Jack Dennis - Team Coach Fly Fishing Team USA

Jack Dennis' professional fishing career began at the age of 12 when he sold his first flies. He started guiding visiting anglers at the age of 14. At 19, Jack opened his first fishing tackle business in Jackson, Wyoming, which as become a well-known international fly fishing emporium.

Jack's books, "Westem Trout Fly Tying Manual, Volumes I & 11", have sold over 300,000 copies, making it one of the best known fly fishing books in the world. Jack has also produced 15 fly fishing video tapes which have received critical acclaim throughout the fly fishing world winning several video of the year awards. Jack's newest book, "Tying Flies with Jack Dennis and Friends" has been a best seller.

Jack Dennis is the founder of Wyoming Galleries, Snake River Books and the Jack Dennis Outdoor Shops; both are havens for sportsmen. His clients include everyone from U.S. presidents to movie stars. Jack has introduced fly fishing to actors Tom Selleck, Don Johnson, Harrison Ford, Richard Pryor, Woody Harrelson and sports figures such as Arnold Palmer, Don Meredith, "Dr. J", and many more.

Jack's fame as an expert fly fisherman continues to grow. He has appeared in four ABC television American Sportsmen Shows and fishing shows, including "Fishing the West, ESPN Fly Fishing America", as well as programs in Australia, Japan, Canada and New Zealand. He also does T.V. and magazine commercials for many products. In 1993, Jack and his friends Mike Lawson and Gary Lafontaine were featured in an Emmy award nominated feature produced by CBS on fishing in Yellowstone National Park. Jack was a member of the Trout Unlimited Team in the first ever Russia-United States Angling Games, and was on the U.S. Fly Fishing Team in World Fly Fishing Championships in both 1988 and 1991. He is now Captain of the the Team.

Jack is one of the founders of the Jackson Hole International One Fly competition, fly fishing's premiere event, where teams compete by selecting one fly and fishing it all day. Money is raised to save the Snake River Cutthroat, a threaten species, over ten years $100,000 has been raised. Just last year, the event celebrated its tenth anniversary. The event attracts people from all walks of life, including recent chairman's such as Chuck Yeager, Sen. Alan Simpson , legendary sports announcer Curt Gowdy, and Former Defense Secretary Dick Cheney, a life long friend and fishing companion of Jack's. Most recently, Jack was named to the organizing committee to oversee the 17th Mitsubishi Motors World Fly Fishing Championships, to be held in September, 1997 in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Jack is an ambassador of fly fishing, advising the governments of New Zealand, Australia, Chile, Argentina and many western states on fly fishing tourism.

Jack is an consultant with the world's largest fishing and hunting travel agency, Frontiers, to help develop new and diverse fishing travel destinations. Most recently, he edited the Angler's Guide to New Zealand and was named Special Ambassador of Fly Fishing by the New Zealand Sport Fishing Industry. This year he agreed to help promote tourism and fishing for the Tasmanian Tourist Bureau. In 1989, Jack organized the fishing portion of the pre-summit, where Secretary of States, James Baker and Russian Ambassador, Eduard Shevardnadze. While discussing the World's problems, they took a break to try their hand at fly fishing. On that day, in front of the beautiful Teton Mountains in Jackson Hole, fly fishing may have helped change the world. Jack conceived the idea of the Traveling Fly Fisherman program where Mike Lawson, Gary La Fontaine and Jack travel the country giving fly fishing seminars. This successful program combining the talents of three fly fishing experts presenting lectures as a group was a first in the fly fishing scene. After seven years the group continues to present programs for the O'loughlin's sportsmen shows, fly fishing conclaves, and the National Fly Fishing Shows.

During the year, Jack is found on the lecture tour giving programs to fishing clubs, sports shows, and civic groups throughout the United States and the World. Most recently Woolrich clothing honored him by designing a shirt to recognize his contributions to fly fishing. A portion of sales from the shirt will be donate to the Trout Unlimited conservation group in Jack's name. Many companies have such Cortland Line Company and Thomas & Thomas Rod Company have appointed him their fly fishing spokesman, as Jack has been involved for years with the development of tackle and consulting for such companies as Abel Reels, Simms, Action Optics, Dan Bailey flies, Griffith Tool Company and many other companies.

While Jack lectures over 100 days a year, he finds time to fish with his family, including two daughters and a son, all in college, and his wife of over 25 years, Sandra, an emergency room nurse who accompanies him on many of the fishing trips and shares his love for the outdoors.