Ellen McCaleb of Barrington, works on a piece of angling art. Her works will be part of the exhibit. (Courtesy photo.)

Exhibit at library celebrates the art of angling

As the temperature struggles to climb above freezing, it is not too soon to turn your thoughts to grabbing that fly rod off the wall and heading for a nearby trout stream.

To help bridge the gap between your last fish and the next pair of leaky waders, the University of New Hampshire Library’s Milne Special Collections and Archives Department will feature an exhibit, “The Art of Angling: A Visual Celebration of Fly Fishing.”

The exhibit, which opened March 22, features angling art, fine books, classic and modern flies, fly tying materials and tools, and examples of fine rod and reel making. From 4 to 6 p.m., fly tier Dick Talleur, fish carver Ellen McCaleb, reel maker Bob Corsetti, and bamboo rod maker Fred Kretchman will discuss their respective crafts.

“This is a new direction for us,” museum curator Dale Valena said. “We’ve developed exhibits featuring our historical collections, textiles and more traditional artwork and photography, but this time we’ve invited a wide range of artists and craftsmen to exhibit their angling-related work.”

The exhibit focus is a natural as well, as the department contains the Milne Angling Collection, one of the largest collections of angling literature in the United States. The collection, which now numbers some 4,000 volumes, is rich in materials relating to fly-fishing for trout and Atlantic salmon, with special emphasis on fishing in New England and eastern Canada. Contemporary examples of fine printing and binding from the collection will also be on display.

“I am always ready to celebrate the beauty of fly fishing,” said Bill Ross, head of the Milne Special Collections and Archives, and a fly fisherman. “We spend a great deal of time and effort celebrating the past, we need to stop and recognize the outstanding work that is going on around us. This exhibit gives us a chance to do just that.”

The opening will also feature the dedication of a fly tying desk in honor of the late Dick Surette, noted fisherman, fly tier and founding editor of Fly Tyer magazine. Last year, Surette’s family donated his collection of angling books and fly tying supplies to the Milne Angling Collection.

The exhibit runs until June 12.

For more information about “The Art of Angling: A Visual Celebration of Fly Fishing,” the University Museum, or the Milne Angling Collection, call 2-0346 or visit www.izaak.unh.edu.