Tom Nakashima wrote:

I visited the International Sportsman Show in San Mateo, CA yesterday. It
seems to be getting more sparse every year, as this time they combined some
of the hunting with the fly-fishing section. I was wondering why the
fly-fishing seemed to be a bit more crowded. In any-case, I got to meet Dave
Whitlock and Denny Rickards, two of the big names in Fly-Fishing world.
Somehow Denny must have enjoyed my company, we talked for over an hour
(mostly him doing the talking) about working the emerger patterns. I felt as
though I was getting a personal instructor and learned quite a lot about
emergers and how to fish them. In all I enjoyed the demos, and lectures,
not much for looking at tackle or new products, food is always overpriced
and unsatisfying, so this year I stopped off and had breakfast first. Not
many booths on international outfitters.
fwiw,
-tom

Hey Tom,

I'm reading a lot of negative feedback about the San Mateo show.
Everybody is complaining about the lack of vendors. The list of speakers
is still pretty good, and probably worth the price of admission. I
would've really like to have sit in on that conversation you had. :-)

I'm not going this year, based on the early feedback. I'm planning on
going to The Fly Fishing Show in Pleasanton. This show is growing every
year, and should be eclipsing the San Mateo show this year.....plus it's
all fly fishing.

brians