As a teenager passionate about fly fishing I was amazed that Hardy’s, this legendary company with the huge reputation came from a tiny Border town just south of my Scottish home. Hardy's were way out of my price range but it was a real mark of seriousness in ones angling. Yes they were a little traditional and probably quite old fashioned too, but that name, it was indelible, it did really mean something.
On rediscovering fishing 20 years later I was astonished to see the modern day phenomena of Ebay featuring thousands upon thousands of much treasured items of vintage Hardy gear. That longevity is somehow reassuring.
So what is it about Hardy’s that has so managed to get into the psyche of fishermen everywhere? What is it about angling they managed to bottle so perfectly: An idealised past? A notion of what perfect fishing is all about? Or simply the ultimate in quality? I was keen to find out and The Lost World of Mr. Hardy is the result.
Together with partner Heike Bachelier we set out on a journey to explore this world, to capture the dedication and passion, and to handcraft a feature length film that in itself is very much a product of these values, a Rolls Royce amongst fishing films.
Andy Heathcote, filmmaker
