Inspiring Anglers

For many, the most endearing element of the fishing life has always been the other anglers they meet. Whether they're teachers, fly-tyers, record-holders, inventors, craftsmen, innovators, photographers, competitors or guides, those who've spent enough time around the water inevitably have great stories.

The 21 anglers profiled in this collection have not only won tournaments and broken records, but they've also used fishing as a means to inspire, heal, create and explore. They have defied death sentences (Jeremiah Catlin) and battled gigantic corporations to save remote wilderness (Brian Kraft). They compete at the highest level (Alex Wetherell, Blair Erickson and Roy Bilby), craft remarkable stories (Monte Burke, Steve Ramirez, Michael Tougias, Mark Usyk), collect asteroids and fossils (Allan Lang), create beautiful art (Jillian Beattie, Joe Higgins), inspire faith (J.R. Cooper and Chris Wells), entertain and teach us (John Thelen), bring fishing to people who need it most (Lindsay Agness), and chase specimens most of us only dream about (Tommy Scarborough, Greg Myerson, Dan Lougheed, Mike Coppola and John Anderson).