Continuing where Streamside left off last week, these columns describe the historic five-day visit to Sullivan County by former US President and First Lady, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, thirty five years ago. Hosted by the recently-formed Catskill Fly Fishing Center, the Carters were invited to come and fish the Catskills in exchange for participating in fundraising events for the local organization's museum and building fund.

On the morning of the second day of their visit, the President was anxious to wet a line in the Beaverkill again; as he was successful the evening before, having caught almost a dozen trout on a size #18 Adams dry fly, just prior to the special dinner heralding his arrival, and impressing his guests as a man who really loves to fish!

After a visit with Lee & Joan Wulff at their School of FlyFishing, both the former President and First Lady enjoyed spending time on the Beaverkill; Mrs. Carter was successful in catching a couple of trout on a size #14 Adams before they made their way to the Oak Table restaurant, situated high on the bank overlooking the Willowemoc Creek in Livingston Manor, for lunch, hosted by Shirley and Robbie Newman.

Water conditions on the Beaverkill and Willowemoc were low for that time of year; but there was plenty of cold water being released from New York City reservoirs into the Delaware River, which was the afternoon's destination. When the Carters arrived, they were quite taken by the Delaware, stating “It's the most beautiful spot on earth!” after their first afternoon fishing at Dark Eddy, near Lordville.

Despite the high and cold water, Mr. Carter was a “fearless wader”, according to his guide, who crossed the river with him in water that was lapping at the top of their waders (which caused members of the Secret Service some anxiety!) The President caught a nice rainbow of 16” on a size #16 Adams. Later on, the guide quipped that there were now two presidents who have crossed the Delaware, the 1st (Washington) and the 39th (Carter).

Mrs. Carter also was successful catching trout; and so it was difficult to get the President to leave the Delaware that evening, just as the fishing was finally beginning to pick up, but there was another dinner to attend - this one held at the Antrim Lodge in Roscoe. A huge crowd of what seemed like half the town, including a troop of Boy Scouts from Roscoe, had waited for the Carters' arrival, braving intense heat followed by a downpour, prior to a brief press conference. President Carter arrived and immediately started shaking hands and greeting people.

At the dinner, many were impressed by the Carters' gracious southern hospitality, as they circulated among the tables and sat down and chatted with everyone present, as if they were old friends.

The following morning the Carters returned to the upper Beaverkill, where the press insisted on taking photos of the President fishing. The entourage then made their way to tour the 35-acre site owned by the Catskill FlyFishing Center along the banks of the Willowemoc, to view the iron bridge that had been built in Minnesota and shipped to Livingston Manor in two parts, which was destined to become the official entryway to the permanent home of the Catskill Fly Fishing Center and museum.

They were greeted by dozens of townspeople, including a contingent of 11 students and teachers from Livingston Manor Central School, who presented the former President with a box of trout flies tied by Bruce Madison, a member of the Senior class at LMCS, and a copy of the school yearbook.

The book was given to the Carters by Student Council President Miriam Levinson, who explained the reason they had chosen to present the yearbook to the Carters - it provides a description of the beautiful school that had been built in 1939 as having “Georgian colonial architecture.”

Next week: Part 3 - more fishing, touring the county and Sunday service.

Judy Van Put is a long-time member of the NYS Outdoor Writers Association, and is the recipient of the New York State Council of Trout Unlimited's Professional Communications Award.