The Wanderin’ Woolbert
(The one that started it all)
Every great river legend begins with a wander. Woolbert’s began somewhere between a backcast and a belly laugh. Some say he was born from river mist and sheep’s wool; others swear he just appeared one foggy morning, chasing that once in a lifetime brown that got away.
That first image of him — fly rod in hand, reel dangling, pack strapped tight, waders creased from miles of water wasn’t just art. It was the moment the Woolly Hookers spirit took form. Woolbert wasn’t about perfection or polish; he was about grit, humor, and the kind of stubborn joy that keeps you knee deep in cold water long after the bite slows down.
He’s the buddy who tells the truth and the tall tales. The one who hands you his last fly, laughs when you miss the set, and still somehow lands the fish of the day. He reminds us that fly fishing isn’t about catching — it’s about connecting: to nature, to friends, to stories that stick to you like wet waders and a hook deep in your finger.
So when you see Woolbert turning downriver with that sly grin, know this — you’re already part of the crew. You don’t buy it. You join it.
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Artist’s Note: Woolbert started as a pencil sketch — a rough idea after a long day on the river. I wanted to capture the soul of a fisherman: weathered, humble, and just a little mischievous. That original art became the blueprint for everything that followed. Every design, every laugh, every river memory traces back to The Wanderin’ Woolbert.