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Norman Means' First Bunyan Bug

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Historic Montana flyrod bait, circa 1927, originating from Norman Maclean's personal fly box. Maclean told the story to his family that he had bought this bug from Means (Paul Bunyan) and "put it away" because one day it might be "significant" in the history of Montana fly tying. When presented with this bug by Norman Maclean's son John in the early 1990's, Bunyan's daughter Dorcas replied she had never seen such an old specimen of her father's work. She and her son, Richard, who lived near Missoula at the time, said neither had an example this early in their own collections. The Bunyan Bug is the most extensively described fly in A River Runs Through It. "It was so big and flashy it was the first fly I saw when I opened my box," begins the description of the famous Bunyan Bug in Maclean's classic novel. Also included is a framed 6" x 9" photo of this very fly, which hung in John Maclean's office for many years. Maclean was correct - this unimposing fly is indeed one of the most important in Montana fly fishing history. Included is a letter of provenance from Norman's son John Maclean.

Norman Maclean (1902-1990). Born in Iowa in 1902, Maclean was the son of the Rev. John Maclean, who administered much of the education of his sons Norman and Paul. The family moved to Missoula, Montana in 1909, with the following years having a significant influence on the young Norman, later inspiring his writing, most prominently the semi-autobiographical A River Runs Through It, published in 1976. A River Runs Through It was adapted into a movie by Columbia Pictures, directed by Robert Redford, starring Craig Sheffer as Norman Maclean and Brad Pitt as Paul Maclean in 1992. A River Runs Through It has been credited as the most important motion picture concerning the art of fly fishing ever produced. Immediately after the movie's release, the public embraced fly fishing in huge numbers, with American fly fishing waterways seeing a new generation drawn to try their hand at the enduring pastime, or those renewing the forgotten pleasure of the peace one can achieve in a natural environment. Through this film, the public, largely unaware of fly fishing, came to ap¬preciate the beauty, grace, and true artistry of the sport. Like no other, Maclean's writing captivated readers who have never held a fly rod in their hand. By all accounts, Maclean penned one of the classic American stories of the twentieth century.

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