Captain Bruce’s love and commitment to the sport of fly fishing is shown in his accomplishments within the fly fishing industry.  Since becoming addicted to fly fishing  in his teens, Bruce knew what his career was going to be right out of high school and didn’t waste any time after graduating by promptly starting his fly fishing guiding business in the Florida Keys.  Bruce has since been a full time Florida Keys fly fishing flats guide gaining over 28 years of experience and counting. Specializing in sight fishing for bonefish, tarpon and permit Bruce has not only become one of the most sought after fly fishing guides in all the Florida Keys but also one of the top salt water fly casting instructors in the industry. 

At a very young age of 23, Bruce worked hard to become a Master Certified International Federation of Fly Fishers Fly Casting Instructor.  Chard then started what has become one of the most popular international salt water fly fishing schools in the industry.  Locations of Bruce’s schools include popular salt water fly fishing destinations within Belize, Mexico, Guatemala, the Bahamas and the Florida Keys.  

Along with his schools Bruce also offers fly fishing hosted trips that offer fly anglers the opportunity to travel and experience the world first hand through all things fly. Chards annual hosted fly fishing journeys have covered 19 countries on 5 different continents.

Bruce has also worked closely within the fly fishing industry and its manufactures his entire career.  His industry connections are shown through the many different fly companies he works with and represents.  These relationships have led to the opportunity for Bruce to design his own personal fly fishing industry award winning salt water fly line taper design. Airflo fly lines currently offers Chards well-known taper design called the “Tropical Punch” as their top selling salt water fly line selling more Chard lines then all other Airflo salt water lines combined annually.  

Bruce’s Other Accomplishments

• IFFF Master Certified Fly Casting Instructor
• Previous American Fly Fishing Trade Association Board Member – AFFTA
• Featured Angler in the full length fly fishing film “RISE” by Confluence Films 
• Featured Angler/Guide along with son BJ in the popular fly fishing TV show called Ford – “The Outfitters” with Host Conway Bowman – sportsman Channel
• Guest Host on multiple shows with “Seasons on the Fly” Fly Fishing TV show on  The Discovery Channel
• Fly Fisherman Magazine Salt Water Contributor 
• Designed and created a full line of Bruce Chard Professional Series Airflo Tropical Punch Salt Water Fly Lines 
• Designed and Created a full line of Scientific Anglers Award Winning Salt Water Grand Slam Series Fly Line Tapers – Winning best of show award for salt water lines at the International Fly Tackle Dealer Show in Vegas
• Has been featured on the cover of 19 different high profile fly fishing magazines
• Featured in over 6 Grays Sporting Journals photo essays over the past 15 years
• Top Pro Angler, Advisory Staff or Ambassador Member for the following fly fishing companies – Airflo Fly Lines Design Team, G-Loomis Rods Elite Ambassador, Hatch Outdoors Pro Staff, Simms Pro Team, Costa Elite Pro Team, Yellow Dog Fly Fishing Adventures, Yeti , Regal Vises, and Gamakatsu Hooks
• Over 24 custom Chard fly patterns with Riverborn fly company
• Salt Water Contributor for Gink & Gasoline – One of the top fly fishing blogs in the industry
• Hosts popular fly fishing schools and adventure trips around the world throughout the Florida Keys, Bahamas, Belize, Mexico, Christmas Island, Dubai, Seychelles, Aregentina, Brazil, Alaska, Canada and Guatemala for the past 18 years 
• Has fly fished in over 15 different countries over 5 continents world wide – with over 650 days fished within the Bahamas
• Bruce is a popular paid speaker and casting instructor at fly fishing shows, fly clubs, and fly shops nation-wide averaging over 25 paid speaking events per year

Bruce resides in the Lower Florida Keys with his wife Sara and son BJ who is following in his dads footsteps as a fly fishing guide in the Florida Keys and hosting trips worldwide.