Fly Fishers Gather Out West

Denver, Colorado in August was the place to be if you were into fly fishing. For three days the fly fishing trade gathered in the Colorado Convention Centre for the Fly-Fishing Retailer show of 2006. This Fly-Fishing show is where retailers meets with dealers. Its where brands are launched, innovations unveiled and connections are made.

Designed for the specialty fly fishing industry, its the place to preview the newest lines, the first to test the latest products and, participate in relevant education seminars. You get to meet with all of the industry's leaders, and take advantage of the new networking opportunities all under one roof, at one time, just three days, in August.

I flew from Manchester in the UK to Denver Colorado via Chicago, from the time I left home at 0500hrs to my arrival at my Denver hotel it had taken 24hrs 30 minutes. I was rather shattered. Thankfully I had the following day free. I suppose it was around eight the following morning when I rolled out of bed heading for the shower. Then disaster, after my shower I sat on the bed with a mug of tea. Straight on my glasses, they looked a sorry mess.

Calling the hotel reception I was told an optician was three blocks away. Finishing my tea, it was off to get the glasses repaired. Not an easy job, as one of the screws had broken in half. One side could be fixed, but not the other. Thankfully the young lady was a person who used her initiative to solve the problem, by using some Scotch tape. My glasses survived the trip.

As you step into the Convention centre, its a hive of activity with nearly two hundred exhibitors booths and two casting pools. everything in fly fishing was on view from drift boats to lines, hooks, rods, reels, clothing and much more. This wasn't a consumer show, but one for the trade. Three booths that caught my attention were Simms, Patagonia and the new combined booth of Thomas and Thomas rod builders and the Abel reels, both world leaders in today's fly fishing world. It certainly proved a popular area of the show.

From nine in the morning until six in the evening, the staff of Abel Reels and Thomas and Thomas rods were kept busy, discussing their products with the many dealers who attended this 2006 Fly fishing retailer show. Lunch was a quickly grabbed sandwich and coffee. Tom Dorsey, Trevor Bross of T&T and Don Swanson were extremely busy.

In the press centre I certainly enjoyed talking with Bennett Mintz the PR man for Abel reels. I was also able to recorded a fascinating interview with this journalist and experienced angler for my At The Waters Edge programme on the BBC Radio Lancashire. During one interview Bennett discussed the excellent fishing at Turneffe Flats in Belize which was previously British Honduras and the history of Abel reels.

At the show I was able to recorded interviews with several participants at the show including James Prosec rated as one of the top young artist in the world today. James is the author of that delightful book The Complete Angler - A Connecticut Yankee Follows in the Footsteps of Walton published by Harper Collins ISBN 0-06-019189-9 Its a delightful read for all who angle.

Its interesting to note that James who is an artist, naturalist and angler, who caught his first fish at the age of nine. While at Yale University he had two books published Trout : An Illustrated History the other title Joe and Me : An Education in Fishing and Friendship.

Gregg Remmers, Jim Beckman and Carole Rich of Live eyewear gave me a fascinating insight into the various polarised lenses we anglers use at the waterside. A great bit of equipment is without doubt the Tiefast tool designed by Ron Lewis. At the show Ron was displaying a new Tiefast tool, we can use with nylon line up to a hundred pounds breaking strain.

Ron Carr of Gamma Technologies told me about some new Froghair leaders, including a new tarpon leader from Gamma. He also mentioned that Gamma line for coarse and sea fishing would be more readily available in the UK. An item that really did catch my eye was hat from Panther Vision which has two LED's in the peak. Its perfect for the night fisher.

Several book authors were in attendance to launch their new tombs. I got to get interviews with Pat Ford The Best Fly-Fishing Trips Money Can Buy published by Stackpole Books, It includes chapters from some of the great anglers of today Billy Pate, Chico Fernandez, Stu Apte and others. The book takes you to Bermuda, Costa Rica, Guatemala, The Amazon and Africa's Lower Zambezi National Park.

Pat Ford's camera has captured some stunning scenes. Its a book to pick up when your in the doldrums on a cold, windy wet day in winter. Another Stackpole published book was The Rise by Paul Schullery. This book covers streamside observations on trout, flies and fly fishing. You will learn to identify the difference in trout taking a dry off the top or taking the emerger. Its all down to the bubble.

Some years ago The New York Times had an habitual liar Jayson Blair on its staff, which caused the former executive editor and Pulitzer Prize winning veteran journalist Howell Raines to lose his job. Howell the author of three previous books which included best seller Fly Fishing Through The Midlife Crisis didn't just sit back and do nothing.

He has given us a super read titled The One That Got Away Published by Scribner ISBN -13: 978-0-7432-7278-0 The book covers a big chunk of Howell's life, making it fascinating reading. The book made my a long trip back home from Denver a pleasant one, even the long stop over in Chicago wasn't noticed. Its a book I can highly recommend. his story on the marlin was exciting.

Leading up to the show there was some discussion about the show being moved to Las Vegas. I didn't find anyone in favour of moving to such a horrid venue for a fly fishing show. On leaving the show I got the strong impression that we will all be back in Denver again next year.