About Ian James
Ian Colin James is a fly fishing guide and a best-selling author, but above all he has a wonderful ability to look at fly fishing from outside the box. His unique observations have given him an intelligent insight, and a whack of material, about the sport he loves. Quite often his opinions will go against the grain but he can back them up, and they are based on a solid understanding of the sport. Ian has never backed away from the tough issues surrounding the sport like; what shade of black thread is the best shade of black thread for tying flies, and why do they continue to produce car doors which have a taste for eating flyrods. Ian tackles the big issues, he always has an informed opinion, and in case it all goes wrong he always knows where the nearest exit is when he's on stage.

For Ian a fish, is a fish, is a fish and all fish are created equally. Although he was the first guide in North America to specifically target Carp, Quillback and Redhorse, he is just as comfortable taking clients out for, or talking about, Smallmouth Bass, Steelhead, Salmon and Brown Trout. He is constantly pushing the fly fishing envelope and many of the techniques he pioneered and developed, which were cutting-edge at the time, are now considered as "standards" in the sport.

In other words, over some 40-years of fly fishing Ian has picked up a whole bunch of fish catching information on a whole bunch of fish species, which makes him a shoe-in if you are looking at hiring someone to lecture or present a seminar at your fly fishing even.

What you get
More than once, Ian has been billed as "Fly Fishing Comic Relief," but his talks also provide the audience with practical and useable information. Plus it's presented in a clear and concise manner. To get from Point A to Point B he may have to take a few detours, especially if someone asks him a skill testing question, but he will get there in the end. And above all else, the audience will still be with him when he does.

Ian takes great pride in "customizing" his talks and making pointed references to the audience. At a Trout Unlimited event he once opened with, "I guess Brown Trout would be okay, if it wasn't for all those big ugly spots." Similarly when MC'ing a poetry night, "I thought this was a pottery night. It's okay for you lot to laugh, but I've got 200-pounds of clay and a kiln outside in my Mazda."

Why book Ian?
Ian has a reputation for putting everything he has into a presentation or a keynote address. Quite often his quick Scottish wit will have the audience thumping the tables in uncontrollable laughter, but not the kind of thumping that makes the villagers grab their pitchforks and head to the hills.

When you mix his Scottish wit with an uncanny ability to read an audience, plus a dry sense of humor, by the time he leaves the podium, Ian will have delivered an unforgettable performance.

How to book Ian
Keynote addresses:
These must be booked at least 8 months in advance.
Ian's keynote addresses will quickly let the audience relax and forget about the oh-hum or boring stuff they have been taking part in all day, not to mention the dour instructors.

Fly Fishing Seminars:
Lecturers, presentations, demonstrations and seminars on all aspects of fly fishing should be booked at least 6 months in advance. Each participant in an Ian Colin James seminar receives a one or two page handout, which covers the key points of the seminar.

Travel arrangement:
Your event is responsible for making all the travel arrangements to get Ian to and from your event. Flights should depart from, and return to, London, Ontario. Ian is allergic to nicotine, so the hotel room has to be nonsmoking. By the end of his presentations he will be burned out and all Ian will want to do is hit a clean, fresh hotel room with a jug of orange juice, and a large pizza with double anchovies.

Fees and Availability
Ian will work with you to make sure that the presentation is the right one for your group, event or audience. Ian will listen to your needs and design a presentation for you which will be clean, laugh-out-loud funny, informative and unforgettable. Plus, he will try to do it within your budget.
E-mail: Seminars and keynote addresses.

They said

..."Ian is one of the most entertaining dinner speakers we've ever had. His wit is sharper than a lazer hook and he had the audience reeling from start to finish."...
Ken Geddes, Canadian Fly Fishing Forum Chair.

..."A great reputation in the media for being a colourful character."...
Michael Landsberg, T.S.N Off the Record.

..."Trout Unlimited expected The Carpfather to deliver, and he did. At the TUC Hamilton dinner, Ian had us in tears, and his passion for conservation got us all thinking. He's a big man, with a big heart, and a very big funny bone."...
Trout Unlimited Canada.

..."All our guests look forward to coming back to Hooked on a Cure so they can see Ian again! He's never met a stranger, is always so gracious and funny. And his knowledge of fly fishing is only surpassed by his untiring willingness to share his time, talents and humor for a good cause. Our event just wouldn't be the same without him!"...
April Conrad, Hooked on a Cure, Arkansas.

..."Ian James' funny bits and sharp jabs kept the Centennial Dinner audience in stitches "...
Jack MacAndrew, Public Relations, the PEI Wildlife Federation, PEI.

..."Ian was a terrific speaker! I've received many comments from attendees of our show, with the most common being ... when can we bring Ian back!"...
Lynn Langenfeld, President, Badger Fly Fishing, Madison, Wisconsin.

"One of Canada's best instructors and guides."
Canada A.M.

..."Ian is not only the funniest guy I know, he's also one the best fly fisherman and nicest guys I know. Ian's way with kids is second to none. They absolutely love him. At our FFF Southern Council Conclave, if you wanted to know where Ian was, all you had to do was look for where the crowd was gathered. His bail bonds are getting a bit pricy though."...
Denis Dunderdale, Chairman, 2006 FFF Southern Council Conclave, Mountain Home, AR

..."Funny. Very funny. Very, very funny."...
The Stephen Leacock Museum.

..."Ian is one of Canada's national treasures."...
City and Country Home Magazine.

..."Ians unique mixture of humour and controversy kept the largest crowd of the year dialled in for the whole evening."...
Bruce Wainman, Hamilton Area Fly Fishers.

..."My guest in the studio is Ian Colin James a very, very funny man."...
Richard Syrett, CFRB 1010 Radio, Toronto.

..."Headliner events include the uncanny fly casting virtuosity of Ian James."...
The Cottage Life Show, Toronto.

..."Thanks Ian for attending our Elgin Friends of Flyfishing meeting. You dramatically exceeded our high expectations with your generous sharing of your formidable expertise in tying. Your genius lies in your ability to condense and simplify the complex art of flyfishing in all it's aspects. It's easy to make things complicated; it's brilliant to make things simple. Even more brilliant is your keen wit and your knack for making learning fun. Thanks again for your generosity."...
The EFF Committee: Bob, Bob, Hugh, Alex, Ian, Pete and Ron.

..."What James doesn't know about his craft could probably fit on a fly. Ian looks more like a linebacker than a fly fishing guide."...
Exchange Magazine for Business.

..."Ian is a born storyteller. Never short on words, and always entertaining, Ian kept the room captivated with tales and truths from his world-wide fly fishing escapades. Ian was definitely the highlight of the 2005 Grand Opportunities Dinner."...
Steve May, Friends of the Grand River.

..."Ian has forgotten more about fly fishing, than most folk learn in a lifetime. He had us in stitches."...
Jay Kivel, Casual Dress Fly Fishing Club.