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 both 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 study 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're 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 Yeungling 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 and 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. 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 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 in the case? 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 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.
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 TTFS.
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 storm.
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.