Stan Fagerstrom

Stan is one of the pioneers of bass fishing in the western United States. No one in that part of the country has written more about bass fishing. He began writing immediately after returning from almost two years of serving in an infantry rifle company in the jungles of the South Pacific during World War II. He has been at it ever since.

Stan is an award-winning outdoor writer who has written for a variety of prestigious publications including Bassmaster, Bassin, Field & Stream, Outdoor Life, Sports Afield and many others. He has written countless newspaper columns. Most of his writing is currently appearing in four different Internet columns.

Stan is equally recognized for his artistry with a rod. Known internationally as “The Master Caster,” he has been featured in outdoor shows since 1952. His skills with casting and spinning equipment have taken him from Tulsa to Tokyo and from Birmingham to Brazil. Years ago Covey Bean, an outdoor writer for the Sunday Oklahoman, wrote: “When Stan Fagerstrom talks casting, people listen.” Decades have passed since those words were written, but today folks still watch and listen as this white-haired wonder works his casting magic.

Stan’s casting has been featured in a variety of television shows both here and abroad. He was, for example, a guest on the Jo Soares evening program while appearing at an outdoor show in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Soares is often called the “David Letterman of South America.” Stan also gave a private casting demonstration for Japan’s Princess Nobuko while participating in a major outdoor show in Tokyo.

Stan was the only writer from the Pacific Northwest invited to the first Bassmasters Classic at Lake Mead. He covered more than 30 Classics for a variety of publications in ensuing years. When Stan wasn’t riding along with a Classic competitor, he was giving casting demonstrations at the Classic Outdoor Show.

Fagerstrom has won numerous awards for his writing. Some of his poetry dealing with fishing has been widely published in both printed media and on the internet. Besides his newspaper and magazine work, he has written three books on fishing and starred in two instructional videos on casing.

Stan does more than write about fishing. Early in his career he participated in the Oregon Bass & Panfish Club’s annual “Biggest Bass Contest.” He won all five years in which he competed. Stan is a long time member of the Outdoor Writers of America and a charter member of the Northwest Outdoor Writers Association. He has been inducted into the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame. In 2001 he was presented with the National Professional Anglers Association’s Honorary Lifetime membership award.

Watch one of Stan’s casting exhibitions and you’ll hear him say the same thing each time he winds up. It’s this: “The next best thing to fishing is having a chance to write or talk about it. I thank you and I thank God for giving me another opportunity to do that here today.

Mr. Fagerstrom passed away at the age of 96 in June 2019