Jack launched JackGartside.com in 2000, by assisted by webmaster Mike. Prior to that (and since the 1960s), Jack sold his flies, books and other products through shops, shows, and his mail order catalog. There is no warehouse and limited inventory. All of the flies Jack sold he tied himself.
Photo by Dave Skok
Until his death Jack did all of the fly design and tying, writing, prints, much of the graphic work, and all of the order fulfillment.
Jack was born in Revere, Massachusetts and spent his final years in nearby Winthrop, where despite being a renowned fly tyer, fisherman, author, lecturer, traveler, and general ne'er-do-well he lived relatively incognito. Enthusiastic as the day is long, Jack was a kid in a man's body. If you ever saw the movie Big, that was Jack. He loved swing dancing, 50s music, the Boston Red Sox, trivia of all sorts, old movies, and taking the road less traveled. He was obsessed with fish habits and fly tying: he was the only person I've ever seen feed pennies to striped bass, and an elegantly-shaped feather would have him buzzing for hours. You can read more about Jack and what some of the experts have to say about him on the About Jack page.
Mike does all of the web site work—the design, management, maintenance and other technical stuff. When Jack was alive he also served as editor, wrote the Pointless Polls, contributed the odd article and blog post, and answered the mail when Jack was off gallivanting.
In Jack's absence Mike fills orders and just generally hopes to keep the site going in a way reflective of Jack. Mike lives in Nahant, Massachusetts where he and his radiant wife Ellen wife are raising two young kids (Ben 8 and Sarah 4). He likes fishing (fly or otherwise), gardening, spicy food, sleeping late, and puttering. He dislikes seals and sea gulls but recognizes their right to exist. He loathes tying flies and thinks most fly tyers are nuts (but in a good way).
You can contact Mike at: 