Erin was introduced to fly fishing by Jim Hovan, an old college friend. It was one of those fortuitous "snafus". Having decided to go fishing, Jim intended to pack the spinning rod for Erin to use. Alas, upon reaching the river they had only his fly rod and reel, which he generously shared, giving enough instruction for Erin to know she wanted to know more. Hooked!

The next logical step was to get outfitted with the appropriate gear. Fortunately, her initial encounter with a sleazy fly shop owner (he wanted to know her "breast" size in order to better fit her with waders), did not deter her enthusiasm. She left without buying the waders, but not before taking a copy of the DVWFFA news letter with her: more doors opening!

Before moving to Philadelphia to earn her bachelor's degree in journalism from Temple University, Erin grew up in Schenectady, New York. As a young child, she recalls frequent visits to Rita and Eddie's Aquarium Shop. She loved looking at the fish. She also enjoyed fishing on the Mohawk River with her father. Another childhood experience included being the summer camp champ for fishing: high hook for Sunnies on bread balls; first prize.

"Fishing can be a great excuse for traveling", says Erin. And travel she has done! One of her earliest adventures took her to the Florida Keys along with Susan Eggert, former president of the Chesapeake Bay Women's Flyfishing Association. They began the trip as strangers and emerged with a very close and lasting friendship.

Another occasion found Erin on a trip with Ann McIntosh fishing for bonefish in the Bay of Pigs, Cuba. Nine-weight line and near perfection of double-haul casting techniques loomed large there, and lots of big fish.

The most unusual place Erin has fished is the Una River in Bosnia, for "river char", using parts of spent rifle housings as home-made lures. She spent a month in this war-torn country at the invitation of two Bosnian women who became her interpreters during her stay. Erin met the women in the course of interviewing them for an article when she worked for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

The war had ended, but tremendous upheaval and scars remained. (missing roads and bridges, lack of medical supplies, loss of utilities.) The dangers of land mines laced the outstanding beauty of the countryside. Erin saw the cruel results of the mines while visiting the local tackle shop. As she was inquiring about places she could explore for fishing, the shop owner began to remove his shoe and sock, revealing what was left of his foot. He had stepped on the mine while fishing. Her plans to create her own fishing excursion quickly dissolved, but word got out that an American woman wanted to fish, and before long an assembly of 12 men had formed themselves into a special regiment for that end. The outing was night fishing and ended with a ceremonial circle. Erin relates this part of the tale so well, I will leave it to the reader to ask her about it.

Finding and telling the good story is among Erin's great passions. In fact, her desire to seek and share the good story is leading Erin to a career in radio broadcasting. She currently works part-time for WHYY Public Radio, on production of the garden show, "You Bet Your Garden" and the cooking show, "A Chef's Table". She is about to begin a full-time position as producer of the radio show; "Justice Talking Live".

A story she is itching to tell is that of Helen Shaw, one of America's earliest women to become well-known for fly tying. She continues to try for that interview. Usually access is forthcoming, says Erin: "One of the wonderful things about this sport is that so many of the highly accomplished women avail themselves to those who want to learn. They are just at our finger tips."

Erin loves how fly fishing becomes a leveler of widely varying backgrounds. "You can immediately go right into the common ground of a shared passion for fly fishing, and then spread into other aspects of the person's life realities very naturally. Connections and exchanges are made that would otherwise never happen."

Many readers will recall Erin's own account of her "baptism" in the Penns Creek a few years ago. She has also written of her misfortune in losing one of her brand new wading boots...not to quicksand or in a race with a bear, but from the back of her vehicle's tailgate! But have you heard about an earlier occasion when in the course of casting instructions with Ed Shank (of Letort and Yellow Breeches fame), she adeptly snagged him in the ear? Well, here is the latest: I have it on good authority that Erin recently has procured a nine-foot kayak. With the increased mobility this provides, not a fish in the tri-state area can let down its guard! Already woman and kayak have taken the maiden voyage, and I think it's only a matter of time before we will have another good tale from our adventurous and effervescent "pres."

--Judith Palmer--
Fall 2000 Issue