It's one of those events that I take with a grain of salt. "Been there, done that" is a term that I'm qualified to use after 40 years of fly fishing. After awhile ( a few decades) it all begins to seem the same. How many new rod designs, new fly fishing gear, new fly tying equipment can you stand before it begins to look like the "same old same old"?? I'm right on that account and after doing the show in 09 I had mixed feelings about the 150 miles round trip to see it all again. But, in a moment of weakness, I had invited my better half to an introduction to our lunacy a month or so ago. As it happened she had to take off to NYC on family matters which left me with some time on my hands. Ok, I'm going but I'll be a man on a mission!! I'll be zeroing in on a small wish list of "have to have" items.
First item - I found a copy of George M.L. LaBranche's "The Dry Fly & Fast Water". If I believed in the supernatural I would believe that LaBranche has used me to "channel" his dry fly philosophy. This book, which I have read in snippets over the years, will be my bedtime reading this winter hopefully during blizzards when all hope of Springtime days are just a dream. I can hardly wait!!!
Hooks - I first bought my Mustad dry fly hooks at $4.00 a hundred back when that was a princely sum to a starving college/flyfishing student. It's 4x times that now. I've heard of the Saber line of hooks and finally got to see them. Good finish (not too bright) and the point is sharp and strong. $6.95 a hundred is great too!! I bought a bunch of them. I'm happy!!
Bobbins - A.K. Best is right!! Today's ergonomic bobbins suck. Hard to adjust the tension and always fouling the thread around the structure. S&M bobbins solve all of that but over the years they have become scarce. Cote's had them and I bought three. Very happy about that. Cote's also had a hare's mask in rust color at $2.50. Perfect for henderickson thorax's and other flies. I'll take my electric clippers to that mask and shave it into a pile of dubbing. Happy again!!
I am the proud owner of the 3rd issue of FLYROD & REEL back when it was called ROD & REEL MAGAZINE. I kept that subsciption for 20 years but let it lapse. Show Special - 3 years for $30.00. I'm in!!!
During the show I ran into some old friends, some new friends, some great folks that I have guided in the last few years. It was fun. The crowds seemed very manageable which made the browsing fun which was very different from the hordes of a few years ago. Maybe my expectations were lower which made the event more tolerable. I had a good time. Hope you did too.
Got some info on the LOWER Swift!!!!!!!! More on that this Spring.
The above photo has nothing to do with the show. I just don't like to post an article without a photo. Sue me!
7 comments:
I'm not going to sue you!! (haha) I liked your review of this show and I plan to hit it tomorrow. I'm not familiar with the s&m bobbin. I will look for it.
The Fly Shack was selling those "Saber" hooks for $5 per 100 (incl tax) on Friday.
Al
I should have gone Friday!!
never heard of saber hooks. looks like you can still get them per 100 for a wicked deal on the flyshack website. Have you used that hookbrand before Ken? I've almost always stuck to TMC with some patridge and Daiichi hooks mixed in.... not exactly affordable to buy alot of those.. i think they are about $20 per 100 depending on which hook you get.
Cluster,
I had never tried Saber hooks although I had heard of them. I wanted to see if they were junk and they're not. They are certainly work the price. Haven't seen any defects either like I have with the expensive hooks.
well... if Ken Elmer endorses them i'll just have to give them a shot. the same price per 100 as i pay for 25 barbless TMC's... you cant argue with that. what models did you pick up?
Cluster,
I picked up the standard dry fly model in 14 through 18 and a pack of size 12 wet fly style. Can't remember the model numbers.
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