Joe W. Howell has lived along the North Umpqua for 42 years and was a fly-fishing guide and owner of The Blue Heron Fly Shop for 30 years. He is a fly designer with many of his popular patterns sold by Umpqua Feather Merchants and has been featured in countless books and articles. He received the Oregon Council of the Federation of Fly Fishermen's Fly Tyer of the Year award in 1992. He lives in Idleyld Park, Oregon.