Mick Hall

My passion for flyfishing and fly tying has developed to a stage that can only be best described as professional, as my CV will testify.

This, coupled with my interests in angling entomology and the photographing of many of our Australian insects, has developed new dimensions in the understanding of our Mayfly life and other food forms. Many have stated that it is ground-breaking stuff.

Over the last few years we have developed what we call our Fly-tying Workshop Days. These days are sponsored by Mustad of Norway. They feature the photographic program and then we tie the fly patterns that represent those insects found in and around our mountain streams here in Australia.

I am currently sponsored by a number of Australian and International fly fishing and fly tying companies:

Jarvis Walker:    This association is long standing, close to twenty years. Part of what I do for Jarvis Walker is assisting with the development and marketing of their fly fishing products such as the Blackridge and Penn range of fly fishing equipment.

Tourism Tasmania:    Again long term; I have been working with this department on and off for around fifteen years.

Spirit River:    Fly-tying products are one of America's leading fly-tying material suppliers. This association has been in place for over eight years.

Whiting Farms:    I am Australia's only Pro Fly Tying Team member in what can only be described as the leading hackle manufacturers in the world. A formal agreement was completed late last year. See ProTeam page on their website, www.whitingfarms.com

Partridge of Redditch: Demonstrations and product promotion (see Mustad).

Mustad of Norway; The world's largest hook manufacturers. Both Partridge and Mustad (Mustad owns Partridge) support the fly tying demonstrations and product promotion in Australia and internationally.

Enrico Puglisi: This is another new agreement. Enrico is regarded as one of the leaders in the development of saltwater flies and fly tying material. Together we have developed a new range of freshwater fly tying winging material. The story of how this exciting new product came about can be read on this website - EP Trigger Point International Interlocking Winging System.

Columbia Clothing: Partial sponsorship.

For just on twenty years I have been a columnist and Fly Fishing Consultant to "Freshwater Fishing" magazine and "The Flyfisher" since its inception. Over the years I have written numerous articles that have been published in international publications such as "The Flyfisher's Journal", London (The Fly Fishers Club) and the Art of Angling Journal, America. VEM Publishing in England has just released a major work, "Fly Tyers of the World", Volume 1 through to Volume 5. For the full story, go to the VEM Publishers link. I have also produced a number of fly tying videos/DVDs.

On the local scene I was the inaugural and founding President of Southern Fly Fishers and Yarra Valley Fly Fishers and was also the inaugural president of the Australian Fly Tiers' Guild (no longer operative).

Again I was also an inaugural executive member of the Australian Trout Foundation and President from 2003-2008 of this very successful organisation, now boasting well over one thousand members.

INTERNATIONAL SCENE
On five occasions I have competed in the One Fly Event held at Jackson Hole, Wyoming, USA. During the 1996 event I was fortunate to be presented with the highly prestigious and much sought after Peter Crosby/Dick Carlsburg award for Sportsmanship. It was the first and only time this award has been given to a non-American citizen.

By invitation I have also participated twice at the British Fly Fair International held at Stoke-on-Trent in the north of England, on each occasion demonstrating fly tying methods in the feature theatre, not only tying popular Australian fly patterns but also featuring a slide show on our Australian Mayflies.

In June 2007 I was invited as a guest to attend the 20th Anniversary of the SIM Festival (Scuola Italiana di Pesca a Mosca) at Castel di Sangro in the Abruzzo provence of Italy. The full story can be read on this site. During the Gala Dinner, I was appointed Australian Ambassador of SIM.

In September 2007 I joined a team of 21 of the world's most respected fly tyers to judge the World Tuscany Open Fly Tying Competition. The organisers stated, "This is an amazing list of jurors, the first time together anywhere in the world".

The Jurors on this list are arguably some of the world's best known fly tyers.
They are:

It was a pleasure to sit with these greats of the fly tying world and an honour to represent Australia. At the Gala Dinner, yours truly and Hans Van Klinken, of Klinkhamer fame, were made honorary life members of Mosca Club Altotevere. My sincere thanks go to the club and organisers of this event. A full report of the WTO can be read on this site - World Tuscany Open.