A Great Man Passed - RIP Bill Byrd
William Franklin Byrd Jr.,
May 25 1949 February 24 2021
I've mentioned Bill Byrd often as one of my fly-fishing guru's - his notions for systematically fishing the entire water column, especially, are legendary.
Bill hailed from NW Atlanta, long before that city exploded into the urban mega-center it is today. He was a lifelong angler who specialized in ultralight spin and fly fishing tackle, and I am right to call him a guru.
He held multiple world records for ultralight fish catches. He wrote articles in numerous national periodicals.
He was a specialist in his chosen field.
However, I always felt he was passed over by the mainstream sporting media.
He had no books published, no DVD's were available.
He never hosted a YouTube channel... the video world got going after he had peaked.
Rather than seeking fame, he focused his efforts on guiding around his native region of Georgia. Seeing others enjoy their angling pastime more, while becoming better, and more intuitive in the process was important to him. Everything he wrote and left as legacy was unselfishly promulgated and maintained privately by him, and him alone.
That's the kind of man he was, that's the kind of generation he came from.
Sadly, William "Bill," Franklin Byrd Jr. passed away in 2021, and its with fondness and good memories that I ask you all to keep him kindly in your thoughts.
Lucky for us, his voluminous body of work at ByrdUltrafly has been archived on the internet for retrieval. I cannot emphasize this enough - YOU SHOULD CHECK IT OUT.
While still alive, Bill gave me direct permission to copy, use, and share his information as I saw fit. I've retained much of the fishing sections for my personal files.
I refer to them often.
I'm certain Bill would be pleased to know that my friends, fellow Palmetto Fly N Fish group members, and the angling world at large might do the same. To this end, find the link to his archive below.
I corresponded with Bill, on and off, over several years, and it was an honor to know the man. I pray that his soul rests in peaceful repose.
He was something of an Everyday Renaissance Man; not just a one-trick pony. His obituary details what I mean, and it can be viewed here:
The Bill Byrd "Ultrafly" archive is here: https://web.archive.org/web/20210210233327/http://www.byrdultrafly.com/
Thanks for Reading and Tight Lines.
David
Palmetto Fly n Fish
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