Meredith's Hal Lyon's fish stories are award-winning tales.
By Kevin Sperl, The Meredith News March 13 2008
MEREDITH — Meredith's Hal Lyon is prone to telling fish stories, and some of them are good enough to have attracted the attention of the New England Outdoor Writers Association.
Lyon's book, "Angling in the Smile of the Great Spirit," was awarded the association's 2007 Best Book Award for its presentation of the lives of 15 master anglers and their accumulated 600 years of fishing experience on Lake Winnipesaukee.
NEOWA, established in 1942, is the oldest regional outdoor writers organization in America and is comprised of authors addressing issues of natural resources, conservation and outdoor heritage.
"I was very humbled to have won the award," said the 72-year-old resident of Bear Island. "There are a lot of very good writers in NEOWA and, even though I have fished for many years, I have not done much outdoor writing."
Lyon's book was first published in 2004 and quickly sold out of its initial printing of 5,000 copies; a second edition followed in 2007. It was the subsequent limited edition hardback collectors version that caught the attention of NEOWA.
"The hardback edition is numbered one through 1,000," said Lyon. "And the first 500 have already sold."
Not one to sit back and admire his success, Lyon recently pulled into Shep Brown's Marina on Meredith Neck, seeking out ice fishing guide Adrien Lavoie, to film scenes for his series of fishing DVDs entitled "A Love Affair With Angling."
Hopping on the back of Lavoie's sled, Lyon and his videographer, Eric Zeller, made their way to a fishing spot two miles out, nestled in the shadow of Red Hill.
Lyon credits the success of the book for making the production of his fishing DVDs possible.
He explained that the first in the series, "Falling in Love" introduced each of the master anglers in his book, while the second, "The Love Affair Deepens," will provide instructional information about both ice and fly fishing.
Glen Smith of Moultonboro is one local fisherman who has been inspired by Lyon's work.
"We moved up here a couple of years ago and found Lyon's book at a local bookstore," said Smith. "It really got me interested in salmon fishing."
Hooking up with Travis Williams of Cool Water Charters, one of the master anglers in the book, Smith, along with his son Noah, rigged up a boat for fishing and started catching fish.
"We then went out with Adrien during last year's spring derby and our group caught 32 fish," said Smith. "It was a really good day."
During the filming of the ice-fishing segment Lavoie's expertise at pulling fish through the ice was obvious as he landed 10 lake trout, one bass and a white perch during three hours of filming.
"Adrien is such an accomplished angler and professional guide for ice fishing," noted Lyon. "He is the only ice-fishing guide for the Big Lake that I am aware of."
Taking a break from filming, Lyon made note of one of the major benefits of successful fishing.
"Catch and release is important but catch and fillet is also important," he laughed as he prepared the day's catch for that night's dinner.
For more information about Lyon's book and series of fishing DVDs, visit www.deepwaterspress.com. For more information about the fishing guide services offered by Lavoie, visit www.yoadriencharters.com.
KTP Fishing Reports March 24, 2008
Adrien Lavoie (YOAdrien Charters) A Winnipesaukee Fishing Guide was guiding a party of ice fishermen. His group landed an astounding 23 lake trout using live smelt on tip-ups and small bucktail jigs Tied by AJ's Bait and Tackle and tipped with cut bait.
