Dave Hughes papers, 1970-2024

This series includes both edited drafts and final manuscripts of several of his published books. Final manuscripts in the collection are all unbound printouts of the final work, as well as some digital copies on removable media. Drafts vary from handwritten first drafts, to edited progressive drafts illustrating his editorial process. Some of the draft material includes unpublished chapters and working notes such as outlines and other writing ideas. Also included are illustrative materials such as sketches of page layouts and suggestions for illustrations.

These materials encapsulate writings that did not result in a book publication. These writings further illustrate and preserve Hughes' writing process and the collaborative process of contributing to popular publications.

Throughout his fishing career Dave Hughes took detailed notes on his outings and trips. His fishing logs are formatted templates that record: Date, Time, Stream/Lake, Section (of lake/stream), Who (was in attendance), Transportation, Weather, Weather Temperature, Water Conditions, Water Temperature, Natural, Time, Imitation, Methods, Fish, and Notes. Included within the pages and binders are other materials related to his experience like receipts, fishing licenses, fishing regulations, event and guide service fliers, sketches of the flies used, maps and directions to fishing locations, and "book of lists" which are organized checklists of items he needed for camping, fishing, boating, and hunting. Some physical fishing flies are also included.

Dave Hughes kept pocket size journals for use taking notes in the moment. Many of the notes on water conditions and fishing lures used may have been transcribed later into his fishing logs, and other notes included are comprised of names and addresses for various people, trip experiences, writing ideas and notes such as lines of poetry, checklists and brief reminders. Most of the titles and dates are taken either from the titles provided by Hughes or from the dates included within the notebooks. Physical fishing flies have also been attached to pages within the notebooks.