fly fishing, conservation and politics.
I get some pretty cool gigs as a fly-fishing instuctor and one of my favorites is teaching the MSU Fly Gals each year. Just spending time with these wonderfully accomplished ladies is a joy in and of itself.
This year, one of my former students, Corey Higley, dazzled me with a very special gift!
Corey crafted this exceptional work of art with all natural materials. The detail is stunning!
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Last month I was asked to participate in a focus group for Montana Fly Company. The focus group was organized by those clever Outside Media folks who ran it on Facebook. It was a very entertaining way for those of us in the group to look at pictures, answer questions and make comments. Our moderator, Sammi, did a great job of keeping us on task while offering some very amusing commentary.
The chance to look behind the curtain a bit at some future offerings from Montana Fly Company and have some fun with Sammi was a treat in and of itself, but the deal got a whole lot better when MFC sent us some really nice tools as a reward for our participation. The gift box that arrived at The Middle River Group world HQ included a set of gold end nippers and a zinger (already attached to my Fly Vines lanyard); a stonefly/nymph box and a large waterproof fly box.
While I can’t tell you what we worked on, you just might want to keep an eye on MFC to see what the fruits of our labors produced.
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Disclosure: Neither MFC nor Outside Media asked me to write this post.
OK, so I am not much of a fly tyer. But I chipped in a comment on OBN and wound up winning some sweet tying tools from Montana Fly Company.
They sent me three spools of premium thread, a River Camo Hair Stacker, and a River Camo ceramic Bobbin. They also sent me some Scissor Forceps and a fly box that immediately got put into service.
More after the jump [Read more…] about Things that Work: Fly Tying Tools from Montana Fly Co.
The Outdoor Bloggers Network ran a contest last week with folks from Montana Fly Company for a shot at some very cool fly tying tools. I needed a push to do some fly tying so with OBN’s encouragement I tossed a couple a comments in to the mix.
Yup, the ole random number generator did me a solid and it was winner winner chicken dinner!
So when I get the goods I will post some pix, tie up a few shop-vacs sadler style and give a review of the tools. Might even try my hand at some tenkara flies. Can you say sakasa kebari?
stay tuned…
As a new AFFTA board member it has been entertaining to read posts (my favorite), comments, and email regarding the trade show and the association’s future. Now it is settled and the fly-fishing industry has it’s own show. Here are some important points about the process and decision.
The AFFTA board and staff had a lot of careful and thoughtful deliberations as we considered a new show among our options. We looked at every option – including partnering with ASA, OR, Chuck, and other show producers that approached us in the past two weeks. The process took time, but it was worth it to be sure we had solid information for a final decision.
In the end the board firmly believes that an independent show is in the best interests of the fly-fishing industry. That decision is validated by the overwhelmingly positive response so far.
The hiring of an industry veteran like Randi Swisher makes the success we expect achievable. The proceeds from the International Fly Tackle Dealer show will be put to work for the industry. Retailers will now be directly involved in our decision making process on show decisions like dates, format, features and other elements.
Those of us with a passion for fly-fishing deserve our own show and our own association. Now is the time for folks to get involved and help make this show a success and AFFTA stronger.
First, let me offer a quick explanation for my absence. After enjoying a week’s vacation in beautiful Rhode Island, I found myself hurrying back when my mother was stricken with pneumonia. She wound up spending a week in the intensive care unit at Newport Hospital.
I spent three weeks up there, but all’s well that ends well and mom is recovering nicely at my sister’s home in New Hampshire.
My next stop was Denver, Colo. Last month I was elected to a three-year term on the board of directors of the American Fly Fishing Trade Association. My first board meeting was during the Fly Fishing Retailer show last week.
AFFTA’s mission is to “promote the sustained growth of the fly fishing industry.” To do that, the association focuses on attracting more people to fly-fishing, promoting business excellence and educating elected officials and government agencies on important policy topics such as the economic importance of conserving fly-fishing habitat or thorny tax and trade issues.
The Fly Fishing Retailer is the industry’s trade show. At this show, manufacturers show and promote their new products to dealers like shops, guides and outfitters and also members of the outdoor press. Only members of the fly-fishing industry can attend, it is not open to the public like a consumer show is.
AFFTA Board members, like me, get a guest pass to the show and I spent two days wandering around the floor, looking at new products and visiting with many of my friends in the business.
Over the next few weeks I will share some thoughts and observations about some of the more interesting things I saw at the show, like the latest in the rubber versus felt for the bottom of wading boots, flies without hooks and the latest in bobber technology. No kidding, bobber technology.
Of course I got a chance to try new fly rods from the likes of Sage, Scott, Loomis, St. Croix, Temple Fork Outfitters and Winston. Casting a variety of rods is one of the best parts of going to the show. It is also a great chance to give friends a hard time about casting techniques, which greatly adds to the entertainment value of the show.
There is a pretty robust party circuit each night after the show closes. The most entertaining one is the Annual Drake Flyfishing Video Awards. This was the fourth year for this event showing of ten five-minute film clips about fly-fishing. A panel reviews all clips and the top ones win prizes for being the best in their category. There are awards for best humor, best story, best fishing, and best overall.
You can see clips from the last three years at the Drake Web site. Check out “Running Down the Man” from the 2006 films, it is one of my favorites.
I have now returned to the Valley and am looking forward to some fall fishing and the hunting season. Hopefully you have already had a chance to get out enjoy some time afield.
If you want to have some fun, get some wing shooting practice and support a good cause, come out to Flying Rabbit Sporting Clays on Sept. 27 for their first Hunters for the Hungry benefit shoot. The donation is $50 for this 100-target event. Lunch, soda and water are included, you just need to bring shells and eye and ear protection and of course your shotgun. You can get more information by calling 540-574-2529 or go to their Web site.
Finally, it is not too soon to be marking your calendars for next year’s Virginia Fly Fishing Festival on the banks of the South River. The festival is scheduled for April 17 and 18. This is the ten-year anniversary of the event so it should be a good one.
You can read more of my columns at News Virginian.com.