Norman Duncan | Mill House Podcast - Episode 23

A few years ago I was making a presentation in a Miami fly shop when a man came to me and introduced himself. “Hey Andy, I’m Norman Duncan.” Oh my God, I thought, here he is! I was so excited, really. Here was one of the disciples.

Flip Pallot, Chico Fernandez, Little John Emery, and Norman Duncan were as important as anyone in South Florida to initially grow the sport of Saltwater Fly Fishing. This group of four were something to behold. They had heart, passion, and creativity to catch fish, but without the sufficient tools to support their fire. They designed everything they needed because there was nothing available, and many of their innovations are still used today.

We know the story of Flip and Chico, they became rock stars in the fly fishing world. “Little John,” as Emery was known, passed at a young age from melanoma after putting his stamp on history. But where did Norman go? What happened to him? He was smart and ingenious, pushed and shoved as hard as the others, but he stepped aside and the iconic fame the others attained passed Norman by, even though we all know his name.

Today, Norman brought us out back to his porch and gave us an inside look into his eventful life.
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[randyvining]

your videos are going to be history books of the future.

[jorgecosta]

Norman is a living encyclopedia of fishing.

[the_forgotten_angler]

Total respect for Mr. Duncan moving on from the industry for a better life. Super smart guy.

[Capt.JorgeMoran]

I'm at awe at the amount of knowledge and history we are witnessing with these videos.

[leonardjanda]

Great video, and your so correct, once people go away all we have is remembrance of great achievements memories they never go away👍👍🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[sekaikiroku]

Mt. Fishmore! Great engineering innovation to figure out how to tie the Bimini Twist using just your hands. A friend calls my cherished Billy Pate anti-reverse reel the anti-retrieve reel. Thanks again Nicky and Andy for a great podcast. Team effort!

[flyandfishwithfraser]

Great story of the history of knots ! Never heard the 20- turn, Bimini Twist story.
For me The Huffnagle is an incredible knot especially for Braid to Fluro.

[TheTarponmaster]

Another great story guys! I actually fished with Jim Adams for many years, Last year was the first year we didn't fish due to covid. Also, it's funny, his knots are pretty much all I use. So good to hear how they were developed.

[JD-hsib]

This guy basically invented the Bimini Twist. So Amazing

[CaptMarkBennett]

The doctor that discovered Homosassa he mentions is Dr. Dee Mitchell. I grew up fishing with his son. I still have his wedding cake reels engraved with his name.

[jorgecarcao]

Wow, some great topics & discussions on saltwater fly fishing! Amazing insights and rich history in Southern Florida. You guys should be proud of what you are doing & these podcasts will be appreciated for many years to come. Is there any way to put me in touch with ND, I got the impression he still likes to fish saltwater on bamboo (one of my passions)?

[RussShirley]

Great interview again Andy, so glad you're capturing all this history. Happy New Year too buddy!

[ALONELONELY]

Spiritual warfare by Duncan is an epic in my collection of Christian literature.

[robertbrown]

Seems like Duncan is a real thinker about the sport of tarpon fishing. Most interesting was hearing that he moved the hackle back to the hook bend to increase sink rate. That makes a lot of sense, but I'd heard that was done to stop tangling. I also thought that was the main innovation in the Stu Apte tarpon fly. Did Duncan invent Stu Apte's fly as well as the Deceiver, and the Cockroach; or am I Missing something?