South Side artist Nick Kratofil met Chauncy Lively and George Aiken through a shared love of fly fishing that lasted 50 years.

Lively and Aiken, brothers-in-law who lived in Greentree, were renown among regional anglers -- Lively for his writing and fly tying, Aiken for founding Family Tyes, the Baldwin High School-based fly fishing club that now has chapters in several states. Since their deaths in recent years, Kratofil has felt a keen loss of companionship on Dunbar Creek and other streams they had fished together.

As a tribute to these men, as well as another friend, the late Bob Runk, founder of the Pittsburgh Fly Fishers Club, Kratofil has created exhibits of their fishing memorabilia for the Pennsylvania Fly Fishing Museum Association, assembling flies, tackle, and other possessions in large display cases. Crafted from oak by South Side cabinet maker and fly angler Jeff Kramer, the cases were funded by Penn's Woods West Trout Unlimited. Kratofil donated his work as well as a Paul H. Young Co. Midge model rod Aiken had given him.

"These men left quite a legacy and I wanted to be sure it is honored," said Kratofil, who will deliver the displays to the museum association's repository near Boiling Springs tomorrow, adding to an impressive collection of books, photographs and tackle from the estates of Vince Marinaro, Charlie Fox and other Pennsylvania-bred legends. One of its latest acquisitions is a replica of George Harvey's tying room that drew raves from Penn State University entomologist Greg Hoover.

"They nailed it right down to his hat and vest draped over a chair," said Hoover, who serves on the 14-member association board that includes Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission board member Bob Bachman and honorary directors President Jimmy Carter, A.K. Best and Joe Humphreys.

But the public has little opportunity to see much of the association's collection, since the organization hasn't yet met its goal of finding a permanent exhibit hall. Until then, it mounts small displays, like the current 18th century rods being shown, at Allenberry Resort Inn and Playhouse. Members are looking for venues around the state that would host traveling exhibits.

According to board member Mac Seaholm of Greentree, the Fish and Boat Commission plans to provide space for some artifacts later this year. Seaholm, an emeritus officer and board member of Penn's Woods West Trout Unlimited, would like to see a satellite facility in Pittsburgh, but efforts to find locations have proved fruitless so far.

"Libraries and museums would be ideal," said Seaholm, "but we're open to suggestions."

The museum association is privately funded through memberships and events such as a fall banquet and Saturday's 7th annual Heritage Day on the banks of Yellow Breeches Creek. The picnic-style gathering will feature Scott Loughner, Bob Clouser, Dave Rothrock, and other fly fishing instructors as well as vintage rod appraiser Jerry Girard, Colonial angler Ken Reinard, vendors, a raffle, rubber fish race and prizes for children to age 15, who get in free. Admission $12 includes picnic lunch (register by Tuesday), $7 without lunch.

"It's a really fun day," said Seaholm, who joined the board last year. A close friend of Aiken, he donated the Paul H. Young Co. Driggs model rod Aiken had given him to Kratofil's exhibit. Most of items Kratofil used were provided by the Lively and Aiken families and include other rods, wading staff, camera and stream log opened to an entry dated May 29, 1950, in which Lively describes "a fine picnic but high, muddy water that made fly fishing almost impossible on Laurel Hill Creek." Also displayed is a rod belonging to Livey's wife Marion, who was an accomplished angler.

Lively's daughter and Aiken's niece Claudia DeVito got to see the exhibits at Kratofil's studio, Nicholas K. Gallery, a restored firehouse at 8th and Bingham streets, before they were packed up for delivery near Boiling Springs.

"My father had 20-some Paul Young rods and a lot of other stuff. Some we sold, some we kept and some we gave to the American Fly Fishing Museum in Vermont," said DeVito of Upper St. Clair. "These displays are a wonderful tribute to my dad and uncle."