Enjoy a classic American sportsman Show 1968 Wyoming Snake River with Phil Harris, Curt Gowdy and JD

Jack Dennis presents a classic 1968 American sportsman TV show with Curt Gowdy and entertainer Phil Harris. The number one viewed American Sportsman show in history, with over 40 million viewers. Jack Dennis was 21 when it was filmed. The successful show helped launch his flyfishing career and a lifelong friendship with sportscasting legend Curt Gowdy. Jack went on to do three more American sportsman shows and eventually became a guest and host on many TV flyfishing shows over the next 50 years.

[@jamesbryan397]

Luv that Chevrolet K5 Blazer.

[@jdswideworldofflyfishingan4759]

For your knowledge that was the first televised blazer in Chevy history they were sponsor for the show and brought the car in a covered truck as it was going to be introduced when the program when air which would be six months later. The minute the shot was done it was put back in the truck and sent back to Detroit. We're not allowed to talk about it. It was even a closed set. Those were the days when things were done in secret. All of us could wait to buy one, I have Blazers and suburbans in our operation for over 50 years. The helicopter footage was the first time anyone had ever shot for an outdoor adventure program. ABC television handled everything it was a first for the American sportsmen. The budget for this show was $275,000 in 1968 which was the most spent on any American sportsmen production. It had the highest viewership in the American sportsmen series. The first view was after the AFL championship game which Curt was the announcer. It was rerun many times over the years of the program.

[@Capital-Idea]

Get the net, Curt...Phil Harris' #1 hit in '68..punts with the bases loaded and no outs..magnificient..Curt and his son didn't seem to dig Phil's crooning...Curt goes when do we eat..

[@reserrvoirman]

What great company to share a day on the water with. Pretty handsome looking trout too. I hope they let you catch a few too Jack.

[@jdswideworldofflyfishingan4759]

Guides in my operation never fished when guiding for the Sixty years I owned the outfitting business . They were there to guide and teach and were paid and tipped well. If they did that they knew they lost their job.We were awarded by QUTDOOR MAGAZINE with the one time Best of the Best fishing Outfitter in the world in 2007.

[@geraldskinner63]

Great video Jack! Who was the most famous/ interesting client you have ever put on fish?

[@jdswideworldofflyfishingan4759]

Good question! It's hard to answer as I have been very fortunate to fish with so many well-known people. It was hard to pick because I lived in Jackson Hole and had a business there for over 60 years. I fished with some presidents and a few prime ministers; VP Cheney and I were boyhood friends; I fished with many actors and had beautiful friendships with Harrison Ford, Richard Pryor, Woody Harrelson, Tom Selleck, Don Johnson, the Fonz, John Denver, and a host of others. Athletes and coaches Arnold Palmer, Ted Williams, Denny Crum, Bobby Knight, and Dr. J. Wyoming's US senators Alan Simpson and Mik Enzi. Lifelong friendships and fishing partners such as Lee Wulff and Joan Wulff, Yvon Chouinard, and especially my famous sportscaster and second father Curt Gowdy, probably were my favorite as we fished together for over 50 years. Our stores and ski shops in Jackson Hole were a magnet for famous people who were our customers. We built an atmosphere and a fabulous outfitting business that attracted people from all over the world to fish with us. My guides have owned the outfitting business for the last 12 years and continue guiding fly fishermen, famous or not, treating them to beautiful experiences. I feel blessed.

[@geraldskinner63]

@@jdswideworldofflyfishingan4759 Blessed indeed JD! Btw..Thanks for the "Western Fly Tying Manual" It is still one of the best go to books on fly tying out there, My buddies and I used it extensively in Nor Cal waters.

[@tinoyb9294]

Pretty tight quarters in that little raft. I cringe when I see the way we used to handle the fish! Always loved the Crosby/Harris editions of American Sportsman.

[@jdswideworldofflyfishingan4759]

We learned alot from the early days and the fish in the coolers were body doubles from the federal fish hatchery .Old spawners .We released all the fish we caught replacing the body doubles