The Northern California Fly Fishing Board

I learned much from this wonderful man...

FROM THE FLYTYING FORUM – 8.29.09


First Dave Lewis and then Bill Tapply, this is a sad month for long rodders. Now this.

Georges Odier, an entomologist and author who quietly changed fly fishing in a fundamental and profound manner with the 1984 publication of his book Swimming Flies (Stone Wall Publishing, ISBN 0-91327-648-0), is at the end of his life. Odier was one of the first to understand that adult caddis re-enter the water and swim to the bottom to deposit eggs directly in desirable habitat. He determined that eggs released at the surface would drift for hundreds of yards before reaching the bottom and thus was an unlikely action for a species as successfully established as the caddis. His research into the life cycle of this important insect has had a significant effect on our sport.

I received this communication from Virginia Newton, a friend of Mr. Odier:

I am writing because we just heard the news that Georges is on life support at a hospital in Salt Lake and is not expected to live much longer – the hospital is awaiting to hear formally from his family in France to turn off life support. He had a stroke after returning from one his daily walks in Moab. We Googled his name and read your wonderful piece in Fly Fish Ohio about Georges’ work on mastering the nymph fly fishing method. My husband had many fishing adventures with Georges and they were such good friends, but had seen him less since he moved to Utah. I figure you would appreciate knowing this news, sad as it is. We are in the process of helping contact his family in France to make arrangements. If you knew George I know my husband would like to hear from you.

Joe C.

Georges, along with Chuck Fothergill, developed "high stick" nymphing...

PT/TB

I read the news about Georges on the "bamboo" forum, but figured no one who reads this board had ever heard of Georges, so I did not pass along the sad news.

Thanks for posting.

Thanks for sharing the news.

I also had not heard about Dave Lewis. Kinda sad. Dave was epic for his staunch support of Montana waters. I think I caught his ire for my series on the trip to Montana to attend Andre Puyans memorial, and the articles I wrote and published on this Board. The Ruby River post held the place on the old NCFFB as one of the longest thread for awhile. He did wonders to stir it on, yet didn't back away from the controversy it create with him.

Legends are going to that great trout stream in the sky faster than we can create new ones.

Sad news indeed. I knew Dave Lewis back in Virginia and DC. I have one of his custom rods. A kindly gentleman. He'll be missed.

My prayers to the families of all mentioned above in PT's post.

El Rey