Report on Fly Fishing Show in Somerset NJ

[John Sheehan]

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

 

A few photos:

 http://bigbluegill.com/photo/albums/fly-fishing-expo-somerset-nj-2012

 I have very little experience with the flyrod but since the ice fishing season here is not happening I am hoping for a repreive from my Cabin Fever.

 

 The show appears in other towns/states as well : Lancaster PA, Denver Colorado,Raleigh ,NC,Marlborough MA,Pleasonton CA, Pasadena Cal

 

 Enjoyed the show !$15 was perhaps a bit much but worth it I feel. Enjoyed Bob Clouser's talk on Pennsylvania Bass on the Flyrod. A good friend of Lefty Kreh's and a good natured fun guy to listen to. Good slide presentation.

Lefty Kreh's casting distance and form was great to watch.

 Amazing amounts of Fly tying going on and some of you guys would have gotten a lot more out of this show than I was able to absorb.I am a real novice but went to this show in an  attempt to ramp up my interest.

 Jim 'Coz' Costelnick gave a talk and answered questions regarding "Tips and Tecniques of the Upper Delaware River.This is where I want to do more Flyfishing for Trout .He discussed the West and the East Branch but didnt cover the Main branch as he concentrated on Trout .Would have liked a little about the Smallie fishing on the Main River.His slide projecter wasn't working which was a bummer but he kept his cool and covered a lot of ground .

 The Tenkara rods have my interest and I got a real good booklet from the guy at the booth on the Tenkara concept of Flyrodding with no reel in Mountain streams .Would like to try it on small New Jersey waters.

  Temple Fork Outfitters had a few booths and Bob Clouser is endorsing them and endorsed by them I assume. I got a catalog but havent looked through it well but I recall some guys from the Bigbluegill.com site spoke highly of their flyrods performance and value .

  Bought a few used fishing books for $1 and a Hardcover  for $2 from a nice guy from Connecticut ; Freshwater Fishing Complete,Edward C.Janes1961 edition Pub .by Holt,Rhinhart and Winston
The Freshwater Fishermans Bible,Vlad Evanoff,1964,Doubleday and CompanyThe classic Edward Ringwood Hewitt Trout and Salmon books were $100 and $125!! Out of my price range but they were cool to see!

[John Sheehan]

Lefty Krey will be there ! The photo of the old Garcia Flyfishing Pamphlet was wriiten by him.Copyright 1972

[Jim Gronaw]

Lefty Kreh is a trip, but a true modern legend and a classic story teller. I owe much of my outdoor writing career to him, as he helped to get me started way back when. We used to fish the Monocacy River and it's tributaries together for smallmouths when he could still wade. Somewhere amongst my older slides, I have a shot of him sitting on a bucket, ice fishing! A classic!

Glad he could make the show and do the presentations...I think he is 86! Wow!

[John Sheehan]

Well if hes 86 yrs old  he's in great shape!! Never did meet up with him to sign the old Garcia Booklet he wrote that I brought to the show!

[Bruce Condello]

You know Lefty??!!??  That's awesome!  I am so jealous!

[Jim Gronaw]

Lefty Kreh lives about 40 minutes from me. He is a regular guy who just so happens to be one of the greatest fly fishermen of the day. Originally from Frederick, Maryland, he fished many of the same smallmouth streams I fish and we just crossed paths about 30 years ago. Very funny and entertaining, and knowledgable, fisherman. Great guy!

[dick tabbert]

Wished I would be able to go since I'm getting into the fly rod this spring. Maybe next time.

[John Sheehan]

Not one close by you in OH I guess Dick . I'll post some pics for you to get you psyched . I think I hear Greg McWilliams trapsing around the corner .He should be here soon with his Flyrod wisdom.

[dick tabbert]

I'll be the first to say I need all the help and wisdom I can get.

[Greg McWilliams]

John, Yall have fun. I would love to be at those are always a lot of fun!!!!!  We have a show coming up in May, I love to sit and watch tiers learn their techniques!!!!!! Take your fly rod, we usually have a Certified casting instuctor at our event who will work at improveing or teaching you to cast!!!!! You might want to take a little fly box with you!!!! Our show is kind of laid back but as you watch the tiers and listen how they tie the fly we usually give the fly away when we are finished!!!!

HAVE FUN AND TAKE LOTS OF PICTURES!!!! Lefty is an awesome caster and tier and just a down to earth kind of guy!!!!!!

[Greg McWilliams]

John, Look up Mike George, he is a DEER HAIR MASTER SCULPTUR!!!!! He build flies and can create a Largemouth Bass, Rainbow Trout......all out of Deer hair!!!! Takes a long time for him to create them but it is worth watching him in action!!!!!!

[John Sheehan]

That sounds incredible Greg! Dont think he was there .

[Greg McWilliams]

That is too bad, he was in the list of tyers on the link you put up!!! He tied down @ Talequah, Ok. his table was always crowded!!!!! I was set up behind him and would stop and go watch his progerss on a Largemout bass out of deer hair!!!!! The bass was 6 or 7 inches long!!!!