Martin J. Keane- Last Cast

Re: Martin J. Keane- Last Cast

feeds@yuku.com (delawareadams) — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 10:09:26 GMT

Marty's passing to me is the closing of a door to the history of something I am passionate about. I lived nearby and would go to his home on the river whenever I wished to purchase something. He was very welcoming and made you feel very comfortable in his home. I love the history of fly fishing very much and have a nice collection of books on it but talking with Marty was like being there and he loved to talk about the people he knew and the places he had been.
I owe to him some...

Re: Martin J. Keane- Last Cast

feeds@yuku.com (whatsleft2) — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 00:55:15 GMT

Wow!........very sad news.

Re: Martin J. Keane- Last Cast

feeds@yuku.com (bluejayee) — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 02:26:16 GMT

Hi Guys, Marty Keane and Hoagy changed my life. I'm sure I'm not the only one to say that. Jay Edwards

Re: Martin J. Keane- Last Cast

feeds@yuku.com (BluDun55) — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 23:04:34 GMT

Just learned of Marty's death as I have been off the forum for awhile.
I have been talking to Marty about rods for the past ten years.
He was extremely helpful with my research on Paul Young/Bobby Doerr/Ted Williams
as well as my work on George Halstead.
Marty was a gentleman who always had time to talk. In the past few years he had a lousy
portable phone that kept cutting off and I would have to redial but he was always there.
I learned so much from him. He...

Re: Martin J. Keane- Last Cast

feeds@yuku.com (mvbrooks) — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 15:19:57 GMT

Marty was one of the most knowledgeable people concerning fly fishing that I have ever had the privilege of knowing. He was a true gentleman, who was always willing to share. God bless him, He will be missed.

Re: Martin J. Keane- Last Cast

feeds@yuku.com (jeffkn1) — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 14:16:38 GMT

Photo courtesy of Jerry Girard, seen here talking to Marty after presenting him with an award. I don't recall whether this was in '08 or '09, nor do I recall the award, but it was either at the Catskill Fly Fishing Center or the American Museum of Fly Fishing.

Re: Martin J. Keane- Last Cast

feeds@yuku.com (Budrichard) — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 17:35:23 GMT

Marty made order out of chaos in the early bamboo world for those of us learning about rods.
My first bamboo, a 7&1'2' Phillipson purchased on sale in the 1960s' for $40 while I was in Graduate School was all that I could afford. Later while working in Chicago in 1971, an Orvis 6' one piece at A&F for $200 was just too much for a young engineer with a wife and two children. Later in life, I started to get Marty's catalog and a 6' Orvis showed up but by the...

Re: Martin J. Keane- Last Cast

feeds@yuku.com (RonT1) — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 11:09:07 GMT

My first encounter with Marty was when his catalog was a tri-fold 8 1/2 x 11. Many catalogs and subsequent 'phone calls kept me broke. I will miss that.
R

Re: Martin J. Keane- Last Cast

feeds@yuku.com (LeakyWaders) — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 12:03:53 GMT

Over the past 30 years I purchased many rods from Marty. He was indeed a fine gentleman and always took his time dealing with you. I will miss him.

Re: Martin J. Keane- Last Cast

feeds@yuku.com (gmflyfish) — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 12:03:51 GMT

A great man and a kindred spirit.. His catalogs were anticipated. I rarely got one in time to get any of the rods that interested me, living in the West. I kept all of his catalogs to use to value my collection and to establish prices. He was very fair on his evaluations and pricing. I managed to get a copy of his personal collection when he sold it a few years ago. Very interesting read.

We will miss his counsel.

Gregg

Re: Martin J. Keane- Last Cast

feeds@yuku.com (sunjpg) — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 01:15:54 GMT

Marty was unique in giving so freely of his time and sharing his passion for classic tackle by sharing the tackle with you.

As many others have said a phone conversation with Marty often lasted an hour or longer. Back in those days, you paid by the minute for long distance and many of us had $20.00 or higher phone calls with Marty many times a year.

More memorable though were the times that he would invite you into his home, and the visit would last 2 hours or more....

Re: Martin J. Keane- Last Cast

feeds@yuku.com (Trout120) — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 16:55:14 GMT

An era is over.

Trout120

Re: Martin J. Keane- Last Cast

feeds@yuku.com (uniphasian) — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 00:21:35 GMT

I had known Marty for several years at the time, and knew of his love of Walker reels. I was calling this time just to tell him that I had recently found a very nice Walker TR2 with an indent drag lever, set up in LHW.

I re-mentioned that I was not a "reel guy" and asked if there was anything he'd like to trade me for it. He said that he had a few rods he thought I would like, and that he would pick one and ship it to me to look over.

I knew I didn't have...

Re: Martin J. Keane- Last Cast

feeds@yuku.com (PaducahMichael) — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 22:26:58 GMT

I was deeply saddened by news of Marty's passing. My sincere condolences go out to his family.

Martin Keane never met a rod he couldn't love - and helped a lot of us fall in love with vintage bamboo. His book was an inspiration to many of us, and a great source of information for all of us. The task of writing his fine book was monumental. It must have been a true labor of love, for at the time it was written there was no internet for sharing information. He had to ferret...

Re: Martin J. Keane- Last Cast

feeds@yuku.com (gt05254) — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 22:25:44 GMT

It seems Marty had time for everyone. He even - always - made time for a befuddled museum director who always had questions, always wanted to stop by to show him something of concern, and never really seemed to have a clue. And he always had a generous answer, always made me feel welcomed. What a very nice man, and Lil was always so gracious. I treasure those visits to their home.

Re: Martin J. Keane- Last Cast

feeds@yuku.com (softstick) — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 22:14:47 GMT

A kinder, gentler soul have I not come across in this life. Full of passion and unequaled in his knowledge of all things grass and thread. He always seemed up to the task of discussing fly tackle no matter the time of day or the oddity of my questions.
And I always asked alot of questions about Fred Thomas and the Thomas family rods and the Edwards family rods, most specifically the Thomas Mahoganies and the quads of Billy as Marty called him. He would tell stories of his visits to the...

Re: Martin J. Keane- Last Cast

feeds@yuku.com (reelsmith) — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 17:58:29 GMT

Back in the late 70's, while ordering a reel, Marty told me if I was ever in his neck of the woods to give him a call so we could get together.

The following year my wife and I were staying at the Red Lion Inn at Stockbridge, MA. Remembering Marty's invitation I sheepishly gave him a call. I fully expected him to say he was busy ...afterall, I hadn't even spent $50 with him. Much to my dismay, he remembered who I was and said he and Lil would be down in about an...

Re: Martin J. Keane- Last Cast

feeds@yuku.com (gofish60) — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 13:42:39 GMT

A very fine Gentleman, who always had time to chat. Seems like only a few years ago when I got my first catalog from when he still lived in Connecticut. A fountain of knowlege, who was willing to share it. He will be missed.
gofish

Re: Martin J. Keane- Last Cast

feeds@yuku.com (Kaneman1) — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 11:16:50 GMT

It seemed like only yesterday when i purchased a bamboo rod from Marty, which was about twenty years ago. Being from western MA and only an hour or so away i would be one of the firsts to get his catalog. It would arrive early Saturday, after perusing through it i made that call to Marty to make a purchase. For me the rod or reel i was after was usually on hand. During the week I would make the drive to his home in the Berkshires. The hours spent taking bamboo and seeing all that wonderful...

Re: Martin J. Keane- Last Cast

feeds@yuku.com (HERMES2069) — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 06:50:06 GMT

I have spoken to Marty over the years. His guidance helped me in a few rod purchases.
I am sorry for the family's loss.
Phil

Martin J. Keane- Last Cast

feeds@yuku.com (ShenRods) — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 13:17:57 GMT

For everyone - I got the following sad news this AM from Jim Krul to post on the CFFC&M website:

In sadness I inform you of the peaceful passing of Martin J. Keane, in his home this past Friday, January 30. He was born on March 6, 1937.

Marty was inducted into the Fly Fishing Hall of Fame at the Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum in 2007. He was recognized as one of the nation's leading authorities on fly fishing...