Faces In The Stream July 2014 - Ed Sullivan

I happened to catch up with long-time UCCTU member Ed Sullivan for a few minutes when he wasn’t drifting dry flies at Jones Bridge.  Ed has been a TU member for almost 20 years and has served as Treasurer in addition to participating in a host of activities.  He really enjoys the educational component of UCCTU’s mission and teaches the Fly Fishing merit badge to Boy Scouts and the fly fishing skill to the next generation. 

Ed grew up fishing the trout streams of Connecticut, starting when he was very young.  His favorite streams back then were the Housatonic and Mill Rivers, and he still fishes for trout in Connecticut every year.  Before moving to Atlanta, Ed graduated from the University of Connecticut with a degree in Accounting.  He came to Atlanta in 1995 to take a position as CFO of a Japanese firm, retiring in 2000.

His meticulous nature as a Financial Officer has certainly helped him as a fly tyer and rod builder.  Many of us have learned a trick or two from Ed at the monthly tying nights.  In those evenings, I’ve watched Ed tie up small, intricate patterns and then teach someone else how to tie it for themselves.  He also makes his own rods, starting with Sage blanks and thread and ultimately ending up with a new trout rod.

Preferring to throw small flies and light rods, Ed can often be found fishing Jones Bridge of the Chattahoochee River.  He also enjoys the Chattooga, Smith’s Creek, the Davidson and Amicalola.  His favorite days to fish are weekdays, when there is less fishing pressure.  Ed’s favorite fly is a Blue Winged Olive (BWO). 

He makes a point to go out West at least once a year to fly fish in Montana, Wyoming or Idaho, and has done so for 23 straight years.  The fish in his picture is a beautiful 22” cutthroat trout caught on the Upper Green River in WY.  When he isn’t fly fishing or volunteering with TU, Ed enjoys spending time with his wife, children and grandkids in Florida. 

If you see Ed on the stream be sure to say hello!