The Fly Fishing Show

Thought I'd jot down a few words to capture the trip to The Fly
Fishing Show yesterday.

Please keep in mind that I generally eschew these sorts of things as
rampant commercialism, exploitation and shameless self-promotion. The
most I've ever paid for a fly rod was less than $150. And my waders
leak.

That said, it was my daughter who asked me if I wanted to go with her,
so I picked her up and we went.

I'm really, really, really glad we did.

It seemed less crowded than in past years, though I had never gone on
Sunday afternoon before. The big names I recognized in the sport were
there and I recognized them easily. John Gierarch, AK, Ed Engle, Mike
Lawson, Jack Gartside, Gary Borger. They were there and they were very
approachable and ameniable. Still, I'm not a star struck type, and
didn't just go up and play the groupie. I mean, Gierach was standing
there, probably waiting for AK, but what would I have said? He's a
local boy and lives up the road. I'd rather meet him on the St.
Vrain.

A couple of exceptions to this was with Jack Gartside, a name I have
associated with flyfishing since I was a boy. I introduced myself and
told him that, shook his hand and he and my daughter talked about the
Red Sox (Jack's a fan but thought better of wearing his Sox hat in
Colorado!). My daughter and him gave each other good natured crap
about baseball for 20 minutes. Very enjoyable, memorable, experience.

The other really precious blessing was a chance to watch Dave
Whitlock, with just a couple of us, draw one of his gorgeous
illustrations. I don't know what to say except that he is genius and,
well, I guess I am a little bit of a Whitlock groupie. I love his
artwork and style. What he drew were leaping perches in sequence. Each
perfect little fish, with that facial expression he gives them that's
pure Whitlock. Brilliant. To watch him create one. Priceless.

I think it was the "Sister's on the Fly" that had the painted and
flyfishing themed camper trailers that are just awesome little fishing
rigs. Older small trailers repainted with cows and fish and the like
and then full on fishing lodge-esque interiors, replete with electric
fireplace and knotty pine. Inspirational.

Oddly, (Ironicly?) the one come-on was from TU, and I succombed. We're
walking down the aisle and P.T. Barnum stops us and asks "Ever held a
Helio?" and thrust one in my hands. Caught off guard I mumbled
something about "not being much of a wiggle man". Long story short I
listened to the membership spiel and spent $10 on Helio raffle
tickets.

There were other very notable people and organizations in attendance.
One was the Colorado Women Flyfishers (http://
www.colowomenflyfishers.org/), who talked with my daughter for a good
long time. The whole thing sounds like more fun than 2 Christmas's.
They go fishing all the time and meet at a restaurant once a month.
Another were the volunteers from Casting for Recovery (http://
www.castingforrecovery.org/) a group dedicated to providing support to
women who have or have had breast cancer.

It was fun to watch the 1st Annual Wright & McGill Casting Tournament,
and more fun than I thought it would be. We were standing near the
middle target and the line would shoot right at us or near us, could
tear your Mako polarizers right off your face! Not sure who won, the
few we watched, including a 10 year old boy, were pretty fine
casters.

The highlight of the show, however, came as we were leaving. A
gentleman, unfortunately who's name I did not get) stopped us and
asked if he could tie a fly out of my daughters hair (as it is
cranberry red). He was there with Tying For Youth and was not the
first fly tyer that made a comment about using her hair as material!
We did and had a ball. Met his wife and kids and he tied a wonderful
streamer. That was extremely memorable.

Finding, once again, that infinity exists between two points in
space.

Your pal,

Halfordian Golfer
A cash flow runs through it