vtflyhack 0 Report post Posted January 23, 2007 Has any one put together tying gatherings? Did they work? How often do you meet up. How did you put the word out? Was there any structure? I think this would be a cool thing to try during the winter months around my area. vtflyhack Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bowfin47 0 Report post Posted January 23, 2007 Years ago, several Federators from Louisiana and Texas were fly fishing and "conclaving" together at the Southern Council Conclave in Mt. Home, Arkansas. While there, we realized that it was ridiculous for such good friends to only gather once a year in northern Arkansas, when we all lived "relatively close" to each other in Louisiana and east Texas. Early that November, members from three FFF clubs, The North Louisiana Fly Fishers (Shreveport, LA), The Piney Woods Fly Fishers (Lufkin, TX) and The Acadiana Fly Rodders (Lafayette, LA), all met on the shores of Toledo Bend Reservoir at North Toledo Bend State Park outside of Zwolle, Louisiana. Some of us rented cabins, some camped, and several brought travel trailers. There were several wives and even a girlfriend or two in tow. (Yes - as I said, this was a while back! Pre-marrage and four kids for me!!) We tied flies, cast rods, played with small boats, and even caught a few fish! Yeah, we had a great time!! In fact, we had such a good time that we decided to make it an annual gathering, and we discovered that North Toledo Bend State Park had a wonderful Group Facility that could be rented at a very reasonable cost ($300 then but about $900 now!). The site includes a lodge (which has a large room with a stone fireplace, a fully equipped commercial kitchen, and a large open front porch), five bunkhouses that sleep 30 people per unit, and a central bath/hot shower facility. So, we made reservations for a weekend that next fall. We decided to call this event the "North Toledo Bend Rendezvous". "Rendezvous" has become a Mecca for fly tyers (and would be fly tyers) from throughout the mid-South. Each year we have tyers from 4-5 states participate. Rendezvous is an inexpensive ($900 divided by 45-60) , relaxed weekend for tying and fly fishing, with kids and families in mind. It is a place where you can spend time tying flies with excellent tyers, wet a line, teach or receive a casting lesson, or just relax and hang out with good friends. Do what you want - when you want. For the last 18 or 19 (?) years there have been no scheduled events, no fund raising, no awards, i.e. no pressure - just fun! Now, the Piney Woods Fly Fishers manage this event for us. Check out their web site: http://home.sprynet.com/~waltermc/ Then a number of years ago, a number of the "Rendezvousers" decided to have a second gathering in the spring of the year, and the "Spring Rendezvous" was founded. For the last several years, the Ouachita Fly Fishers, from Monroe, LA, have hosted Spring Rendezvous each April at Lake D'Arbonne State Park. Arbonne State Park is located near Farmerville in north-central Louisiana. http://home.centurytel.net/orff/ The Sow Bug Round Up was started a number of years ago by Tony Spezio and the North Arkansas Fly Fishers. Based in Mt. Home, AR, this hugely successful gathering of fly tyers meets each Feb. If you haven't made it to Sow Bug... You gotta' go! http://www.northarkansasflyfisher.org/ For the last 15 years, the Texas Fly Tying Festival has been hosted by the Texas Flyfishers of Houston. This is another great gathering of tyers put together by a FFF club. http://www.texasflyfishers.org/TFF/FTF.htm Jeff Guerin, who is a guide on the Little Missouri River in southwestern, AR, has put together a gathering each Feb. that promotes this little trout stream. This is a very successful gathering which host a number of excellent tyers http://www.littlemissouriflyfishing.com/index.html Next May, the Northeastern Oklahoma (Okies) Flyfishing Club and the Green Country (Bartlesville) Flyfishers will host their 6th Smallmouth Rendezvous. This event brings in an excellent group tyers from a number of states. http://www.okieflyfishers.org/smallmouth.html In addition, in our part of the world, most of the FFF clubs have a "field day" or "mini-conclave" complete with a group of excellent invited "guest" tyers: Acadiana Fly Rodders Conclave, (Lafayette, LA) on Feb 24. Red Stick Fly Fishers (Baton Rouge, LA) will host Red Stick Day, March 3 http://www.rsff.org/info/events.php Plus don't forget the Fededration of Fly Fisher Conclaves: http://www.fedflyfishers.org/councils.php and FFF clubs: http://www.fedflyfishers.org/clubs/ So in answer to your original questions, "Has any one put together tying gatherings? Did they work? How often do you meet up. How did you put the word out? Was there any structure?"... Hell yeah they work!! So, get with the FFF and see if there's already some sort of "tyers gathering" in your region, and if not, first look at the calendars of the regional FFF Councils and clubs and then pick an open date, call-up a bunch of your tying friends and pick a location that works for y'all. Basicly, thisis how most, if not all, of the clubs and gatherings mentioned above were started... A bunch of tyers got together... What does NIKE say - Just Do It! Have fun! Tight lines, Bowfin47 a.k.a (Kyle M.) P.S. Hope to see ya' at an FFF Conclave. The first Gulf Coast Council Conclave will be held May 18-20 in Lake Charles, LA. Come on down.. the "free - cajun feast" at the Thursday evening welcome party will be more than worth the trip! http://www.gulfcoastfff.org/# Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fly time 0 Report post Posted January 23, 2007 I have only tied with one other person my whole life, and that is outta 14 years of tying, and that was with Steve on the PM trip last year. I would love to find some folks in my area to tie with, because there is so much to be learned by tying with others. Dustin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oatka 0 Report post Posted January 23, 2007 My wife is constantly either holding her own Mary Kay appointments (parties) or going to Creative Memories (parties) or going to Pamper Chef (parties) or going to Tastefully Simple (parties). Granted I've scored some food at a few of those, they did get me thinking.....I should have a fly tying party. I've been planning on inviting over 3 friends that tie, and 1 who thinks he'll just tie up a few to say he's done it (he's in for a surprise), and have a tying party. i figured we'd just sit around and tie and have some snacks. my wife has offered to make the invitations (using Creative Memories stuff of course) for me. One of these days I'm going to take her up on it.....after I finish building my fly tying table is what I keep telling myself. Then, of course, I start thinking, why not have Fly Parties set up like all those girlie parties. you could have 1 guy that shows up and shows off all the new stuff, and the guys spend hundreds of dollars, just like the wife would have if it was her party. (yes, it might sound like a good idea, but it also sounds a bit girlie and would potentially ruin a good sport) just my thoughts on the matter. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fly time 0 Report post Posted January 23, 2007 I lived with my sister and her husband for a while, and she done those tastefully simple and pamperd chef parties, I made sure I attended each one that she had at her house, and scored all kinds of good grubb and some of her hot friends as well, I love those things :headbang: Dustin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sandflyx 0 Report post Posted January 23, 2007 I have a setup for people to come in and tie on the weekends...just bring along somethin to add to the food and drink... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oatka 0 Report post Posted January 23, 2007 Ok, we might be on to something, let's combine "hot" women from fly time, with sandflyx's food and drink and tying stuff, and we might have ourselves a party!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sandflyx 0 Report post Posted January 23, 2007 Your not that far away, you bring the women and i have the beer... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fly time 0 Report post Posted January 23, 2007 Hell I just may have to take a road trip to do some tying, I can bring a few hot women, if you got the beer :headbang: Dustin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bowfin47 0 Report post Posted January 23, 2007 Fly time, You've been tying and 14 years and have only tied with one other person? Wow! Boy, you've got ta' get out more!! You really need to hook up with some other tyers!! Go to the FFF club locator: http://www.fedflyfishers.org/clubs/ , and read the newsletters of clubs that are within a day or two drive of your home. In these newletters, you will find when these clubs are going to have "mini-conlaves" or "field days". Pick out a few and ATTEND! West Virginia is in the FFF's Mid-Atlantic Council. You need to check out their website for info. http://www.macfff.org/ Next June, head down to the South Estern Council Conclave in Callaway Gardens, GA. This is always a good party. http://www.fffsec.org/z_conclave.html Tight lines, Bowfin47 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fly time 0 Report post Posted January 23, 2007 See my problem is I wont get my liscense back for a while, so I cant get out much, if I cant walk or get a ride where I go, then I dont go. When I get my liscence back its on though!!!! Thanks for all the great info, I appreciate it. Dustin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Linesides 0 Report post Posted January 23, 2007 I have the cabin up in NH sleeps 6-8 we could have a hell of a tying marathon. Dave Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brewer 0 Report post Posted January 24, 2007 been to one, and just wound up to be a texas holdem marathon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vtflyhack 0 Report post Posted January 24, 2007 :hyst: :hyst: :hyst: THanks guys!!!I don't think much tying would be done during Sandflyx,Oatka, and flytime's gathering. Nothing wrong with that!!!!!! :headbang: :headbang: It's just that tying seems to be a elusive thing that people do locked in their basement with three sets of shutters on the windows. At least in my area. You all have givin me some great ideas, leads, and laughs. Boy, but a Flytying, Beerdrinking, Coed party that would be something. Hmmmm. vtflyhack Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
day5 0 Report post Posted January 24, 2007 I have had 3. I got the idea from tight line fly shop in green bay (Great shop) They have monthly beer and bugs gatherings. So I have adapted that for my self here and we have beer and bugs or BnB at my house. It is a good time and only gets rowdy when trout traveler comes over !!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites