02.05.26 More of the same from the Hudson...

 

     Just when we thought the Hudson River strain of striped bass was going to save the striped bass we see yet another year of poor recruitment. The Juvenile Abundance Index (JAI) for the Hudson River is out and you can see above how the trend is going. While the Hudson is north of New Jersey its juvenile indices are heading south. 

     The Hudson River is home to the second largest strain of striped bass. It's wedged in-between the Chesapeake Bay and it's tributaries and the Delaware River, followed by a distance fourth in the Roanoke-Albermarle fish. But no matter where you look to see there's no good spawns happening. In the end, to have big fish, or spawning striped bass, or SSB, you need little ones to fill in the ranks. Not having babies, allowing harvesting to occur in those slot fish, and bonus fish, depletes the numbers of older spawning fish, more so the biggest females then the males. 

     It's in the spring, during the spring spawning run, where pre-spawn fish congregate below their natal waters. They'll stage in places like the Chesapeake, Delaware, and Raritan Bays, and fatten up, before making their spawning run. That's why they're so "easy" to catch and leads to drop and reel fishing, if you will. Position yourself over a school or on the edges of bait pods and you're in like Flynn. I've always believed that striped bass eat before they travel and catches, with big flies and plugs, mostly occur because they hit out of annoyance then true eating, similar to what we see with salmon and steelhead, and shad too. After the spawn they put the feed bags on in their natal waters before heading out to the ocean for the summer, and the fall migratory run. 

     And I also believe, and it's just my opinion, that just because waters hold striped bass in the spring doesn't mean they are spawning in it. Conditions have to be just about perfect for a successful year's spawn. Water flow and temperature, water quality, and the fresh-brackish-salt content all have to hold and carry fertilized eggs before hatching. Any one of those, and there's more, factors just has to be off a bit to kill any type of good spawning, and more importantly, surviving. 

     "They spawn in the Navesink and Hackensack", so I've heard. No, I'm not a believer. The same could be said for rivers in south Jersey in and around the Delaware Bay and River. Just because you see, or catch, a striped bass, and maybe even an egg laden female, in those waters doesn't means they are there to spawn. While one might say the distance between say Belford and Secaucus is far, yes if you were walking, it's not that far by the way the crows fly, or the fish swim. They're all thinking of going to the same place, home, or where they were born, to spawn. 

     And looking at the spawning of striped bass. Picture yourself in your prime. All gussied up and heading out with your crew for a night out on the town with the possibility of hooking up with the opposite sex for some adult pleasure. You may look like you're ready, and you might, but you just might pass on the opportunity on any given night, and that's what some striped bass do. They come to the party, in any given year, but just might be in the mood, or the opportunity doesn't present itself. In the end, not every striped bass spawns every year during every run. They may make the trip and go through the motions, but in the end the eggs, and milt, get wasted. It's like the difference of having sex for pleasure, or for family planning. 

     As Whitney Houston sang, "I believe the children are our future", the same could be said for juvenile striped bass. We can throw the blame around, environmental conditions, both man-ruined and by Mother Nature, over fishing, or changing patterns by the fish themselves, but in the end it's not good, nor going good. And as a true lover of striped bass I can say that over the years between the drama and roller coaster of fisheries management and what we're seeing from an anglers perspective, especially from the river banks or beaches, the passion of fishing for striped bass has diminished, at least for me. 

     Fishing, and fly fishing, is supposed to be just fun. It's good for the mind and the soul. But fishing has become kind of like what we see in just about every aspect in every corner of life these days, conflict. Everyone has an opinion, everyone is an expert, and everyone knows, or tells us, what we should think and how we should act. And I won't even go into this new AI world we live in where you can't trust anything you see or read anymore. Content, in word or images, isn't original or even believable. Pictures, and even video, used to be truth, now not so much. 

Recently I had to "prove" I was at the World Trade Center the week of 9/11, only to be told that photographic evidence is no longer supported due to the ability to doctor up photos these days. What a world we have created. 

     So in the end it's not surprising to see the trend of poor recruitment. What will 2026 have in store for the spring? Well what ever is left of the SSB will, in the next two months, begin their move towards their natal waters. This freeze were in, with all the snow and ice, will pass and the natal waters will be replenished with quality and volume, but for how long? It will melt, the waters will rise, and then they will fall. We'll see 90 degree days in March, then snow in April, then monsoons in May. The inconsistencies in the weather patterns just call for chaos, and people and fish don't like chaos or drama when they are out trying to find a mate and reproduce. 

     And with that I would say I would support a moratorium for a few years. While Cabin Fever gives most of a us a pause and the time to re-boot for the next years fishing, maybe it would be good to give the striped bass a break for some time. Would that just skyrocket JAI's in the natal rivers, of course not. But what it might do is allow for a reset of fishes both big and small to regroup and rediscover themselves. Remember, angling pressure changes fishes behaviors, and while we think they're just dumb fish, just think how many outings you had catching nothing but a skunk. 

02.04.26 Keansburg Fishing Pier destroyed again...

     For some fishing from part boats and from fishing piers is as good as it gets. It's not only the access to fish but it's the community and relationships that are formed from like minded anglers. Head boats will put you out on the fish and the 2000 foot walkway out into the Raritan Bay surely gave you an edge from anglers walking the bay sand.

     Yesterday it was reported that the Keansburg Fishing Pier was destroyed by heave ice following this sub 32-degree weather we've now had for about three weeks. With the bay iced up over and the ebb and flow of the tides the pier got caught up in the moving ice. While practically impossible the only way to prevent this would be to have fountains of water around the pier to prevent the ice buildup. But it's not practical due to its length and the extreme weather we've been having. 

     Piers have been a long part of Keansburg's history. The iconic City of Keansburg steamer used to shuttle folks between The Burg' and Battery Park City in Manhattan. The 231 foot long passenger ship was built exclusively for the Keansburg Steamboat Company. The above picture shows the Keansburg docked at NYC and below at its New Point Pier in Keansburg. 

     Years ago there was a shuttle train that would run passengers out to meet the steamship. While it operated as a fishing pier you could pay a buck or two and get taken out to the end in a golf cart. 

     While I have fished on either side of the pier on foot and in front of it when I ran my Jones I've never fished from it. The last time I remember visiting it was while I was on assignment for The New York Times following Super Storm Sandy. 

     It's sad to see this go down, yet again. It is a huge part of Keansburg's history, part of a huge community, and one of the last true fishing piers in New Jersey. There's plans to bring back piers in Long Branch, Asbury Park, and the Wildwoods, but we'll see. I can't imagine how much it would cost to demolish and then rebuild the pier, but they've done it before. Keansburg people are pretty tough. My whole family is from The Burg' and I spent a lot of time there growing up.

02.03.26 I can't imagine the horror...

An illustration has been published showing the seven souls who died after the F/V Lily Jean sank off of Gloucester last Friday. It puts faces to the tragedy. RIP

02.02.26 Take a chance on this for sure...

 

"Road Trip Raffle 2026"

     Now here's a good return on investment, if you win. But actually, in the end, the monies raised go to the American Museum of Fly Fishing. Imagine throwing down a $25 bill and winning the opportunity to fish with a bud and three of the top saltwater fishing guides from Montauk to Maine. But, I'd really like to win this. 

     The American Museum of Fly Fishing was established in Manchester, Vermont in 1968. They have a museum you can visit, archives you can browse through, and hold award ceremonies honoring the best in all types of fly fishing. If you remember Bob Popovics was awarded the Izaak Walton Award last year, posthumously. Additionally, they publish the quarterly journal, The American Fly Fisher. Fly fishing artist and illustrator Mike Sudal snagged the cover of the Winter 

2025 edition with his work done for the Jackson Hole One Fly Foundation. The cover is a view of the commissioned piece he did for the annual tournament. Inside there's a nice article about Mike. You've seen his sick work in many publications, probably without knowing it. 

     So what is this fund raising auction about? Well here you go. It's called the "Road Trip Raffle 2026" where the winner and a buddy will win a guided trip with three of the best in Paul Dixon 

Paul Dixon- Montauk/Gardiner's Bay

out in Montauk, Jamie Boyle on Martha's Vineyard, and Ben Whalley in Southern Maine. on top of that Yeti is throwing in a prize package, you'll get a $500 gas card, plus swag from the AMFF. Add that all up and you're probably talking around a $3,000 hit. You could make it a road trip and start in Montauk and end up in Maine. 

Jamie Boyle- Martha's Vineyard

     Tickets are one for $25, three for $50, and eight for $100. I can tell you this. If this is my last year living in New Jersey it would be a great way to say good-bye to my beloved striped bass before we head south to the redfish of South Carolina. It would be like coming up to bat with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth and hitting a grand slam to win a game in the World Series. It can happen, just remember in October 2024 when Los Angelos Dodger Freddie

hit the game winning Grand Slam at Yankee Stadium. It happened in the bottom of the 10th inning and the Dodgers won 6-3. But the only way to do that, to be at the plate for a shot, is to buy a chance. You can do that HERE with the raffle ending March 15th. But I can tell you I'm already winning this thing. 

Ben Whalley- Southern Maine

02.01.26 Deadly weather continues...

 

      Winter continues along the East Coast this morning. For those living in the south they too now know what winter, and snow, really feels like. Since the beginning of the year we have had three snow events before this weekend's "Bomb Cyclone". I'm no weather geek but "bombogenesis" occurs when there's a rapid drop in atmospheric pressure which creates strong winds, rain, snow, and blizzard like conditions. While I'm waking up to just more cold air temps, both inside and outside the house, snow, ice, and low temps have wreaked havoc from Virginia down through Florida, and to interior states as well. 

     While this winter has seen the death toll rise from accidents to exposure the story out of Gloucester, Massachusetts has hit the local fishing community extremely hard. On Friday the F/V Lily Jean, a commercial fishing trawler, went down with seven souls on board. 

     On board was a crew of six plus a NOAA observer who was tasked at overseeing fishing operations while the Lily Jean was out at sea. While there are no images of the six crew members who are missing and now presumed dead the story and images of the NOAA observer are now being released and reported. 

     Jada Samitt was 22 years old and had recently graduated with a degree in environmental biology and this was her first job at sea. Officially, the observer is not part of the vessels crew, so on board the Lily Jean was a crew of six plus her. This tragedy is reminiscent of the story of the F/V Andrea Gale who went down with six crew members in 1991 and was featured in the movie "A Perfect Storm" in 2000. Early reports speculate the Lily Jean went down due to storm related conditions which may have included being iced over which would have caused the 72-foot boat to capsize and sink. To date one body has been recovered. RIP to the crew plus one and their families, as well as the commercial fishing community. 

     While human suffering and sacrifices always first and foremost, I wonder what this rapid change in the weather will do to the fishes up and down the East Coast and around the tip of Florida into the Gulf of America, duly named by National Park Service. Up north fishes are used to the swing of water temperatures and do a pretty good job of finding those deep holes in the bays and rivers or take the ride out off the coast to ride out the winter. Sometimes though they don't fare well during the hot summer months, as we see with the massive menhaden die-offs from summer to summer here in New Jersey. 

     The last time I've seen a fish kill was when I was down visiting my Mom in Florida and a "Red Tide" had hit the shores along the Gulf Coast. A Red Tide, also known as a HAB, or harmful algae bloom, which can either release toxins or rob the oxygen in the waters which kill the fish. 

     Recently I was was talking to renowned guide Paul Dixon and we were talking about how the tarpon and bonefish fishery was doing down in Florida. As he explained the ebbs and flows of that fishery he mentioned the catastrophic fish kills due to low water temperatures. The last major fish kill event occurred in 2010 when inshore waters went down to just above 50 degrees. While some fishes may move out of the shallow estuaries to seek warmer weather, many do not and die. That also may occur from Virginia down to Georgia where many species come into the warmer waters in the shallows during the winter months. Just a week or so ago we were down

in South Carolina snooping around the low-tide waters looking for redfish that are active inside during the winter months. It's on the flood tides during the summer months where those fish are most active. 

     And as far as fishing. These conditions are am ice-fishermen's happy times. From the Adirondacks down to Maryland anglers make their way out onto the ice with shanty's and tip-ups looking for those ice through fish like bass, perch, walleyes, muskies, trout, and even striped bass. 

OTW magazine photo- from Maine 

But ice fishing can be a dangerous hobby. On Facebook recently I saw a post just warning people about the Delaware River in Easton where some had made their way out onto the ice to fish. 

     Knowing the waters, and ice depths, are paramount for safety while ice fishing. And doing it with water that moves underneath calls for more awareness and safety precautions. Angles shouldn't fish alone, have a cell phone handy, and have a throwable device at the ready. Falling through the ice is bad enough, but falling through and going under the ice would be deadly. Ice fishing, and ice fishing on rivers, has been around for centuries, you just have to aware and smart.

     So those are just some of the things that the cold weather brings to us. Add to that frozen pipes and high electric and oil bills and spring can't arrive soon enough. But as far as the waters where fish live these cold events, which bring snow, can be beneficial. Below is a drone shot by James Loesch. It shows a partial 

James Loesch. It shows a partially frozen Delaware River in Trenton. Hopefully some flowing and open water will remain to reduce the chance of the river being frozen over, where ice dams would form leading to dangerous flooding when they thaw out. 

01.29.26 Some things to beat Cabin Fever...

 

     Surely Cabin Fever has set in for most us this winter. Unless you're a skier, ice fishermen, or mascohist, you're done with the cold and the snow. And for those on the East Coast this weekend there's some more of it coming. A "bomb cyclone" is forecasted to hit late Saturday nightwhich will bring inches to feet of snow. We've been lucky with mild winters as of late and this may be reminiscent of years where winters were winters, we're just not used to them. But as far as the health of waters this winter is good. good for the rivers, stream, and lakes, and good for the fish and fishing. All of that snow will melt, one day, and the aquifers will be full of fresh water. We've been drought-like here in New Jersey for months, and yes that can still occur when the air temps are in the twenties. 

     Cabin Fever is a ritual we go through each year. It starts with the last outings in December and lasts through the March 1st opener in New Jersey's back bays and rivers. The Fly Fishing Shows help us get through, as well as cleaning off those fly tying desks and restocking with flies for the upcoming year. It's just not all about TTFS as there are other shows as well. Surf Day at Brookdale, the New Jersey Saltwater Fishing Expo, and some other plug based shows along the Jersey Show that keep anglers alive like a blood transfusion before the fishing picks up again. If you missed Edison you 

     If you missed Edison you have another shot at TFFS when it comes back to Amish Country in Lancaster, Pa, the weekend of March 14 & 15th. It's a much smaller show than Edison and has a more intimate feeling, without a lot of the "filler" booths that most attendees walk past.  

     One show I've liked to attend the last few years had been the Fly Fishing Expo of Long Island. It's been a small local show but seemed to be growing in interest and size as of late, but 

this year the show will to go on. Usually held in March the show has been cancelled for 2026. 

     The other option has been to check out presentations at local fly shops and fishing clubs. I've outlined guest speakers at Tightlines Fly Fishing in Parsippany in previous posts. For those not wanting to take the ride there's also virtual presentations you can log into and check out. 

     One such place to visit is the Masters Of the Fly. Over the years there have been quests from Jonny King, Jason Taylor, Bob Popovics, and Steve Farhar, some of my favorite guys, to name a few. This year they have another great line-up of guests and you can visit MOTF website to register, for free, HERE. 

     Below is the line up for 2026,

David Nelson of Squimpish fame on February 11th

Dan Blanton from the West Coast on February 25th

Brad Buzzi, the bucktail master on March 18th

Nick Vlahos fly tier on March 25th

Nick Curcione angler and author on April 8th

     It's also a good time to finalize any travel trips you may have on your bucket list, which can include those you can drive to. I can tell you things are ridiculously expensive these days in the terms of lodging, airfare if applicable, ferry rides, especially if you're bringing a vehicle, and even gas and tolls. Through in some guided trips and even a local trip can be costly. So it's time to drop down some deposits and make your reservations, or else it'll be another year without a fishing trip. It's also a good time to break out that piggy bank and start throwing some cash in it for spending money for things fishing related. There's nothing worse than being financially strained around the time a fishing trip hits, so chipping away at it beforehand will give you peace of mind, and keep your spouse off your back. 

01.25.26 The Fly Fishing Show Edison 2025...

 

     Well here we go. It's 615 AM now as I sit in Titusville, New Jersey, watching the snow come down outside. We already have three inches on the ground and have fed the wood burning stove with over a dozen pieces of wood. The winter storm is here, and as far as normal minded people are concerned this years TFFS is over. 

     The picture above is one I took as I sat at the Squimpish booth tying up some flies. It's not much of a pic, but it kind of put what TFFS has morphed into. As in healthcare, where we moved from patient focused care to what I call computer focused care, TFFS has moved from a commerce event to more of a social gathering. And if look above the picture illustrates that, lots of legs, and not too many hands holding packages. But more on that later.

     Visually, the show looked liked it has each year since the move to Edison. Two casting ponds surrounded by rows of vendors with the fly tyers parked around the perimeter. And of course, no carpets. While I have no skin in the money making end of the show those that I talked two said 

the show had been from "Just okay" to "Very good". For those who've never been on the business end of the show, I have, and I can tell you the amount of planning, work, and logistics, can be a daunting task. And don't forget the biggest part of it, the cost. If you're at the show, you may not be working your regular job, or have shut the doors if you have a brick and mortar business. Then there's the booth, or several booths cost, or rent, and rentals of tables, chairs, and electric. Gas and tolls, food, lodging, and salaries for the booth workers all add and interfere with the bottom line. If you're selling packs of tab eyes it takes a bunch to cover your costs or make true money. Walking around with a wad of cash is great, but then you deduct the costs, that's where the truth in how good a show is or isn't. 

     I got there on Saturday just before the gates opened and found a so-so crowd waiting at the entrance. I heard Friday was busy for a period before it tailed off. I would the say the same for Saturday as by 2 o'clock it was just about over, except for the lingerers and those there for a booth hang. 

     I stopped by BuzFly's booth and he was able to hook me up with some AHREX hooks and thread before I sat down at Squimpish from 9-12. He said he a had a steady flow from Friday into Saturday with the bucktail searchers that came to the show to restock. I'm always thankful for the chance to sit down at Stephanies and David's booth to tie up some flies and show my support for them and Squimpish. When I was down in Hilton Head I stopped by Southern Drawl 

Outfitters and asked them if they had heard of and or stocked Squimpish and they hadn't. That was interesting to me because it would seem like a prime material to use to tie up some bigger bait patterns. 

     In between flies I was able to watch David Nelson spin up some of his brushes which come in a variety of sizes and lengths depending on what you're tying up. I like the Big Fly Brushes that I use for my Four Turn Brush Fly that I find fun and easy to tie and leaves me with 

a big fly with lots of bulk up front to push water. You can see David's flies above which illustrate what that larger front end looks like. Within yelling range I saw Pennsy's own Fred Dewes of snakehead fly fishing fame. If there's a guy dialed in to finding and catching these 

prehistoric looking predators it's him. Next to him was a thinned out version of a Joe Nicosia I used to know who was tying up some Fleye foil Surf Candies. If you've tied with those foils you 

know how difficult they can be no matter how easy the tutorials online are. What I'm left with is an off-center lumpy fly that runs sideways because it's keeled because of the acrylic. But I have to give a shot out to a surely missed Bob Popovic's for leaving us so many forward thinking things in fly fishing as he did. 

     When my shift was over at Squimpish it was time to hit the beer wagon where a Yuengling ran $9.65 per cup, and the guys who were pouring left far too much room at the top. Each time I went back I said, "Fill it up", even though by the time I took 10 steps I had lost the top 1/2 inch. But that's for the buyer to worry about. 

     Over on that end of the show I saw one change in that the RoxStar booth, who had a ton of discounted flies for sale, located near the cafeteria and bathrooms. It was a good move if it was on their part because at some part of an attendees day they either have to hit the head or grab something to eat or drink. 

     Tightlines had a big space again with a mix of rods in the air, reels behind the glass, and rows of bins to pick through. But these weren't the bin-picker-lovers bins like we see 

with those Classic Fly Fishing bins but more of heavily discounted solid and sought after materials in saddles, capes, and whatever other materials that had to pick through. I spoke with Nancy Moy and they solid traffic through the two days and that many attendees were in the search for new rods and reels. And remember if you're a fly rodder in and around the ti-state area and need a local fly shop, then Tightlines in Parsippany is worthy of a visit. They have a great line up speakers and classes there as well.

     There were some scale backs as I'll call them from years past. Grunden's had a big space with lots of folks manning the booth, but what was missing was last years line extending around the corner as people waited for a chance to grab a free and pressed-right-there hat. 

     "Rod Rows" as I'll call them, had the usual cast of good characters they're all pimping out the latest rods that are being offered. I didn't see Scott in attendance and I thought we might and even have a Shawn Combs sighting since he jumped ship from Orvis. And I was looking forward to seeing Andy Mill at Hardy's but he didn't make it this year. Hope all is well Andy. 

       I stopped by to hold that $1,700 fly rod from G. Loomis in their Asquith line. Zach Flake was manning the booth and he tried to explain to me what all that rod has to offer. He's an engineer 

and I'm a borderline idiot so you know how that went. In the end I guess it's a nice rod. Sick artist and illustrator Mike Sudal stopped by as Zach revealed all his favorite fishing spots to me and we talked about his appearance on Joe Cermele's Cut and Retie podcast, HERE. While I missed Joe because he came on Friday if you read here you know how much of a fan I am of his, from his work on Hook Shots, just Google it, and now with Cut and Retie, his own podcast.

     I took a stroll past the Streams of Dreams booth and bins but didn't want to find something and then have to haggle with that guy who's like an Underboss to Harry Huff. Harry wasn't there when I walked by and I missed saying hello. Then I hit the Bear's Den who had their own assortment of rods in the air for sale and my bud Jason Taylor on hand trading gang signs with a

few fans of his unique and sick fly tying skills. Back on the other side I ran into my-now fishing buds The Two Joe's, in Cordiero and Calcevechia. It's always good to see these guys down in  

New Jersey and in just a little over four months we'll be meeting up with Abe Piecek up on the Vineyard. No matter where we are in the house sale and moving or not I'm not missing that trip. Theresa will have to do the heavy lifting alone while I'm out standing on my ladder. 

    While I was at the Flatwing booth fly fishing legend Paul Dixon stopped by on his rounds. As you already know, Paul is one of the OG's in fly fishing for striped bass, especially sight fishing for them. OG, in today's cool kids world, means original gangsta, perfectly fitting for a Caucasian elder statesmen from East Hampton. As I sat on the couch penning this blog Theresa asked about who Paul Dixon was. She's met him but couldn't recall. I briefly told her of how nice he was to me when I dragged my Jones up to Montauk in 2014 as a possible Shakedown trip with hopes of making Montauk part of my guiding rotation each year. I also reminded her that as soon as I met her my whole fly fishing guiding career ended abruptly when I realized I wasn't truly running a business but just chasing fish and supporting an addiction. But back to Dixon, one of my favorite pictures that I took of him was the below.

Taken off the point of Montauk in 2014 when the albies were up in stupid numbers. He continued that hospitality after we all got off the water and hit the Westlake for a late bite and a beer. He invited me over to join the locals, something that doesn't always happen with intruders, especially those from New Jersey, who arrive with a boat and a Captain's license. 

     And then we have to talk about all those booths people passed by without giving them a second look. That's not to say they are bad, it's just people get from a show what they need from a fly fishing show. Like if you need your gutters protected...

     There were a ton of clubs, foods, destinations, and guides that were on hand filling up the floor space. For most people they are the walk-on-by booths unless they have a nice selection of candies or mints, then you stop, smile, take one, and say thank you. 

     And early on I found Levi Opsatnic who was down at the show working with Trident Fly Fishing, a brick and mortar and online fly fishing store based in Maine. He introduced me to their Atlas Fly Rods, which are solid and affordable rods in weights from 4-11. We took some time 

over at casting pond and had some fun throwing line. One thing I came away with is how overwhelming getting into fly fishing and tying can be if you're new to the game. If you just came to the show and walked around who would you trust and what would you buy? I think that's where a solid relationship with a local fly shop has it's worth it's weight in gold. 

     And then there was the Orvis booth. Orvis, Orvis, oh my Orvis. I had missed Tom Rosenbauer who was at the show, but he doesn't like me anyway, on Friday, but did spend some time talking with Peter Kutzer. He was able to talk me off the proverbial Orvis-is-done ledge and I left there hopeful that the company is going to continue, and not going be sold. 

     I also got some Orvis love and help from Wayne Rock, pictured above to the left, who is the Senior Merchant and General manager for Fish and Hunt. That sounds like a big time and official title. To me though, and as soon as he introduced himself as Wayne Rock, I couldn't help 

but think of Kid Rock, so hence his new Orvis pledge name. I can only imagine how Kid Rock would fit in at the Mother Ship in Manchester..."Bawitaba, da-bang, da-bang..."

     There was no Orvis van this year but there was a raft and some rods, reels, and waders. I basically asked them, "Why are you here if you have nothing new?". They explained that 

they are about to drop the Ratio line of fly reels, which will replace the Mirage as their top of the line reel offering. That is why they have been blowing out the Mirage reels at 50% off, in order to make room for this new line. While the Mirage topped out at $898 the Ratio will, I think, come it at just below $500. And that will mostly come from being manufactured overseas. They will also continue the Hydros line of reels. And of course the Helios will be their go to rod, or highest end, and most expensive. 

     I talked to Wayne about the Orvis PRO waders. "Yes we're still going to offer them". Perfect. And when I started to talk about their Orvis PRO bootfoot waders... there were crickets in the background. It's over Johnny. No more bootfoot. Stocking foot only. 

     So after some time in the booth and with the boys I came to this conclusion. Orvis isn't for sale. The Perkin's family are very fishy and hunty and would never separate themselves from that. The company direction is going back to fly fishing and wing shooting and less about fashion, apparel, and dog beds. 

    And while at the booth I saw Chicky, or Rob Ceccarini, who was my first live Orvis contact when I applied for the Endorsed Guide Program back in 2011. He was the Manhattan Orvis store manager and was aways very welcoming to me and I always enjoyed going up there for presentations or events at his store. Funny we have both found consistent paychecks these days in education, him up in Connecticut and me in New Jersey. 

     As I did my final tour I stopped in to say hello to Rich Murphy, one of my guys in striped bass fly fishing. You know how I feel about his book so I won't go there. 

   But it was good to see him and at least say hello. Of course, he tried to sell me a book or a fly. Doesn't he know I have a signed #1 copy of his book in the green-leather bound slipcase? C'mon man....

    And then there was the looming elephant in the room. What was going to happen on Sunday? Rumor on the floor had it that if you pulled out after the 6 o'clock finish on Saturday then

you would be banished to Bogeyland, like it happened in the 1934 Laurel and Hardy movie, March of the Wooden Soldiers. Really it was thought to have meant if you leave early on Saturday 2026, you can't come back, ever. I won't say who would play the evil Silas Barnaby in

a current TFFS remake of that movie that most of us watched each Thanksgiving Day, but you could have fun with that. Banning people because they want to leave for safety reasons as a storm barrels down across the entire United States? That would be a dick move. In my opinion they should have put safety and concern before money and contracts. People need to get home to work, as some are essential workers, and to their families more importantly. And traveling before the snow makes more sense and is safer then trying to get home during it. People could be stuck in New Jersey until Wednesday, plus, who's picking up those hotel bills? 

     I was told people had to visit the office or drop an email explaining their case as why they had to leave Saturday night? Are you fu%& kid....... never mind. Plus who in their right mind would go out in big weather to catch day three of a show anyway? C'mon man....

     So truly the show was done by 2 pm and by 330 those that were leaving were starting to break down. It shouldn't have been an individual decision but it came down to that. Shame on you TFFS. 

     Each time I did a lap I stopped by the crab cake booth and got a free sample. By the days end I had eaten enough to feel like I had a bushel of crabs in my gut. And when I met up with Theresa she said, "Did you try those crab cakes?". 

     So the least we could do was support the company which is from a small town up in the Pococnos. The guy said, "I'm sure you never heard of Gouldsboro, Pennsylvania, but that's where we're at". I told him back in 1996 we purchased the first of two homes in Big Bass Lake, in Goldsboro. So, small world. We figured we'd at least have something in the fridge for the next few days during the storms we plopped down the $40. 

     In the end I hope you all put yourselves and your businesses and families first and got out of Dodge. I am sure there were only handful, if any, people that came and spent $20 to get in the door today. I hope you all got home safe.

     One day I will stop going to these shows, and that will be okay. I see that attending these is like paying to go to an old grammar or high school reunion. It's not the trade show it used to be, but that's just my opinion. If the show was great for you then fantastic, I'm sure you'll be back in 2027, but be warned, a lot of those vendors may be in Bogeyland since they left early in 2026. And I don't know who will release the wooden soldiers to let them back into the show.