Sad news for all of us in the fly fishing community, famous fly tier and author Jack Gartside has passed away having lost a prolonged battle with lung caner. Jack was 67 at the time of his death last evening.
Jack learned how to tie flies at the age of 10 by Boston Red Sox outfielder Ted Williams. Ted who was known as the “Splendid Splinter” and also as the “Thumper” was an avid fly fisher and fly tyer. Jack’s avocation was that of a Boston Cab driver but he went on to fly fish all over the world and became a world renowned fly tyer. Some of Jacks’ more famous flies are Sparrow, the Soft Hackle Streamer, the Pheasant Hopper, the Gartside Leech, to name a few. Jack Gartside, tied almost exclusively with natural materials and his flies became world famous.