It’s no coincidence the Fly Fishing Show makes the rounds this time of year: a time of year when most anglers are going absolutely stir-crazy from a lack of fishing. In all but a few temperate zones, all but winter steelhead fishermen are suffering from a bad case of the shack nasties. In that regard one might think that the Fly Fishing Show is a good will endeavor; a therapeutic offering for thousands of folks suffering from cabin fever.
Not so fast.
The people that plan the Fly Fishing Show are no dummies—they know exactly what they’re doing. And what they’re doing is preying on the angling public. Pasty-skinned folks from all across the country gather in droves, lining up like lemmings to gain entry into a large facility filled with fly fishing goodness. These poor innocent folks are seeking to substitute a lack of vitamin D and actual time on the water with a fly fishing feeding frenzy. The vast assembly of gear manufacturers, guide services and fly tying-exhibitors know the bite is on, and they’re there to match the hatch. It’s easy pickin’s this time of year: the public isn’t thinking with a clear head.
In the past, the Fly Fishing Show came to Bellevue, WA, just a couple miles east of Seattle. I paid too much for parking one year and managed to get out of there having spent less than $100 on gear and doo-dads I didn’t realize I needed until I saw them. Like a prescription drug, I felt immediately better after making the purchase. And then the Show was gone for a few years. Must’ve had to do with the recession. Whether the recession is over or not the Show is back, although no longer in Bellevue. This year the Show makes its appearance at the Convention Center in Lynnwood, 17 miles to the north of Seattle. Traditionally the land of furniture stores, 90’s era Camaro’s and big hair, now Lynnwood is also home to the Fly Fishing Show.
Like years before, this year I’ll be attending the show as a winter-weary spectator eager to kick tires and test cast a new rod. Lately I’ve been thinking I need a 3 weight since mostly all I ever catch are sub-ten-inch trouts. But I’ll also be at the Author’s Booth signing Olive the Woolly Bugger books. Stop on by if you’re at the show; bring your kids and their own copies of books, or purchase books at the show. I’ll be there at 11:oo AM on Saturday and 12:30 PM on Sunday: here’s the full schedule. If children’s fly fishing books aren’t your thing, there are some other authors who may interest you, including these folks:
Saturday
11:00 Kirk Werner
12:00 Ed Engle, Rick Hafele
1:00 Gary Borger, Jason Randall
2:00 Philip Rowley
3:00 Simon Gawesworth, Tim Lockhart
4:00 Cecilia “Pudge” Kleinkauf
Sunday
11:30 Chris Santella, Cecilia “Pudge” Kleinkauf
12:30 Ed Engle, Kirk Werner
1:30 Simon Gawesworth, Philip Rowley
2:30 Rick Hafele, Jason Randall
3:30 Gary Borger, Tim Lockhart
If you miss the show in Lynnwood, you have one last chance to attend in Lancaster, PA on March 2 and 3rd.
See you at the show—bring your credit card.
