Any questions you have about fly fishing can be answered by going to The Fly Fishing Show.
- Want to see what the consumer demographic for fly fishing looks like? Go to The Fly Fishing Show.
- Want to know what products people are most interested in? Go to The Fly Fishing Show.
- Want to see which places anglers dream of visiting? Go to The Fly Fishing Show.
- Interested in which books to read… or want to learn how to tie a certain fly pattern… or want to learn how to iron the kinks out of your cast? Go to The Fly Fishing Show.
The Fly Fishing Show is a series of live events that take place every winter and spring, with stops from coast to coast. One of the biggest just happened in Edison, New Jersey.
Next up will be Denver and after that will be stops in Bellevue, Washington, Pleasanton, California and Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
I’ll be there to observe and learn
I’ll be popping into the Denver show, not as a speaker (there are many good ones lined up), and not as a media person, rather as an everyday angler. I like to buy my ticket and walk the aisles just to look around. By doing so, I learn more about where things stand in the world of fly fishing—and what the season ahead is going to look like—than I can by doing almost anything else.
I like to watch the people. They tell me which products are hot. I take note of what they wear, because that tells me where certain brands stand. By seeing which presentations are packed, I learn what anglers want to learn about, and that ultimately shapes some of what goes into TROUT magazine.
I listen to the scuttlebutt, and I try to gauge the health of the fly world’s conservation conscience.
I watch which stacks of books disappear fastest, and which rods are in highest demand amongst curious casters at the casting pond.
And most of all, I like to see people smiling and talking about fly fishing, in the throes of winter, because that source of warmth sustains me until the rivers around here thaw and the trout start rising again.
Will I be surprised this year?
Sometimes what I see at the show surprises me, but not very often.
I will say that those unfamiliar with fly fishing might be surprised by what they see. For example, in recent years, I’ve seen many more families—more young faces, more women of all ages—as well as what might be considered the traditional “base.” Fly fishing is a heckuva lot younger and more diverse than many people think it is.
It’s also growing more interesting and exciting. I’ve seen a lot more interest in the “why” of fly fishing in recent years. I’ve seen more by way of collaboration and advocacy also. People who feel connected to fly fishing value this strong sense of community, and these events often seem like family reunions.
If you happen to visit any of the upcoming Fly Fishing Shows, be sure to visit the local Trout Unlimited chapters, many of which will have booths and volunteers there to tell you about what’s happening with local rivers, and how you might help keep them healthy.
And for those of you who might pop into The Fly Fishing Show in Denver, if you notice me taking a break, please stop by and introduce yourself, then let me know what you’re seeing and experiencing. I’m always very interested in what you think and what you have to say.