It's Today! Marlborough Fly Fishing Show-

[DFoster 0]

Oh boy It's today!  As I write this I can see the venue from my office and it's within walking distance.  I really look forward to it each year and not just because I can get out of work a few hours early, though I admit that's a bonus.    I love being able to evaluate in person, vises, gear and gadgets some of which are new or hard to find.  I'm always hunting for stuff that I don't see hanging on the wall at the local fly shops as well as materials I don't have and need or that need to be restocked.  Nothing beats being able to examine a cape before buying.  I'm not there for a deal but last year I found a guy selling jungle cock capes that had all the larger feathers removed.  He said his father tied a lot of a large patterns and had no use for the small feathers.  What was left were feathers that were perfect for size 12 and smaller trout flies, exactly what I typically tie.  I paid $8 for each. 

That said last year was a bit of a disappointment for me.  Two years ago the show was moved into April due to Covid and weather was nice on that weekend. After a long winter most anglers would rather be fishing and attendance was way down.  I think this soured some fly shops on attending last year.  Sadly (for me) most of the show was comprised of vendors selling fly fishing vacations and trips, not at all why I attend.  I'm hoping that with this year's January date there will be a lot more gear, feathers and fur merchants on site.  We'll see- 

 

 

[cphubert 0]

 

27 minutes ago, DFoster said:

Oh boy It's today!

Dean, please let us know how the show is and the vendor showing, I have found the Show a little lacking the last few years. Unsure if driving in the impending snowstorm will be worth my time. 

[flytire 0]

i was going to today but i changed my mind

ive got probably 30 years worth of tying materials and i really dont want any more

 

[niveker 0]

Saw one comment on another board from someone who went today that it was 'underwhelming', no further elaboration.  I've got some wood stacking to do tomorrow but am going to try to get there later in the day.  

[SalarMan 0]

To far from SE Pennsylvania, but I agree with Norm on this one. I stopped going to these things a number of years ago looking for materials, tools or equipment I don't need. I also learned that there are no bargains to be had either.

When I was going, my stay became one of 2 or 3 hours and the visit was entirely social. Conversation with old buddies and friends, then head for home. With a drive of 1 1/2 hours or more each way...well not these days.

[flytire 0]

i would get there early and walk around, stop at the fly shops and drop a few $$, watch a few tyers (i think you have to stand watching them) and be done in about an hour to an hour and a half tops. not worth the 77 mile drive

i remember walking past jack gartside's booth and there was a cloud of cigarette smoke lingering above his head.

i dont care about the outfitters or guys showing the crowd how they can double haul a fly line all the way to boston

food aint that great either

 

[Mark Knapp 0]

I've never been to a fly tying show but I really want to go (When I'm healed up enough). Can you guys name 3 or four of the biggest, "Not to be missed" shows to go to?

Thanks.

[jcozzz 0]

I am sure there are some on the west coast.We had one here in Chicgo in the late 90s but it did not do well.The only plus was i got to spend a little time talking to Dave Whitlock as it was very slow at this show.I probably would have gave up on fly fishing/tying if i had not met him.WE have Fisning/Outdoor shows here with a smattering of flyfishing and a tying club or two.Samr old thing but not a bad way to spend a winter afternoon.

[RickZieger 0]

Sow Bug is a tying show.  They dohavesome vendors.

 

[chugbug27 0]

I might go to sowbug in March, probably tent in a campground with my dog if they let dogs in the show  Classic wet fly is the theme... 

[DFoster 0]

20 hours ago, cphubert said:

 

Dean, please let us know how the show is and the vendor showing, I have found the Show a little lacking the last few years. Unsure if driving in the impending snowstorm will be worth my time. 

 

19 hours ago, niveker said:

Saw one comment on another board from someone who went today that it was 'underwhelming', no further elaboration.  I've got some wood stacking to do tomorrow but am going to try to get there later in the day.  

Guys here's a quick report-

"Underwhelming" is probably a fair statement  depending on why or what your reason is for attending.  Especially If your mainly looking for tying materials.  A few years ago there were a dozen fly shops set up and selling their wares.  This year sadly there were only 3. The 2 main ones were the Deerfield fly shop and Badger Creek.  The 3rd one I can't remember the name of.  They all had plenty of fur and feathers available for inspection but silk, tying tread, tinsel or any other spooled materials were very limited. They also had the usual supply of vises, tying tools and stream gear on hand

There were roughly 15 guide/fly fishing vacation dealers as well as T.U., Casting for Recovery,  a knife dealer, Hardy, Thomas and Thomas, at least 1 bamboo rod builder and 1 tenkara specialist.  Also books and several fly fishing art dealers.  If you're in the market for a high end rod they have the casting pool so you can try before you buy.  20 or so pro tiers were on hand with some of them selling materials.  One was selling "rare and exotic" feathers.  I spoke with him and he buys old materials from estate sales.  Antique hooks and so on.  He said he was mostly geared to the classic Atlantic fly market.  Not being a classic Atlantic tier I don't know how hard it is to find the feathers he had or if that alone would be worth the $18 admission fee.  I did  buy a pack of Golden Pheasant tails from him.   As usual Nor-vise and HMH have locations.

Speaking of HMH-  You guys all know that I'm an owner and big fan of the HMH TRV vise so I was really looking forward to seeing/trying the new HMH "A.K. Best vise that they just released.

Here's a brief review.  To be fair they only had this 1 display model and what appeared to be a size 8 fly.  I didn't try any other size hooks, mostly because I'm not in the market for another vise and didn't want to prevent serious buyers from seeing it.  I really wanted to love this vise. I have never tied on the original but I have always loved the look and design.  I was disappointed, no matter what I did I could not get this thing to hold that #8 fly securely, it would easily move when pushed.  The rotation and adjustment knobs had none of the "butter smooth"  movements of my TRV, or their Standard vises and felt decidedly poorly machined.  The vise seems to rotate only 1 direction and locks in place every  by quarter turn, though there might be and adjustment that will allow the vise to rotate either way without the stops, I don't know.  Again on this vise the rotation was not nearly as smooth as the other vises in the HMH line up. The list price on this vise is about $600.  I love HMH and I'm certainly not trying to trash them.  Maybe this particular one is just be a bad example?  I feel really bad writing this as I am a huge fan of the company but I'm just giving you all my honest opinion based on a few brief minutes with the vise.  I would say to anyone interested in buying one to find an example and try it out first.

 

[cphubert 0]

10 minutes ago, DFoster said:

Guys here's a quick report-

Thanks Dean, it has become more a guide /trip event as of the last few years.. NJ seems to be a better show, a lot of vendors I used to talk with always said the New Englanders have fish hooks in their pockets and they had better sales figures in NJ & PA. I miss the social side of the shows but sadly a lot of the people I used to visit have crossed to the other side of the river. Next year, the only day I can make it would be Sunday in the snow❄️.

[SalarMan 0]

46 minutes ago, DFoster said:

 

Guys here's a quick report-

"Underwhelming" is probably a fair statement  depending on why or what your reason is for attending.  Especially If your mainly looking for tying materials.  A few years ago there were a dozen fly shops set up and selling their wares.  This year sadly there were only 3. The 2 main ones were the Deerfield fly shop and Badger Creek.  The 3rd one I can't remember the name of.  They all had plenty of fur and feathers available for inspection but silk, tying tread, tinsel or any other spooled materials were very limited. They also had the usual supply of vises, tying tools and stream gear on hand

There were roughly 15 guide/fly fishing vacation dealers as well as T.U., Casting for Recovery,  a knife dealer, Hardy, Thomas and Thomas, at least 1 bamboo rod builder and 1 tenkara specialist.  Also books and several fly fishing art dealers.  If you're in the market for a high end rod they have the casting pool so you can try before you buy.  20 or so pro tiers were on hand with some of them selling materials.  One was selling "rare and exotic" feathers.  I spoke with him and he buys old materials from estate sales.  Antique hooks and so on.  He said he was mostly geared to the classic Atlantic fly market.  Not being a classic Atlantic tier I don't know how hard it is to find the feathers he had or if that alone would be worth the $18 admission fee.  I did  buy a pack of Golden Pheasant tails from him.   As usual Nor-vise and HMH have locations.

Speaking of HMH-  You guys all know that I'm an owner and big fan of the HMH TRV vise so I was really looking forward to seeing/trying the new HMH "A.K. Best vise that they just released.

Here's a brief review.  To be fair they only had this 1 display model and what appeared to be a size 8 fly.  I didn't try any other size hooks, mostly because I'm not in the market for another vise and didn't want to prevent serious buyers from seeing it.  I really wanted to love this vise. I have never tied on the original but I have always loved the look and design.  I was disappointed, no matter what I did I could not get this thing to hold that #8 fly securely, it would easily move when pushed.  The rotation and adjustment knobs had none of the "butter smooth"  movements of my TRV, or their Standard vises and felt decidedly poorly machined.  The vise seems to rotate only 1 direction and locks in place every  by quarter turn, though there might be and adjustment that will allow the vise to rotate either way without the stops, I don't know.  Again on this vise the rotation was not nearly as smooth as the other vises in the HMH line up. The list price on this vise is about $600.  I love HMH and I'm certainly not trying to trash them.  Maybe this particular one is just be a bad example?  I feel really bad writing this as I am a huge fan of the company but I'm just giving you all my honest opinion based on a few brief minutes with the vise.  I would say to anyone interested in buying one to find an example and try it out first.

 

Great info Dean. The fact that I live in SE Pennsylvania makes that show out of reach. Even the show in Edison is now too far for me.
My guess the classic salmon fly specialist was Roger Plourde. He's a Connecticut guy and we've done a fair amount of business together in the past. One of the good guys.

[Poopdeck 0]

Yep, I stopped going to fishing shows years ago. It’s almost 100% overpriced guides, vacations, beef jerky, and clam chowder. I go to one show but it’s more a fishing flea market than a show. It’s put on by a local surf fishing club and it’s nothing but local venders a with no guides, vacations or clam chowder. Can’t get away from the beef jerky. Glad you were able to find something entertaining. 

[flytire 0]

3rd fly shop might be bears den

they're on the exhibitor list