John Clarence "Jack" Gartside 1942 - 2009

John Clarence "Jack" Gartside
1942 - 2009
http://www.jackgartside.com/
I'm not sure how many of you knew about Jack, But he was my greatest Influence
on how I go about doing things, and more importantly my over all attitude towards fly-fishing in general.  Just wanted to share.
How many years ago it was I'm really not sure, it was at the time when I wanted to make my own personal contribution to the word of fly-fishing as a writer and a photographer. I wanted to write about and capture images of fly tying, fly-fishing destinations and most of all, the craft I fished from. However the flies I tied even the fish I fish for were not shall we say in the mainstream of fly-fishing and the craft I was casting flies from, I was afraid everyone in the world of fly-fishing would just think I was nuts! I was working on what would be my first published article; I would start it delete it then start over again.
To be honest for the first time in my life I was afraid to be different and it was definitely affecting my writing.  I’d been in this frustrating limbo for a few months and then one afternoon I’d just got home after some early morning fishing. There was no one home when I got there so I walked into the kitchen to see if my wife had left a note for me in the usual place.
Instead of a note there in its place was the latest issue of Fly-Fishing in Salt Waters. It was the Jan/Feb issue of 1996.
The cover shot was of some character sitting on an inflatable giraffe, the giraffe’s name was Gerald, and its rider was of course Jack.
I immediately flipped to the contents and the first words that caught my eye was the title Hey Cabby, Take me to the Fish. I was a cab driver for almost two years of my life and believe me the experiences can add color to anyone’s character I can’t tell you how delightful it was to read and article by a fly-fishing cab driver and read it I did, two different times that day and at least once a month until I managed to acquire Striper Strategies Secrets of a Striper Bum and eventually Scratching the Surface Strange but True Tales &Techniques.
 What I eventually learned from Jack’s work was to write about what inspired me and not to worry about fitting into the mainstream of fly-fishing but finding my own niche.

Sometime after that I made a trip to the fly-fishing show here in Pleasanton California one year with hopes of meeting him. I caught up to him at his tying table about an hour before his presentation, it was slow at the time and they weren't very many people so I was able to hang out at his table and talk with him. When it came time for him to go to his presentation I helped him carry his gear there.
We had an excellent conversation and I feel I was actually able to get to know him. We stayed in touch by email for a few years after that. A few months after I met Jack, my first article was published, a few years later my first book.
My craft, I was afraid to write about…was the kayak
Jack, thank you for your generosity, your knowledge and your inspiration. You were an original and I thank God for sharing you with us.

Thanks for sharing your story Rickey.  Thank god for the mentors and teachers who help guide us through the storm.  Take care.

Well said Bird,Your welcome, and thank you for your kind words.
Have a Happy New Year.

Still using Gurglers for everything from bluegill to steelhead.