I've likened attending The Fly Fishing Show (TFFS) to the many Grateful Dead shows I went to over the years, They always started with "Have a great show" and ended with "How was your show?". The reason I ask about 'your" show is because each person gets into their own grove and is either moved or not. TFFS circuit opened up with Marlborough last weekend and I heard mixed reviews. The general feeling I get after last years show, and the falls Inter-State Fly Tying Symposium is it's just more of the same. Same layout. Same people in the same spots. Same speakers. Same show, just a different year. And that's part of the problem when industry shows remain the same each year.
Some may say I've been kind of hard on fly fishing shows, and that's okay. Each year I kind of predict what we may see and always do a review, just from my opinion, a day or so after. Some things remain constant, Fridays the big opener with a push at the gate for those who had the day off or are retired, Saturdays are busy, while Sundays, well, are a waste of time. That may be a bit harsh, but really, a lot of vendors are coming off a Saturday night hang and bender and can't wait to break there booths down, pack up, and head back home. And for some the traveling is the hardest part.
When I was down at Southern Drawl Outfitters in Hilton Head I asked if they did the TFFS in Atlanta, they had not, and never will, as last year was the last year it was held. The show starts east, heads west, and then circles back for a finale in Lancaster. The circuit is Marlborough, Edison, Denver, Seattle/ Bellevue, Pleasanton, Ca, and then the last weekend Amish Country March 14-15. Of the six shows three are three dayers and three are two dayers. Many people say two days is all you need because that third day is torture.
One of the big factors about the TFFS in the northeast is the weather. I can remember testing for Federation of Fly Fishers Casting Instructor (FFF CI) test in January in the show outside the venue in Somerset back some 15 years ago. To note, I failed it twice. But the show went on and continues to go on each year whether or not. In those years that I can remember whether it always hits mid to late show, not the during the set up days or on the opener.
This weekend we, well maybe the entire country, is bracing for some type of weather event. Of course predictions are just that but they're calling for New Jersey to get somewhere between 2 inches to 2 feet, if that helps. It'll be cold Saturday and then the snow starts and may continue until Monday. So nobody knows exactly, but something is coming.
The other obstacle for some with the TFFS is what is happening with the NFL on any given year during the weekend. January is playoff time and there's usually a mix of games to be watched. Last week in Marlborough the Patriot's had a playoff game at home on the Sunday and that's a no-miss for many fly fishing New Englander's. This weekend the playoffs kick-off
at 3pm with the Patriots vs Broncos and then the later game having the Rams go head to head with the Seahawks. By the time the games begin TFFS show is pretty much over, but throw in the weather and most have thrown in the towel. I feel bad for Josh Miller giving a seminar on Sunday at 245 PM titled "Dry Dropper- Beyond the Basics", I hate to say it but it won't be standing room only.
So what are some things to look for this weekend. Again, I'm seeing more of the same as last year. Let's start off with the vendors and places you can go and support your "local" fly shops. Hey since you don't go to them anymore they bring it to you. Tightlines in Parsippany is bringing the shop to the show having a 10 booth spot. TCO will be filling up 15 booths worth of space with a lot of it apparel to search through. The Bears Den will be on the back wall near Streams of Dreams where Harry Huff will have bins from all the fly shops he's bought out and exotic parts of animals from around the world. Keogh/Hairline/ AHREX/Regal Vices will be in their usual
spots but this year Butch's Hot Stuff Hot Sauce will have a 10 x 10 right next to them. Precision Fly Tackle will have a row of booths, and I'm pretty sure they are the ones that have the picking-through bins which are always a big draw.
And on the other side of the casting booths the fly rod/reel/ line manufacturers will be in their usual spots. T&T, St.Croix, Hardy and Grey's, SA, and G. Loomis all have booths. I anticipate Loomis to get a lot of attention as anglers will wan to cast or at least see what a $1,750 fly rod looks like. Orvis is back with three booths which are mostly taken up by their van. Ok. But what
else will they be pimping? I'm actually surprised they're still doing the show these days. They didn't do Marlborough which is in their neck of the woods but they are heading to Denver after Edison. I'm sure whoever is there for them, will have a lot of 'splaining to do with all the stuff that's upended that company over the last year. TFO will be there but they're not hanging with the casting pond crowd. They're worth a look if you're in need of an affordable rod.
And there will be the usual booths to stop by and browse and buy from. BuzzFly will be there with his tails, but an early warning, get there quick as Brad's production has been off and availability will be first come first served. He was missed at the symposium so if you need to stock up get there early. My to buds in the Joe's, Cordiero and Calcevechia, Flatwing and Saltwater Custom Flys, will be there with everything from saddles to eyes and flies to buy. Squimpish will be there as well and I'll be at that booth on Saturday from 9-12.
There will be a bunch of destinations, outfitters, and guides to stop and chat with. Ireland, Africa, and the Caribbean will be represented as well as some from the south, west, and north. It's good to see John McMurray of One More Cast Charters doing the show this year. And the guy from Dubarry of Ireland will be standing in that tub of water enticing people to buy some waterproof footwear.
And of course there will be the show space fillers. There will be booths full of fudge, pickles, sauces, and coffee. I'm also sure you'll be able to get some ink done at the show as there's always a tat guy or girl set up somewhere. There will insurance to buy and of course the two
competing gutter guard operations to save you from clogged up gutters and ice dams. And I'll have to keep Theresa away from the handsome guy at the Cutco booth, last year I swore we were going home with $2,000 worth of new knives.
Along the perimeter there will be the single fly tier tables whose backs and butts will be cold as they back up to the large windows. If they're reading this I advise them to pack a sweatshirt or maybe bring a small heater to run around their table, if they've budgeted to flip Ben some money for an outlet to plug into. They've moved the clubs around and now they take up space
on the floor in places rather than on the sides near the front entrance. Atlantic, Bayshore, Coastal, Main Line, Theodore Gordon, and the Catskills Guild will be on hand. On table I'll be stopping at is to visit with my main man Rich Murphy. As always, if you don't have his book, Fly Fishing for Striped Bass, stop being cheap and pick up a copy for him.
So that's about it. It appears, on paper, to be exactly what last year looked like. With the cold coming the non-carpeted floors will keep your feet hurting and cold if you plan on staying there for a long stretch. There will be casting demos and seminars included with your $20 one day pass. For some extra scratch you can take a class which will run you about $100. It appears that
at one time some of these classes were presented as seminars, now they're behind close doors with pay-to-play entrance only. And kudos to Tim Flagler of Tightline Production fame. He's presenting at the show and what caught my eye was the (newly revised) next to his
time slot. I've always said that presenters need to change it up a bit if they're going to do these shows year after year with the same presentation. It gets old and doesn't call for attendees to do a second visit. Content gets stale, especially if you have the same pictures from 2013.
So there you have it. TFFS Edison 2026. More of the same. So similar that I could take the 2025 pictures I took and use them on Monday's review post. That's the problem with TFFS, and not the vendors or people working the show. While the show must go on it has to change it up a bit. It hasn't changed or grown with the times. Yes, the money may be there, in the vendors rent and the cash only, genius move, entrance fees, but the content is really the same, and like an old presentation, it's gets stale.
So stop by the ATM before you go so you can get in and have a few bucks for the tiny items you may need to pick up. If you're in need of a bigger item check out some of the local fly shops to make a purchase and support them. Grab a bagel before you go inside that way you won't be appalled by the $10 draft beer prices at the bar. And, just like before the Dead concerts, have yourself a great show. And be careful driving home in the storm after the show.
And if anyone reading this wants to buy my Fish Skull, Flymen, Fly Tester drop me a text. They're now going for $198 new and I have the original which I'll let go for $80.
It's fun to play around with or a cool way to display your flies at the show or when doing a presentation. I'll be there Saturday if you want it. Here's my number 732 261 7291.