It is with deep regret that I just learned that my mentor, friend and, in many ways, kindred spirit, John Betts, passed away peacefully this morning (August 31st, 2018) at his home surrounded by family. John was an amazing person and will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him. Rest In Peace my friend.
Charlie Meyers Photo The Denver Post 4/4/2007
John Betts
John Betts is a life-long angler, fly tier, author, artist, philosopher, inventor, and truly a Renaissance man. He was a pioneer in the use of synthetic materials for fly tying in the 1970s, builds wonderful strip-built wooden rods, invented a unique fly line that is inexpensively and easily made, and hand-crafts fly reels. He was chosen as Fly Rod and Reel's "Angler of the Year" in 2006, a well-deserved recognition of his unique contributions to angling world wide.
John's books are all hand-written and illustrated in his inimitable style. Each book is a work of art unto itself. Here are a few of the many interviews and articles written about John:
John Betts is a life-long angler, fly tier, author, artist, philosopher, inventor, and truly a Renaissance man. He was a pioneer in the use of synthetic materials for fly tying in the 1970s, builds wonderful strip-built wooden rods, invented a unique fly line that is inexpensively and easily made, and hand-crafts fly reels. He was chosen as Fly Rod and Reel's "Angler of the Year" in 2006, a well-deserved recognition of his unique contributions to angling world wide.
John's books are all hand-written and illustrated in his inimitable style. Each book is a work of art unto itself. Here are a few of the many interviews and articles written about John:
- Fishing For History Blog, "My Fishing Heroes: The Great John Betts", Dr. Todd Larson, 5/16/2012
- Denver Post, "Artist at work", Charlie Meyers, 4/4/2007
- Fly Rod + Reel, "Angler of the Year 2006", Darrel Martin, 1/2006
- www.FlyAnglersOnline.com, "Fly Tying at the End of the Millennium", Chauncy Lively
- Washington Post, "Gotcha! Hook, Line And Lingerie", Robert Boyle, 5/4/1981
Books
- Reels & Making Them, Limited Edition (Sold Out) and Softcover, September, 2011
- Synthetic Flies, Flies with an 'Edited Hackle' and Match the Hatch, Limited Edition and Softcover, November, 2012
- Remarques, Limited Edition, March, 2012
- Catch The Hatch, 1984
Other Work
John has self-published four books - three of which have been re-published by Reel Lines Press (Synthetic Flies, Flies with an Edited Hackle and Catch the Hatch) and the fourth (Making Strip-Built Fly Rods from Various Woods on a Lathe) by Frank Amato Publications. He has written countless magazine articles and was a pioneer in the use of synthetic materials in fly tying. John was honored as Angler of the Year by Fly Rod and Reel Magazine in January, 2006.
