In this lot, you have the opportunity to bid on #2 of 15 "Garden Size" bronze of renowned angler - Lee Wulff. The bronze is titled "Soon to be Released", and was expertly crafted in small batches by Bob Wolf. Lee Wulff's contributions to the world of angling are among the greatest of any single individual. Wulff popularized fishing all of his life and reached millions through his books and magazine articles, films, and productions for the television series, The American Sportsman. In filming one episode, he met champion fly-caster, Joan Salvato, whom he married. Wulff's career began in advertising in New York. He had earned a civil engineering degree from Stanford, wanted to be an artist, but loved sport fishing best of all. He soon bailed out of big business to pursue his passion. In 1931, while Wulff was teaching anglers to tie flies, he conceived and designed the fishing vest which is in popular use today. Soon he was writing for fishing magazines as he pursued his passion for angling, especially in the Canadian wilderness. Wulff had a zeal for catching fish on light, inexpensive equipment. In 1967 off Ecuador, he landed a 148-pound striped marlin on 12-pound test to set a long-lasting IGFA record. As satisfying to Wulff as the record was the fact that he had set it with a rod and reel that nearly everyone could afford. After 1979, Lee and Joan Wulff operated a fly fishing school on the Beaverkill River in the Catskill Mountains. Here, Wulff encouraged and taught others the sport of his lifetime. He was also very active in conservation efforts, and instrumental in popularizing catch and release practices. He coined a phrase which became a rallying cry for angling conservationists: "Game fish are too valuable to be caught only once.". According to the story Wolf, a Nebraska wildlife artist living part time in Wyoming, met his idol guiding him in the Jackson One Fly in 1990. After watching Wulff fish for a day he knew that he had to devise a tribute and the idea for the sculpture was born. Approved by both Joan and Lee, the project was delayed by Lee's sudden death in April of 1991 which just further inspired Wolf see the project through. The sculpture was unveiled in 1992 at the same place it was conceived, the Jackson Hole One Fly. Wolf rendered Lee as he appeared in 1960 and the piece was available in three sizes, a table edition (15 inches high), a garden edition (80 percent life size) and a monumental edition. Overall, the bronze shows good condition, with excellent proportions, and life-like detail. Additionally, the sculpture shows a warm bronze verdigris patina, and displays excellently. The bronze measures 63 1/4" tall, 51 3/4" wide, and 32 1/2" deep.

For a complete representation of condition and for additional images please call 800-686-4216. It is the buyer’s responsibility to view each image and preview the item to determine condition.