Fishing writer, Professional Fly Fisher specialising in demonstrations and advanced instruction.  Managing Director, Blackridge Flyfishing School Pty. Ltd.

• Representative for Rex Hunt Futurefish Foundation in North East Victoria
• Fly Fishing Consultant to Freshwater Fishing Magazine and The Australian & New Zealand Fly Fishers Annual.  Regular fly tying column "Fly Talk" and fly fishing related articles.
• Jarvis Walker, Penn Australia.  Developing their fly-fishing products such as the Blackridge range of products and the Penn Australian fly rod range.  Assisting with marketing and fly-fishing promotions throughout Australia and America.
• Development of fly-fishing seminars and fly-fishing schools Australia wide (Blackridge Flyfishing School Pty. Ltd.) and a member of Jarvis Walker pro angler team.
• Mustad Hooks.  Full sponsorship, includes demonstrations and other promotions.
• Member of PFIGA - Professional Fishing Instructors & Guides Association.

Mick first became involved with the fly-fishing fraternity in 1962 when he joined the Red Tag Fly-Fishers' Club in Melbourne.  During this period there was only a moderate interest in fly-fishing and, as there were no facilities for the family orientated fly-fisherman, Mick, along with a number of friends, formed the Southern Fly Fishers Inc.  During this formation period he accepted the position as inaugural foundation president.  The Club's goal was to bring fly-fishing to the family.

With the success of Southern Fly Fishers Inc., he was asked to help form another family based fly fishing club in the outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne.  Again, he sat in as the inaugural and foundation president of Yarra Valley Flyfishers Inc.  Both of these organisations are still vibrant and are actively promoting the art of fly fishing.

Over the years Mick has been involved with the formation or acted as a member of a number of organisations, with various degrees of participation:-

• The Council of Victorian Fly Fishing Clubs
• The Australian Fly Tiers' Guild Inaugural President (now inactive)
• Southern Fly Fishers inaugural President
• Yarra Valley Fly-fishers Inaugural President
• The Australian Trout Foundation
• Fly Fish Australia (controller of all fly fishing competitions in Australia and International participation)
• Government appointed committee member Eildon Goulburn Fisheries Management Plan (now adopted & committee dissolved)

OTHER WRITING

Mick has written articles for several publication over the years, more recent times being "The Flyfisher's Journal", London and has been requested to contribute to the "Art of Angling Journal", an American periodical.

RADIO

Mick gives a weekly Eildon fishing report on the 3AW Rex Hunt Fishing Show in Melbourne, a freshwater fishing report on a Saturday Morning on Melbourne's 3AK with Glen Knight and appears as a regular panel member on 3SER's fishing program Friday morning.

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION

On five occasions Mick has competed in the One Fly Event held at Jackson Hole, Wyoming, USA.  This event is by invitation only and is rated as the most prestigious on the American fly fishing calendar.  During the 1996 event, fellow team member Frank Hussey from Tasmania won the individual award on a fly that Mick created and the team named it the Tassie Tarantula.  In reality, a double win, for fly tiers who create a winning fly, receive as much accolade as those who win the event.

For the team it was a three-way win, for Mick was fortunate to receive the highly prestigious and sought after Peter Crosby/Dick Carlsburg award for Sportsmanship during this event.  It was the first and only time this award has been given to a non-American citizen. 

CLUB & PUBLIC APPEARANCES

For more than twenty years Mick has been giving regular talk nights at the various clubs around Australia.  In recent times in Victoria this has developed into full-blown workshop days, teaching or demonstrating the art of fly tying and fly fishing over day long sessions.

OPEN PUBLIC PROMOTIONS

The Melbourne Boat Show, Sydney Tackle Show, Melbourne Tackle Show (Rex Hunt, K-Mart & Nissan), the Great Bronte Tie-In in Tasmania and the Australian Fly-tying Championships (judging).

FLY FISHING/FLY TYING/FLY CASTING INSTRUCTIONAL HISTORY

From approximately 1970 onwards Mick has been actively involved in instructing anglers in the art of fly-fishing, casting and fly tying on all levels.  For over twenty years he conducted courses with either, if not all, of the above disciplines on a regular basis, firstly at Southern Fly-Fishers and later at Yarra Valley Fly Fishers Inc.