Joe brooks was possible the most famous angler of the mid-twentieth century. Certainly his name was closely related to angling in general then. He was recognized as one of the best fishing writers of his time. He wrote ten books & many articles about fishing. His articles appeared in Field & Stream Magazine, The Saltwater Sportsman, Outdoor Life Magazine, among other publications. He was also the outdoor editor for The Baltimore Sun & later the fishing editor of Outdoor Life.
However, it was television that would truly make Joe one of the most famous anglers. The old TV show "ABC'S Wide World of Sports" featured a segment of host Curt Gowdy & Joe fly fishing in Patagonia. It was such a popular segment, that it led to a spin-off show called "The American Sportsman" featuring Joe as a regular on the show for 20 years.
This exposure on TV had many celebrities coming to Joe to show them how to fish. He taught many celebrities the sport & fished often with Bing Crosby, Ted Williams, & others.
Because he was so well known & his writings & articles reached such a wide audience, Joe Brooks may have helped more anglers than anybody else. He was highly respected for his knowledge & ability to show & teach others. In other words, he was a life long angler & fame found him. His books & articles are still very useful today & all of us can benefit from the volume of work he left us.
Joe Brooks died in 1972 after a full life of fishing & enjoying the outdoors. Below is a short biographical video of him celebrating his induction into the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame.