Davy’s professional career began in the 1960’s as a professional fly tyer from his home in Canterbury, Kent, United Kingdom. From that he progressed into the mail-order business and in the 1970’s began to both develop and manufacture fly tying and fly fishing products and further the knowledge of fly fishing through written articles for publication.
Davy is most widely known for the world famed SLF Dubbing Blend Series. Individuals that Davy has produced custom dubbing blends for are Dave Whitlock, Paul Jorgenson, Oliver Edwards, and Toril Kolbu, just to name a few.
The company grew vigorously through-out the world and in the 1980’s Davy moved back to Wales where he leased a larger building. Distribution of U.S. products to the European market he then began to promote as well as bridging the British market to the U.S. in fly fishing materials and products.
In addition to managing daily functions in his factory, Davy also found time to accept bookings for fly fishing event around the world which also provided him the opportunity to fish many trout waters that he otherwise would not have had the chance to do as well as guiding fly fishers in the pursuit of Trout and Salmon in many countries.
One thing that Davy is not so widely known for, but, carries a soft spot in his life was his love of bluegrass music for which he also traveled as a professional musician accomplished in both banjo and guitar.
Over the years Davy has consulted for many of the worlds varied fly fishing product manufacturers and was contracted to design fly patterns which are now commercially produced and marketed both in the USA and world markets still today.
Davy has worked for many national television networks featuring fly fishing and tying in conjunction with Fly Fish TV and Mr. Gene Herring and also has produced his own Davy Wotton “How To” Fly Fish and Tying DVD’s.
Other major interest for Davy were competitive fly fishing where he won many national and international events and subsequently became the International Team Coach for the Youth Team USA which resulted in their first year of competitive fishing in Wales bringing home both Gold and Silver Medals.
The ones he considers personal best achievements are winning a Gold Medal at Loch Leven and the National Championships in the United Kingdom.
Tournament fly and surf casting in both distance and accuracy also won Davy awards in the U.K and still holds the accuracy record to this day at the Edenbridge Gamefair, U.K.
During his career he has represented both as an officer and board member of many different fly fishing organizations in the pursuit of conservation and fisheries management policies.
Currently he serves locally as the President of the Friends of the Norfork National Fish Hatchery and as 2009 Chairman of the National Fisheries Friends Partnership seated in Arlington, Virginia.
In 2008, Davy was given an award signifying his outstanding service toward fisheries and conservation by Regional Director, Sam Hamilton of Atlanta, GA. which is the home office of Region 4 of the U. S. Fisheries Division and the Norfork National Fish Hatchery.
Davy first visited the United States in the 1970’s and more frequent visits took place attending various fly fishing event through-out the country. He realized that there was to some extent a far greater opportunity given the resources in the United States in comparison to the U.K.; his visits too many of the trout streams in the west and here in Arkansas furthered his desire to move from his homeland in Wales to the United States which he did in the 1990’s.
In 2001, Davy came to a satisfactory agreement that WAPSI Fly Company of Mountain Home, AR. purchase the SLF Dubbing Company which they continue to produce.
Home now to Davy finds him near the pristine waters of the White River System which was first introduced to him by his longtime friend, Dave Whitlock.
Davy engaged now more than ever in the world of fly fishing as the Managing Director of the American International School of Fly Fishing.
Davy is a member of many national and international organizations that further issues of conservation and fly fishing education such as FFF, TU, APGAI, STANIC, NAC, AOGA, FWNR and NAFF.
(This Bio was Dictated from Davy Wotton to Teresa “TBird” VanWinkle, for publication.)
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