Subject:  November Speaker 

Title: A History of Fly-Fishing from an Englishman’s Point of View. 

Frequently we make the statement that you really don’t want to miss this speaker or that speaker’s presentation. With respect to all of our past speakers this is a true statement.  For this month it is especially true!!!  November has always been a special month where we feature some of the biggest names in the flyfishing world. Last November we had Dave Whitlock. This month we are proud to continue that tradition. 

We have asked Charles Jardine, one of our sports true gentleman, writer, artist, and perhaps most talented speakers, to come and visit us from his home in Great Britain.  With his guidance we are going to explore our beloved sports humble beginnings.  What better way than with an Englishman to take us back to fly-fishings early English roots to help us better appreciate its evolution and development? 

Charles Jardine ó a lad of Kent ó was born into a family of fly fishers and artists; his father being the late wildlife artist and respected salmon fisher: Alex Jardine. Charles began his career coarse fishing ó upsetting and harassing shoals of roach, perch and other things with varying success ó from the age of three. At the age of six he began terrifying trout with a fly rod, something he continues to do with a passion to this day. During those formative years with a fly rod, growing up on the South of England chalk streams, Charles also became fascinated with the actual world of the trout, their food and habitat. Thereafter, he was depicting the trout and its world and increasingly the bank side flora and fauna in paint, pencil and ink.

He writes extensively for publications abroad such as The FFF journals, Germany's Fliegan Fischer, American Angler and also Italian and Scandinavian fishing magazines.

Jardine has written four books. The Sotheby’s Guide to Fly-Fishing for Trout is now in its fourth edition and translated into five languages and widely believed to be one of the biggest selling fly-fishing books of all time. The critically acclaimed Dark Pools and more recently Small Water Trout Fishing and the pocket book: The Fly Fishers Catch. He has also co-authored with Bob Church, Stillwater Trout Tactics. He has also illustrated a further, twenty or more book on fishing and wildlife.

Jardine's paintings can be found in private collections throughout the world and he continues to demonstrate casting techniques at the national Game Fair, Chatsworth Angling Fair and many other shows. Increasingly throughout Europe and the USA, where he also demonstrates fly tying, particularly the Federation of Fly Fishers annual conclave in the US, where he was awarded the Presidents Pin for the only Englishman to receive the accolade. Jardine is also an honorary member of the FFF Casting Board of Governors in America and a Vice president of the Fly Dressers Guild and on the FFF European Casting Board as well as holding the FFF Masters certificate (fly-casting). Jardine is also very proud to be a member of Team Sage.

He is in demand as a guest speaker at various events and is continually championing the cause of fly-fishing, conservation and 'catch and release. Jardine has represented his country at commonwealth fly-fishing events, winning two team gold medals and one personal bronze. Additionally, has been the manager to the English Ladies National fly-fishing Squad.

He is passionately pursuing fish across the globe, increasingly amidst the 'bold new world' of saltwater and far flung fishing spots (he holds the current fly caught Nile Perch record for Lake Nasser in Egypt); whilst retaining his love affair with the trout of crystal streams and lakes.

A donation of $5 for members and $10 for guests will be collected at the door.  See you there.