully eccentric author, Sheridan Anderson? It's well worth the read. Also, go subscribe to the FFJ, it's worth the money.

Searching for Sheridan

My first copy of The Curtis Creek Manifesto was given to me by an old professor. He wasn’t much of a fisherman, but he knew about such things. I told him I’d taken up flyfishing, and he went looking for something in his shop. He stopped rummaging long enough to give a lecture on the mechanics of...

www.theflyfishjournal.com

 

[Anonymous member 148]

Also my favorite fly fishing book, got it when I was a kid.

 

[Tom Butler]

Fun read Josh, thanks for posting that. I love that little book, and "Curtis Creeks" everywhere. My grandkids will be ready for a christmas copy and a box of crayons, just like their dad, in a couple years. It's actually an occasional bedtime story when they stay over now.

 

[Zak]

Great read, thanks!

 

[Paige]

Was our number one newbie book recommendation at the shop back in the AATF days!

 

[Sagebrush]

That book was life altering for me, got me hooked on flyfishing. I was a clueless 16 year old opening up the book of secrets. And that trick with the yarn, got me a beautiful trout on the Rogue, will never forget it.

 

[Freestone]

@iveofione can tell you some things about Sheridan!

 

[GAT]

I love that book. I used to talk to Frank Amato about Sheridan. He said he'd get the greatest letters from the guy that were illustrated. He had a natural talent that can not be reproduced. Frank wanted me to pen a cartoon book in the same vein as CCM but with fly tying as the subject. I knew there was no way in hell that I could come up with a spin off fly tying cartoon book anywhere close to the caliber of Sheridan's fly fishing book so I declined the contract.

For many years, CCM was Amato Publication best selling book. It wouldn't surprise me if that wasn't still the case.

 

[Richard Olmstead]

I was a climber when I was young and knew Sheridan Anderson’s climbing cartoons in Mountain Gazette and other climbing rags. I’d guess that in those days that was what he was most well known for. But there’s no question that the Curtis Creek Manifesto defines his legacy today. Thanks for posting this bio.

 

[Rob Allen]

There is very little about trout fishing that one needs to know that is not thoroughly explained by Sheridan.
I think one of the main reasons people struggle learning to fly fish is that the industry has gone to great lengths to overcomplicate it.

 

[Dustin Chromers]

I've never read it. Sounds like I should and it could help me a fair bit.

 

[Zak]

I've never read it. Sounds like I should and it could help me a fair bit.

Worth a read for anyone. Humorous and informative.

 

[Buzzy]

View attachment 29138

Like many of you, I love the Curtis Creek Manifesto. It's a funny, encouraging, easy read with some good info.

But how many of you caught the awesome backstory that The Fly Fishing Journal published a few years back about the book's wonderfully eccentric author, Sheridan Anderson? It's well worth the read. Also, go subscribe to the FFJ, it's worth the money.

Searching for Sheridan

My first copy of The Curtis Creek Manifesto was given to me by an old professor. He wasn’t much of a fisherman, but he knew about such things. I told him I’d taken up flyfishing, and he went looking for something in his shop. He stopped rummaging long enough to give a lecture on the mechanics of...

www.theflyfishjournal.com

View attachment 29140

Thanks for posting this - it was interesting to read that Sheridan Anderson lived in Chiloquin, OR at the same time I was living in K'Falls. I made quite a few trips to the Chiloquin area to fish the Williamson River. I love the simplicity but genious of The Curtis Creek Manifesto.

 

[Gyrfalcon22]

I love that book. I used to talk to Frank Amato about Sheridan. He said he'd get the greatest letters from the guy that were illustrated. He had a natural talent that can not be reproduced. Frank wanted me to pen a cartoon book in the same vein as CCM but with fly tying as the subject. I knew there was no way in hell that I could come up with a spin off fly tying cartoon book anywhere close to the caliber of Sheridan's fly fishing book so I declined the contract.

For many years, CCM was Amato Publication best selling book. It wouldn't surprise me if that wasn't still the case.

I may have mentioned before that I also had Frank Amato buy some work from me and publish some early line drawings. No doubt being even a small part connected with the guy who published the Curtis Creek Manifesto was like recording an album under the Beatles APPLE Records, even back in the 80's.

What a great, great book.

@GAT it is nice to know we are brothers in that lucky space !

 

[Josh]

Thanks for sharing, @Josh! I wrote this story for FFJ several years ago. Happy to know it's still getting read from time to time.

For what it's worth, I haven't found a better instructional than Curtis Creek Manifesto. Special book, talented guy.

Very awesome to hear!

And welcome to the site!

 

[PhilR]

I won the book in a raffle at the expo, and I’m glad to finally have a copy

 

[GAT]

I won the book in a raffle at the expo, and I’m glad to finally have a copy

Well that's cool !



Seems appropriate to win the book at the Expo.

 

[up2nogood]

Picked up a copy at a used book store after reading this thread . Interesting book to say the least .