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Thread: Dave Inks is one of the God Fathers of fly fishing in California.

  1. #1
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    Default Dave Inks is one of the God Fathers of fly fishing in California.

    One of the “godfathers” of modern day fly-fishing and has been a renowned innovator and active participant in the industry for over 40 years. He grew up in Montana fishing and hunting in the neighboring wilderness perfecting his talents on the great names such as the famous Blackfoot, Bitterroot and Rock Creek watersheds among numerous others. In his early days as a Boy Scout, Dave discovered his passion and desire to know the outdoor life.

    Later in his life in the mid 1960’s Dave was involved in the start up of a group called the Federation of Fly-fishermen (FFF). This was about the time when a rapidly growing generation of sportsmen started to invade the fly fishing scene. Thanks to the FFF, and many other newly developed fishing clubs, a great new interest in the sport began to develop.

    During this period, Dave set up and started Umpqua Feather Merchants with Dennis Black. Umpqua started to buy and import fly tying feathers which they then sold to the industry, which had developed a strong demand for quality products in this rapidly growing sport. Today, Umpqua needs no introduction to any fly-fisherman and has become the leading vendor of flies worldwide with over a billion units sold last year.

    During that same period, Dave started teaching in the Fenwick Fly Fishing Schools which he continued to do for 15 years. Fenwick packed them in and had from 30 to 60 people every weekend. New opportunities developed as Dave became better known and he helped to start a company and a fly tying factory in Kenya which had the exclusive sales rights to the US market. At that time, they had 167 tiers working and tied several million flies a year. Dave sold flies to most of the big fishing supply companies like the Cortland Line Company, Orvis, Dan Baileys and many smaller fly shops in local areas.

    In 1972 Dave started a fly shop called Creative Sports in California’s Bay Area with a partner Andre Puyans. Dave and Andre developed a strong following and grew Creative Sports sales figures to over five hundred thousand in 3 years. Later the pair opened two additional stores also adding a wholesale supply division.

    In 1975 Jack O'neill from O'neill wetsuits approached Dave to refine and market the concept of Neoprene waders, which were later introduced to the market by Dave changing the industry forever.

    In 1980 Dave went to Bill Stutz a design engineer with a concept to create a superior fly reel. The resulting Stutz Estuary fly reel was marketed through Orvis. Later, Dave and Bill approached a machinist Steve Abel in order to improve upon their present manufacturing process. Abel manufactured an initial run of simplified reels as a signature model for Dave. Ultimately, this marked the beginning of Abel Quality Products which has become an undisputed leader in the industry today.

    Dave left the fly shop business in 1980 and went to work with the Orvis company as the West Coast Sales Rep and lead instructor of the of the Fishing and Hunting Schools in the area. During this time he also helped the company by finding and designing new products that would fit into the Orvis market.

    In 1985 Dave went back to the retail side and started his own fly shop and wholesale warehouse and continued to supply the country with quality fly fishing products.

    In 1990 Dave helped set up the grading and dying procedures for Whiting Farms, the largest genetic hackle grower that supplies fly tying feathers to the world. With Dave’s experience he set-up the company to grade more than 300,000 pieces in one season.

    Throughout the 1980’s and 1990’s Dave spent many years working as a group leader organizing trips and taking anglers fishing all over the world in fresh water and salt water. He started leading groups of anglers in 1967 and continues to do so. He worked with Fishing International as a sales rep for 13 years part time and led many trips to now famous fly fishing destinations. After making trips to Canada for Steelhead fishing, Dave started developing salt water experiences. He was one of the first to put a Tarpon fly fishing trip together on the west coast of Costa Rica fishing the jungle river Rio Colorado. He went to Panama for Sail Fish and then on to Andros Island, Belize and Christmas Island. During this period, he received two World Records for Yellowfin Tuna caught on a fly. Those records still stand to this day. Dave pioneered fishing travel to many other wonderful places like Argentina, Chile and has personally spent over 15 years exploring the clear streams of New Zealand, using helicopters to land in places where no man had walked. All of these experiences have helped Dave to develop his concept and designs for would someday become the “Water Strider,” his design for the ultimate personal fishing craft.

    In 1991, Dave was recruited as the sales manager for the Tote-in-Float company in Missoula, Montana. Tote-in-Float manufactured an all new personal flotation device that revolutionized the way fishermen and sportsmen could access various water systems. Tote-in-Float represented the beginning of what would become Dave’s consuming passion… the design and development of human powered personal fishing vehicles. The driving inspiration behind the Tote-in-Float concept was to provide a platform which outdoorsmen could use to explore water systems where generally only 3 man float boats or rafts could previously go.

    In 1994 Dave set up a factory to build an improved boat inspired by the Tote-in-Float. He used his extensive experience and knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of the other boat to design the much improved “WaterMaster” his concept boat that featured stronger materials, better flotation and improved design and handling capabilities. Dave began to market and sell the WaterMaster product which was immediately recognized by area sportsmen for its extraordinary capabilities.

    In 1996 Dave started to design the third generation. The all new and patented;
    ”Water Strider” personal water craft. He set up a New Zealand manufacturing plant at Incept Marine to build the product for WaterStrider. Incept Marine is one of the world’s leading raft manufacturers in the world today, with a 15,000 sq ft factory that uses computers to precisely cut Water Strider components to perfection. Special new fabrics and assembly procedures were designed and have made Water Strider the leader in quality and functionality in the kickboat industry. It is the strongest and lightest product in its class and was marketed by Abel quality products as the Abel Travel Craft or ATC. Today, Water Strider has regrouped and has taken the license back to market the Water Strider as its own product. The Water Strider is the perfect companion. You can grab it and go to virtually any river in the world and have your own personal experience for just the cost of transportation.

    https://waterstrider.com/
    Bill Kiene (Boca Grande)

    567 Barber Street
    Sebastian, Florida 32958

    Fly Fishing Travel Consultant
    Certified FFF Casting Instructor

    Email: billkiene63@gmail.com
    Cell: 530/753-5267
    Web: www.billkiene.com

    Contact me for any reason........
    ______________________________________

  2. #2
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    I first met Dave at the Millpond in Los Gatos in the mid-late 70's. I think he was there for a few years in some management capacity too.
    He is definitely one of the fly fishing god fathers.
    Len Bearden was in that league too.
    A lot of great fly fisherman worked for Len. Dave, Bill Butts, Howard McKinney, Kay Mitsuyoshi, Meng Syn, Mark Lane, Glen Chen, Fred Hewes, just to name a few.

  3. #3
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    Wonderful post FnC,

    Howard and Kay were two great guys everyone knew well.

    Being in Sacramento I only saw these Bay area guys at the FFing shows.

    The fly fishing industry always seems to have some really wonderful folks because nobody but a few are in it for the money.

    Thanks again.......
    Bill Kiene (Boca Grande)

    567 Barber Street
    Sebastian, Florida 32958

    Fly Fishing Travel Consultant
    Certified FFF Casting Instructor

    Email: billkiene63@gmail.com
    Cell: 530/753-5267
    Web: www.billkiene.com

    Contact me for any reason........
    ______________________________________

  4. #4
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    Dave Inks just passed away at 89 on August 31, 2024, from a heart problem.

    One of Dave's close friends, Bill Laird, just called me to let me know.

    Bill had just returned from a fishing trip with Dave Inks in New Zealand.


    Please take the time to read the article above at the top of the post about Dave's amazing life in Fly Fishing.
    Bill Kiene (Boca Grande)

    567 Barber Street
    Sebastian, Florida 32958

    Fly Fishing Travel Consultant
    Certified FFF Casting Instructor

    Email: billkiene63@gmail.com
    Cell: 530/753-5267
    Web: www.billkiene.com

    Contact me for any reason........
    ______________________________________

  5. #5
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    Dec 2014
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    Fresno
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    This past season of the fly fishing show held in Pleasanton, I talked with Dave for at least an hour. It was great to go back and talk about the "old days". While tying a few hundred dozen flies for Creative Sports for Dave and Andy, I was, I guess you can say rewarded with some of the finest long hair white bucktails. Dave used to keep them in a sealed barrel so the bugs wouldn't get to them. I still have about a dozen of them marked " Dave Inks". Only use these on special flies. I'm going to miss Dave.

    Like it's been said in the past, many of our industry leaders are leaving us.

    Also, Bob Marriott just passed away. I remember tying flies for his shop, Marriott's Fly Shop in Fullerton. I'm not sure if any of you know or have heard the story about how he started.

    It started out many years ago, not sure when. In my early years when I started tying flies commercially, I placed a small ad in Salmon,
    Trout, Steelhead magazine. I had a few responses to the ad but one in particular caught my eye.

    This was Dale's Hackle and Tackle located in Fullerton, CA. On a trip to Disneyland, I made a stop at the shop but it took me a while to find the place. The address he gave me didn't quite match the location. The address was Dale's Barber Shop. " A barber shop". Well, I went in and asked the guy cutting hair where this fly shop is located. He said "You're in it " While he finished cutting the guy's hair, he was telling me all about the business.
    The customer said "he's an undercover shop " while both of them were laughing. The shop was located in a room at the back of the shop. When Dale retired, Bob Marriott bought what he had and started Bob Marriott's Fly Shop across the street.

    That's my story. Sorry about the long post
    Jay Murakoshi

  6. #6
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    Yes Jay,

    We are some of the few left from that generation who know the stories about many of the shops, suppliers and others.


    I'll be 80 in March....yikes.
    Bill Kiene (Boca Grande)

    567 Barber Street
    Sebastian, Florida 32958

    Fly Fishing Travel Consultant
    Certified FFF Casting Instructor

    Email: billkiene63@gmail.com
    Cell: 530/753-5267
    Web: www.billkiene.com

    Contact me for any reason........
    ______________________________________

  7. #7
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    I'm almost caught up with you about a year and a half behind. I kinda like being old. Lot's of history and stories from the "old timers"
    I still can remember tying brown and black bombers for Ted Fay. Another great memory
    I think one of these days, I'll sit down and write down all the fly shops that I ever tied for. My very first commercial customer was Orvis.
    Jay Murakoshi

  8. #8
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    Too bad you have to be this old to appreciate your life and friends.

    I remember the first day you came into my shop, trying to sell me Striper streamers.

    Jay, How did you get your start in fly fishing and fly tying?
    Bill Kiene (Boca Grande)

    567 Barber Street
    Sebastian, Florida 32958

    Fly Fishing Travel Consultant
    Certified FFF Casting Instructor

    Email: billkiene63@gmail.com
    Cell: 530/753-5267
    Web: www.billkiene.com

    Contact me for any reason........
    ______________________________________

  9. #9
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    Dec 2014
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    Bill,
    It started around the early 70's. My wife bought me a fly tying kit from our local sports shop in Salinas. They use to have fly tying classes on Friday night's. I would sit and watch, then run home and tie up the same fly. Unbeknown, a year later, I would be teaching the fly tying classes.
    I bought this book at a garage sale called "How to make money tying flies commercially". At the end of the book it listed a few stores which sold flies. I sent a letter to Orvis Co. along with a few samples of a size 14 Adams. Knowing that I would probably never hear back from them. Then I got this letter in the mail stating that they liked my ties and would like some size 14 Adams patterns tied up. They said let's start out with 125, WOW! Read the letter again and noticed it stated 125 doz, not 125. Oh shit, I don't have enough materials to tie that many. So I went searching for some #1 Hoffman grizzly saddles. I tied for them for two years.
    Then I contacted The Fly Shop in Redding. They had just opened there doors and was looking for a few tyers. Brad Jackson contacted me and that started the whole commerical tying project.
    Too make a real long story short, here's a list of shops that I have tied for in my 53 years of commerical tying.
    Orvis Co.
    The Fly Shop
    The Fly Hutch
    Creative Sports
    Kiene's Fly Shop
    The Fly Hutch
    Spring Creek Anglers
    Hat Creek Anglers
    Ted Fay Fly Shop
    Dales Hackle and Tackle
    Marriott's Fly Shop
    The Sports Center
    Orleans Market
    The Midge Fly Shop
    The Trinity Fly Shop
    Streamborn Fly Shop
    American Fly Fishing
    San Jose Fly Shop
    Mel Cotton's
    Fly Fishing Specialties
    The San Franciso Fly Shop
    The Fisherman's Spot

    Remember at this time I was only tying trout flies and steelhead flies of all types. I probably average 2,400 doz a year. Now I can't even see the hook in the vise.

    I also tied sample flies for Umpqua Feather Merchants for their reps, via Lefty Kreh. He called me one day and asked for a favor. He said that he was going on a fishing trip to Australia and had this order for some sample patterns for Umpqua but didn't have time to tie them up. He asked me if I was up for the challenge. SURE, I think....Well he said there were 6 patterns he needed. 4 deceiver patterns and 2 shark/cuda patterns. BUT they have to be tied a certain way. He said that he would send me a step by step tying instructions for each fly. To this day I have all this information store in an old cigar box with the letter and samples. I've posted a shadow box with the flies that Lefty tied up for the samples.
    On top of all this, I tied 90% of all the flies for Trey Combs clients for the Blue Water trips. Big Sea Habit salt water patterns

    Today, I tie up most of the flies for Gary Bulla's baja trips and a lot of people who are heading to Baja. I also have 3 other outfitter's I tie for in Baja.

    Well Bill, as they say "that's just the tip of the iceberg"
    Click image for larger version. 

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    Jay Murakoshi

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