On Friday, June 3, Bridgeport’s Curtis Fleming, host of Fly Rod Chronicles, was named to the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame, the international headquarters for education, recognition, and promotion of fresh water sportfishing.

 

The award was presented at Glade Springs, during the annual meeting of the Southeast Outdoor Press Association. Organized in May 1964, SEOPA is the nation’s premier regional outdoor communicator’s organization.

 

After highlighting Fleming’s recent recognitions – including 2018 American Outdoor Sportsman of the Year by “Legends of the Outdoors” and Fly Fishing Museum of Southern Appalachian Hall of Fame member - SEOPA Past President David Rainer said when Fleming’s name came up for nomination, the selection committee agreed that he should have already been inducted.

 

It has been a long time coming, said SEOPA Executive Director Lisa Snuggs, who – along with Rainer – serves on the selection committee of the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame, a corporate member of SEOPA.

 

“Curtis was inducted in 2019 with the intention of receiving his plaque at the 2020 SEOPA at Glade Springs but our event was postponed twice,” she said. “The Hall of Fame does not have a separate event and we often offer to make the presentations if the inductees are somehow related to SEOPA.”

 

Rainer presented Fleming with a plaque signifying the award. After photo ops, Fleming then took the podium, welcoming SEOPA to West Virginia.

 

“I’m proud of my state and love our state of West Virginia,” said Fleming, adding that he had just come from The Greenbrier where he met Brad Paisley, synonymous with the recent popularity of our state’s unofficial anthem, “Country Roads.”

 

Fleming shared those Paisley and recent weeks of travel will be highlighted in an upcoming episode of “Fly Rod Chronicles.”

 

In 20 seasons of filming the show, Fleming shared he has caught fish in 48 states and has yet to shoot and fish in Maine and Hawaii.

 

He joked that when he began his show, many thought he would shoot a few episodes, then return to teaching school – his career pre-FRC. Fleming said that though he is the face of the show, it’s not just about him fishing.

 

“It’s also about everyone from cancer survivors to U.S. veterans,” he said. “We take a veteran with us as many times as possible. We owe them.”

 

Fleming shared that his wife Shelly is a U.S. veteran and – like his mother who passed away just a year ago – is one of those great supporters.

 

“Everyone thanks their dad for taking them fishing. My dad is 82 years old, a retired coal miner and a U.S. Marine,” Fleming said. “But there’s always a good woman behind every good man and moms don’t always get thanked.”

 

His family has been so supportive throughout his journey, and he sends out his heartfelt thanks to them and his viewers, he said. He welcomed everyone to tune into the Discovery Channel and keep up with “Fly Rod Chronicles with Curtis Fleming.”