It is with deep sorrow that I note the passing of Jim Holland on Sunday, July 31. Jim was a major influence in the fly-fishing community. He was a generous supporter of Trout Unlimited and a good friend of the Hacklebarney Chapter. Because of Jim, Shannon’s Fly Shop became a fixture for many of us. As well as an educator, he was a conservation advocate for New Jersey.
Jim donated prizes for our raffles, stocked our streams, gave talks to our chapter and others about local hatches, and provided free fly tying classes with the likes of Tim Flagler, Matt Grobert, John Collins, and Allan Landheer. Jim was also my friend. When I last spoke with him in July he told me about plans he had to improve more than two miles of the South Branch as it flows through Califon by removing dams and river landscaping. We will all miss his wonderful enthusiasm for fly fishing.
May he rest in peace.
MP