Fly Rod Was First: Cornelia Crosby's Adventures in Angling

Cornelia "Fly Rod" Crosby was one of the country's first great fishing experts and guides—but she didn't stop there!

When Cornelia Crosby was born in 1854, there seemed to be as many fish in Maine as there were stars in the sky. And as she grew up she became hooked on fishing, spending spring and summer traveling from one camp to the next, catching as many as two hundred fish in a day! When she wasn't fishing? She was writing about fishing. Adventure stories by "Fly Rod Crosby" graced the pages of newspapers across the state.

Fly Rod Crosby was an ambassador for Maine's outdoor treasures and dedicated her life to the enjoyment and conservation of its streams, lakes, and forests.

Cathy Ballou Mealey lives in Massachusetts where she still tells fish stories about the giant hornpout she caught (and released) at midnight on a dock at Beaver Lake. She is the author of Make More S’mores and the Sloth and Squirrel books. Visit her on Instagram or BlueSky @catballoumealey.

Billie Michael is an illustrator with a passion for creating artwork that is full of detail, texture, and rich colors. She works with watercolor, colored pencil, and other media to bring stories and characters to life. When she’s not drawing, Billie loves watching movies, going on very long walks, and playing guitar. She lives with her cat, Louise, in Philadelphia.