Caddis Chronicles

The big show is this coming weekend, January 22, 23 and 24 - click on the link at the end of this post for more info.

This past weekend, I participated in the FF show in Marlborough, MA, and had great time. The show was smaller than the Somerset show is, but there were different fly shops and tyers there, so we (my wife and I) got to meet some people that are just as into the sport as we are.

Which brings me to Michael Mauri, from Germany. Michael is a European Guide, fly tyer, and the best fly caster I have ever seen. He does a casting demonstration, which he will be doing at the Somerset Show, that will knock your socks off. I won't go into details, as nothing I can say will give you a real sense of what he does with a fly rod without seeing it first hand. So, go to the show and make it a point to watch Michael cast and speak about what casting is really about. He also will be tying all three days - tube flies for Salmon and Steelhead. Here's a sample video of him casting..........as Michael says, "Rock and Roll!"



We also met Mike Valla, who just published his Tying Catskill Dry Flies, which is a great book on the history and techniques of a traditional style that is still very much in use today.  The book is colorful in more ways than one and a must for the serious fly tyer.  He'll be in the author's booth, signing copies of his book, so stop by and say hello to him. 

And Eric Stroup, who just published Common Sense Fly Fishing.  He shared the tying table with me throughout the weekend, and it looks like we be doing some fishing together in the near furture and in Montana. He'll be at the Somerset Show tying and doing presentations, so you may want check out his programs (unless they are at the same time as mine), or watch him tie.

And the best part of the weekend?  Seeing my daughter Megan, who lives in Boston.  What could be better?  Fly fishing and family.................

http://www.flyfishingshow.com/Somerset__NJ.html

See you at the show!