Sparse: The Man Behind the Legend 

Thanks Ben. Only someone who has stood in the Beaverkill in April waiting for a hatch and wishing they had poured a thermos a coffee directly into their waders would understand the historical significance of SGH. 👍👍

Shortly after Sparse's death I read his Fishless Days, Angling Nights and, to say the least, it was inspiring. I had been a flyfisherman for 20 some years and had read almost everything I could find. I had somehow missed Spare Grey Hackle. I then had an opportunity to visit NYC for a continuing education seminar. I left a bit early and spent three days exploring Sparse's Catskills, fishing his streams, visiting his old haunts and meeting the people he had met. It was a near spiritual experience and one I won't forget. Thank you Sparse!

I’m glad you mentioned murder. That’s one of my favorite stories. I think about it at times I feel desperate and it gives me a little boost. Sparse was great

Thank you Hoagy B. for this interesting video. Greetings from Sweden!😊

Wonderful. Thanks for sharing. I’m so glad your dad captured the legend. Love the cigar smoldering on the vest story!

Thank you for this video. He was my grandfather and I learned more about him from the video than my family told me. I share his initials but only his last name.

What a pleasure. I bought that first Crown edition of Fishless Days, Angling Nights and have treasured it since. How wonderful to have included Nick Lyons, but then no one would be more appropriate. I had read his account of the wager with Sparse, great to hear him tell the story. Made my day, thank you.

This video was a terrific internet find. I learned about SGH from Ernie Schweibert's book way back when I was first learning about flyfishing for trout. I was immediately captivated by Sparse's stories once I got hold of a copy of FDAN. As a young man, I was so eager to accrue experiences and enmesh myself into the whole culture of fly fishing. And eventually I moved within a half day's drive of the Catskill streams that Sparse fished and wrote about. What a treat to learn more about the man's life and hear him speak!

My favorite Angling writer... really a one man show.

Loved the story, so I went on Amazon and bought Sparse's book - Fishless Days and Angling Nights. So another book sold!

This is wonderful! Thanks for sharing this one, Ben.

DBFFC forwarded this to us club members, it's a wonderful video! I didn't think a video of Sparse existed, many thanks, Mr. Carmichael!

Nice work on this! Well done!

Thank you for sharing !

That was wonderful Ben, thanks for sharing.

Most enjoyable. It remains, in my thoughts, largely as Sparse relates.

Wow, I did not know of Sparse, now I need to find and buy one of his books. Thanks for doing the video on him.

And, a Hoagy song!

rip legend!!!

I wonder in what year this was filmed? I love it.