Denver, Boise Report

I recently returned from my first speaking engagements of the year at the 2013 Denver Fly Fishing Show and the 2013 Western Idaho Tying Expo hosted by the Boise Valley Fly Fishers.  Both events were well attended.  In between my speaking and demonstrations I had a chance to catch up with a number of friends who I hadn’t seen in a while.

Rio's booth looked sharp featuring their new logos and branding

The Denver show ran from Friday January 4th through Sunday January 6th.  This was my first time at this event and the interest in stillwater fly fishing was both impressive and overwhelming.

One of Rich's Foam Patterns

When I wasn’t giving my Going Deep-Strategies for Sinking Lines presentation or providing a tying demonstration you could find me nestled at a table amongst the fly tyers.  My neighbour was fellow stillwater addict Richard Pilatzke.  Rich spent the weekend demonstrating a number of stillwater patterns including some of his unique foam adult damsel and dragon patterns.  Rich does well with these patterns on his local lakes. For the most part I don’t get the opportunity to fish dry dragons or damsels and his stories piqued my interest.  I hope to spend some time with Rich in the future and hopefully hook a few trout on some of his designs.

A Bowl of Hopper Juans

I also was fortunate to meet Juan Ramirez, known to many through his Hopper Juan blog. Juan is a contract tyer with Montana Fly.  He ties a number of innovative patterns and is particularly known for his foam hopper patterns including his namesake Hopper Juan and Hollywood Hopper.   Juan has an excellent blog complete with a number of instructional tying videos. His blog is one of my favorites.

Juan Ramirez's Hollywood Hopper

I also spent some time with fellow authors Rick Takahashi and Jerry Hubka.  Rick and Jerry co-authored the bestselling book, Modern Midges.  If you ever wanted inspiration or to find a particular midge or chironomid pattern this is the reference you need.  I feel fortunate that Rick and Jerry included some of my patterns within their book.  Rick told me they are already working on another book project.  I am looking forward to getting my hands on it as soon as it hits the book shelves.

The Western Idaho Tying Expo ran from Friday January 10 through Saturday January 11th.  Over the course of two days over 1600 people dropped by to watch a number of local tyers, watch casting demonstrations and instructional seminars.  Good friends Pete Erickson, Jeff Currier and I provided a number of seminars and casting demonstrations.  Expo hosts, the Boise Valley Fly Fishers, kept us busy over the course of the two day event.

Jeff is a talented artist and fly fisher

One particular highlight of this year’s expo was spending time including a few beers with ‘legendary fly fisher’ Hank Patterson and his trusty side kick Reese.  For those of you who don’t know Hank he provides a satirical look at the world of fly fishing.  Make sure you check out his You Tube segments.  At this year’s expo Hank helped and entertained onlooker with a Casting for Recovery fundraising event at the end of each day.

Reese,myself, Hank Patterson and Pete Erickson

This is my second year speaking at the Western Idaho Tying Expo. I enjoy the atmosphere and enthusiasm of this event.  Hopefully,  if they will have me, I can return next year.

While in Boise, I provided an evening tying demonstration to the ‘Pinocchio Group’, a dedicated collection of fly tyers and fishers.  Pete Erickson provided ‘taxi’ services and we were treated to an enjoyable evening featuring great chili, home brew while I demonstrated some of my favorite stillwater patterns.

Pinocchio Hard at Work

The Pinocchio Group namesake is a metaphor based on the story telling and subsequent fish growth with each passing tale most fly fishers are famous for.  After my presentation Pete and I were initiated into the group as we were provided with our ceremonial Pinocchio noses.  Although easy to put on it was difficult to tie anything close at hand as the nose blocked the view.  Now those who know me might think the nose in this picture was my real nose.  While I don’t have the smallest nose on the planet I can assure you it was a fake.

This Year's Western Idaho Tying Expo Was a Busy Place

I am home for the next few weeks trying to catch up on some winter tying, an annual goal that I typically don’t meet.  Once February hits I am traveling once again with show and speaking commitments in Oregon, Washington and California.  Check my calendar to see if I am stopping by in your neck of the woods. 

Seminar Update-Boise Bound for Confessions Seminar

My hectic seminar schedule continues.  I have been crisscrossing the continent with stops in Abbotsford, B.C. and last weekend in Ottawa, Ontario where Brian Chan and I provided a one day stillwater seminar.  Over 70 enthusiastic participants were on hand.

Next weekend, March 25-27, I will one of the presenters along with friends Pete Erickson and Jeff Currier Boise Idaho for a weekend fly fishing seminar entitled confessions.   It will be held at the Boise Hotel and Conference Center, 3300 South Vista Avenue, 8:45-4:30 each day.  Two day or daily tickets can be booked ahead of time or purchased at the door.  We are offering discounts for early booking.

Our goal is to provide a comprehensive educational seminar covering a range of fly fishing topics.  We will touch on a variety of subjects including river and stream tactics, stillwater strategies, warm water and salt water techniques.  Although aimed at the intermediate fly fisher this effect should offer something for every fly fisher.  We will also be providing presentations on some of our favourite destinations such as one of my personal favourites, Fortress Lake, home of some of the world’s largest brook trout.  Pete will be providing a session detailing some of his European travels while with the U.S. Fly Fishing Team.  Jeff, our world traveller, will tempt our dreams with his Trout Bumming the World presentation.

From an educational perspective here is a sampling of our some agenda subjects:

• Advanced Nymphing Techniques
• Improve Your Fly Fishing Photography
• Advanced Chironomid Tactics
• Tactical Casting Techniques
• Saltwater Fly Fishing-Bonefish to Billfish
• Top 10 Habits for Stillwater Success
• Warm water Fly Fishing-Bass, Pike, Carp and many More
• Loch Style Techniques
• Terminal Solutions, Favourite Knots

Each student will be provided with ‘goody bags’ and we will be raffling off a number of great prizes from our sponsors including Rio, Echo, Superfly International, Loon Outdoors, Outcast Boats and The New Fly Fisher.

If you are in the Boise area see if your schedule allows time to drop by, Pete Jeff and I look forward to seeing you there!  Don’t hesitate to drop me an email at flycraft@shaw.ca if you wish to know more.

Winter Whirlwind!

Wow, what a whirlwind it has been since my last blog entry.  Show season is all around and I have been coming and going every weekend for the past month! 

Somerset at a quieter moment

After the Marlborough MA show I headed to New Jersey for the Somerset Fly Fishing Show.  It was my first time there and was thoroughly impressed.  As with the Marlborough MA show I was there with the New Fly Fisher TV show I co-host in support of the episodes we filmed in Newfoundland and Labrador.  Response to our show was overwhelming.  Living in the west you are never sure if people are seeing the show.  I was pleasantly surprised as countless people recognized the show and complimented us on the educational format we follow.  Fellow co-host Bill Spicer and I had one young fan drop by the booth that knew every episode and the featured flies.  He was a delight to talk too as he was so keen about the sort.  It seems people can never get enough learning in the fly fishing diets.  A good thing as it is my web site motto too! 

Bill Spicer and I with a young fan of The New Fly Fisher

Show attendance was up and on Saturday it was difficult to navigate the aisles.  They were completely clogged at times.  In addition to fielding questions about the great fly fishing Newfoundland and Labrador has to offer there were lots of questions regarding stillwaters.  Questions I was only too happy to answer. I saw enough pictures of some of the large brown trout inhabiting some of the local lakes to get me interested.
While at the show I had a chance to catch up with many friends and colleagues in the industry including Simon Gawesworth, Jeff Currier, and Bob Clouser to name a few.  I particularly enjoy catching with Simon.  Like me, Simon is a die-hard Liverpool fan.

After Somerset ended I drove back to Ottawa with the booth arriving back around 1:30am.  We unloaded the vehicle and I was asleep by 3am.  I awoke again at 6am, gassed up the rental car, dropped it off at the airport, checked in and boarded my flight back to Edmonton.  I think I was asleep before they pushed back the plane!

The following weekend I was down in Calgary attending the IF4 Film Festival and the Fly Fishing Events Show in Calgary.  This year I had no on the floor speaking commitments other than two tying demonstrations.  I did put on two workshops, Fly Fishing Alberta’s Stillwaters and Demystifying Bugs.  Both were complete sell outs.  When I wasn’t tying flies or teaching a workshop I divided my time between the Rio, Trout Unlimited Canada and Superfly booths.  Brian was in town and like myself did not have any speaking commitments.  Brian was tying up a storm of sorts in the Superfly booth promoting the Stillwater Solutions line of products he and I developed in partnership with Superfly. 

Simon was there once again and we had some ups and downs over the weekend as Liverpool signed Luis Suarez only to learn a few hours later that Fernando Torres, Liverpool’s premier striker put in a transfer request.  We couldn’t believe it,   ahh the ups and downs of Premier League Soccer during the January transfer window.

Talking to the the Central Alberta Tying Club about big flies

On Saturday February 5th I provided my annual tying clinic to the Central Alberta Tying Club.  This year over 20 students enjoyed tying ‘Big Flies for Big Fish’.

'Big Flies for Big Fish' tying seminar

We spent the day tying nothing but flies intended for fish that like their food large.  Students tied Pike Bunny’s, Articulated Popsicle Leeches, Intruders, tube flies, Shaving Brush poppers, Gurglers and Double Bunny’s.  I don’t think any fly was less than three inches in length!  We are already making plans for next year’s seminar.  At this year we will be exploring the ‘Fun with Foam’.

Cross section of big fly patterns

My whirlwind show, seminar and presentation adventure ended earlier this week when I provided a tying demonstration and evening presentation to the Spokane Fly Fishers.  During the day 20 tyers joined me as I toured them through six of my favourite stillwater patterns.  Thanks to Superfly for providing the materials so everyone had the right stuff on hand.  Later that evening I provided my ‘Tactics for Tough Days’ presentation to what I estimated to be over 90 club members and guests.  This was a fun trip and I enjoyed my visit and I look forward to returning in the not too distant future.  Thanks to Judy, Mike and the rest of the Spokane Fly Fishers.

My next trip is not until early March when I will be speaking at the BC Boat and Sportsman’s Show in Abbotsford.  In the meantime I will be busy catching up on a host of article deadlines.

Keep your calendars open in late March too.  If you are going to be near Boise Idaho why not spend the weekend with Jeff Currier, Pete Erickson and me as we provide a comprehensive weekend seminar on wide array of subjects such as river and stream techniques, stillwater tricks and tactics, warm water fly fishing, salt water, casting tricks to name a few.  If you are interested in attending please drop me an email at flycraft@shaw.ca.  Additional seminar details will be available shortly both through my blog and Facebook pages.  

Please don’t forget to check out my Calendar page on my site too for additional shows and seminars such as my Fortress Lake and Learning with the Pros seminars.  2011 is shaping up to be another crazy educational year.