I received a present of the flies above on Thursday from David Gaudochon. Not only are they Jack Gartside patterns but they have been tied by Jack Gartside himself. David and I spoke at length of the relationship between the spirit that is inherent in something made by a tier that you connect with and then consequently how you fish with a feeling that is like nothing else. Both Brian and Andy do this for me.
Jack is most famous in my mind for the creation of the gurgler fly.
Jack Gartside is counted as one the most innovative and prolifically inventive fly tyers of the modern era. He got his first fly tying lesson in 1956 from Ted Williams, the great Boston Red Sox outfielder. That served as the beginning of a professional tying and angling career that spanned more than 50 years. Jack was one of the first fly tyers profiled in Sports Illustrated magazine (Oct. 12, 1982). His best-known original patterns include the Gurgler, the Sparrow, the Soft Hackle Streamer, and the Gartside Pheasant Hopper. His designs have been featured in Eric Leiser’sBook of Fly Patterns, Judith Dunham’s The Art of the Trout Fly, Lefty Kreh’s Salt Water Fly Patterns, Dick Stewart’s Salt Water Flies, and Dick Brown’s Flyfishing for Bonefish.
Sadly, Jack died in December 2009. In 2010 he was selected into the Fly Fishing Hall of Fame. It was a long-standing desire of his that his work and this web site continue to be available after he was gone. And so it is.
Jack is the author of Striper Flies, the first book ever specifically written on fly patterns for striped bass. Another book, Striper Strategies, was described by reviewer Steve Raymond as: “…one of the most remarkable striper-fishing manuals to see the light of day,” and by reviewer Tom Meade as “Blessed with bright writing, keen observations, and the most concise advice a striper hunter can find.”
Other books by Jack include Secret Flies, The Fly Fisherman’s Guide to Boston Harbor, Scratching the Surface, Fly Patterns for the Adventurous Tye,r and Original Salt Water Fly Patterns.
Jembob,
Just a quick email to say thanks really, now that I have returned and the brain has had time to process all that went on. As ever it was great to have my annual pilgrimage to Wexico, that goes without saying, however its the small things that always gets me.
Firstly, I would like to say thanks for keeping it all going during what was a hectic week for you with the unforeseen circumstances at home. You could have quite easily said to me…..there is a lot going on, would you be happy enough to spend the week at Mrs Nesbitt’s. However, you didn’t and your perseverance was noted and very much appreciated.
Another thing that made me happy was to see you f
ishing now and again, you do a lot of hard work, under difficult circumstances with the fishery in it’s current state and possibly take a lot of the verbal drivel from online sources too seriously. It was great for me seeing the bend in that fly rod, the tail hanging out of the striping basket and then my dubious ability with a Nikon camera. It’s terrible when the photographer has to encourage the subject to smile! Though I cannot talk as I am just as bad. The pic of me at the …… location is the only pic of me with a fish and a proper deep/happy smile.
It is a testament to your ability what you can do with that feckin fly rod……..even with the French collection I was whipped! Imagine……outfishing the client!!!! (JOKING)
The support team! As ever I am always made to feel very welcome at St John’s Road and Eileen did a great job looking after me, plenty of coffee and a hot dinner back at base, what more could I ask for.
WillBoB…….You can pass my regards to William for taking me in and like yourself, making me feel so welcome……I hope to fish with him again next year!
What I have learned……I always pick up something new and currently the head is fizzing with ideas…..there is a package en route from Bears Den fly tackle! Watch this space……I am going to create an abomination of a lure!
Finally, as I stood on the Stena ferry on the Monday morning, a heavy heart was felt! There is only one real answer for me to feel totally better again, remove the casualty from his current environment………..look out, i may be living approximately 197km from Wexford in the new year. The sight of that Cork coastline was too much, anyhow, it could be good……just think how many new spots I could find. Then you could bring the fly rod, I’ll supply the Lucozade and the jelly sweets and we could chase some shakey headed silver killers!
Get yourself and Eileen out to the Yard and enjoy a good steak!
Thanks………..
A McM
Some nice fish taken yesterday evening on the Cork coast on the fly in very ‘bassy’ conditions. Again thanks to Alan for the quick photos.
My usual and well established colour blend of lavender and grey with a hint of chartreuse is working very well at the moment. Last evenings fly was a slight variation on this as we have added Marabou to the mix – I can almost fish the fly stationery at times and still expect takes.
Landing Gear
Rod – Lefty Kreh Ticrx #7
Reel – Vision Nite
Line – Rio Outbound short # 6
Leader – Five foot poly and Rio fluoroflex plus 4.5kgs
Fly – Deceiver / Semper blend
An early morning start today to catch the change of light, resulted in this nice fish on the fly.
Drifting the fly through the current onto a known lie resulted in a gentle yet powerful take that left me in no doubt I was into something special.
I fished the mini chartreuse and white flatwing on Rio Outbound short F/I with a five foot poly leader and 10 inches of Rio Flouroflex plus carbon.
Casting ‘upstream’ and mending when possible it was the first time I had fished for some time due to a lot of guiding days – thanks Alan for the opportunity and the rare photos too.
The fish measured 72 cms.
Landing Gear
Rod – Lefty Kreh Ticrx #8
Reel – Vision Nite
Line – Rio Outbound short # 7
Leader – Five foot poly and Rio fluoroflex plus
Fly – Mini flatwing
The factor that most affects how an ocean fish feeds is environmental; saltwater angling success depends on a knowledge of the water and of how various gamefish react in that water.
Lou Tabory – Inshore Fly Fishing
Oil was laid on the water with the considerable help of David Byrne from IFI (an old stalwart). William my brother who is becoming a great bass fisherman found all the pieces of the jigsaw with straight edges. Philipe and Philipe worked non stop, but none, absolutely none of this would have made any sense if it wasn’t for the person so often on the ground at base camp. I guess there’s a lot I could say about that help, the phone calls, the preparation of food, the changing of arrangements, the listening, and the incessant fishing talk, the bloody boredom!
I simply couldn’t do what I do without Eileen Powell. Happy Birthday!
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The post I made below is not so much about the articles as it is about another person on the ground. Patrick Browne works tirelessly at Irish Angler to make the articles and the magazine come alive. There are times no doubt, which are also shared by people who have had similar experiences; when there is a special feeling of seeing your work in print. Patrick brings another dimension to that, a certain empathy for what you are doing that is difficult to explain.
At times I look at Irish Angler and then inevitably draw comparisons to other angling publications. Is any one magazine ‘better’ than any other? I guess it depends what you want from your publication and anyway I always like working as much as possible with Irish business.
For me I hope to work with Irish Angler and Patrick Browne for a considrable while yet!
The journey continues today and after the past five days it will seem a bit more like normal, another customer arrives in an hour for a week. David Gaudochon is here next weekend with IFI for five days promotion it’s pretty much nonstop on the ground really…..
THIRTYARDS 
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