Admission Info

(Cash Only at the Gate)
Regardless of the weather, the show will go on!

Adult

One-Day Pass: $20
Two-Day Pass: $35
Three-Day Pass: $45

Children

5 & Under: Free
6-12: $5 

MILITARY/SCOUTS

Scouts under 16 in uniform: free
Military with ID: $10

Denver Show Info

Dates: January 19, 20 & 21, 2024

Time
Friday: 10am – 6pm
Saturday: 9am – 5:30pm
Sunday : 9am – 4:30pm

Location: Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center
6700 North Gaylord Rockies Boulevard
Aurora, Colorado 80019 USA

BACK AGAIN: The International Fly Fishing Film Festival. One night only, Friday, January 19 at 6:30pm. $15; $10 in advance.

Learning Center

Fly Fishers International (FFI) is pleased to offer FREE fly fishing instruction at the Learning Center located on the main show floor.  Basic fly-casting, fly-tying, and knots, will be taught throughout the day-every day of the Fly Fishing Show.

Directions and Lodging

Accommodations:

Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center
6700 North Gaylord Rockies Boulevard
Aurora, Colorado 80019 USA

(720) 452-6900

Request the special Fly Fishing Show rate of $217.00 for single/double rooms (suites and triple/quad also available) when calling or use the link HERE to book your room.  For special rates rooms must be booked by December 27, 2023,  or before the hotel sells out.

Standing at the edge of the Front Range, Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center showcases the state’s alpine charm and offers guests a welcome reprieve from the typical mountain resort stay. From our thrilling Arapahoe Springs Water Park, to an exciting lineup of family-friendly activities and entertainment, there’s something for the entire family to enjoy. Guests can explore the beautiful Grand Lodge and its stunning mountain views, five delicious restaurants, bars, the world-class Relâche Spa, and a state-of-the-art fitness center. For those planning or attending their next meeting or event, the resort features over 500,000 sq ft of flexible meeting space, 1,387 modern guest rooms, and 114 spectacular suites. With a fantastic water park, seasonal events, entertainment, and close proximity to local attractions, Gaylord Rockies Resort is the place where you can enjoy more of everything you love.

Discounted Self-Parking Rates for FFS (note: this is a 3rd party operation that handles Denver Metro parking):
Up to 4 hours – $5 per vehicle
4 to 8 hours – $10 per vehicle
8+ hours – $15 per vehicle

We are excited to offer our guests a complimentary shuttle from the resort, that takes guests to the light rail (train) station that services the University of Colorado A Line. This line has multiple stops that will ultimately bring our guests downtown Denver.
University of Colorado A Line | RTD – Denver
The shuttle picks up from the front drive of the hotel at the :20 and :50 of every hour, and brings guests to the A Line light rail stop at 61st and Pena st.
The shuttle picks guests up from 61st and Pena St. station at the :00 and :30 every hour, to bring them back to the hotel.
The first pickup from the light rail station at 61st and Pena St. is at 5:30AM daily, and the first shuttle from the resort to the station is at 5:50AM.
The last pickup from the light rail station is at 11:00PM daily, and the last shuttle from the resort to the station is at 11:20PM.

 

Alternate Hotel: 

Atwell Suites Denver Airport – Tower Road
East 65th Ave, Denver, Colorado 80249 United States
Pets Allowed
Free Breakfast
Airport Shuttle
Health/Fitness Center
Business Center
Wireless Internet
Kids Eat Free
Parking Information: We offer 10$ daily self-parking for overnight guests. There are EMV charging stations available for a small fee
Pet Policy: Pets are welcomed with a pet fee of 25 plus applicable taxes per pet per night. Service animals are exempt from this fee. Please note ESA animals are not federally protected and the fee will be applied. Unregistered animals will be assessed a 250 fee.

Request the special Fly Fishing Show rate of $129.00 for studio suites or use the link HERE to book your room. Cutoff is 12/21/23.

 

 

NOTE: Official Fly Fishing Show information to book your hotel will be extended from info@flyfishingshow.com and/or posted on The Fly Fishing Show website, www.flyfishingshow.com when it becomes available. Please use only the phone numbers and website links the Show provides. Please be advised other “hotel booking scalpers” are misrepresenting themselves calling customers. Please do not book through these scalpers to avoid problems or overpayment.

Driving directions:

Follow Peña Boulevard to Exit 5 for Tower Road. Turn left onto Tower Road. Turn left onto East 65th Avenue. Turn left on North Gaylord Rockies Boulevard.TOLL ROAD: Follow Peña Boulevard to exit 6A toward I70 South toward Colorado Springs. Keep left at the fork to continue onto E470 South. Take Exit 25 for 64th Avenue. Turn right onto 64th Avenue. Turn right on North Gaylord Rockies Boulevard.

 

Celebrities and Authors

Celebrities & Authors:

Cheryl Bastian:  Cheryl Bastian is the proprietor and principal owner of Swains Cay Lodge, Mangrove Cay, Andros, a small nine (9) unit, eco-tourist fishing lodge opened in February 2009. The opening of the lodge is a dream come true for Cheryl Bastian and she is determined that the Bahamian owned lodge will be successful and known to the avid anglers around the world.
Prior to the opening of the lodge, Cheryl had an exciting career in the financial industry in The Bahamas. She is an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers, London and Trust & Estate Planner (TEP). Her thirty (30) plus years of working in the Bahamas Financial Services industry has afforded her a tremendous level of experience in financial management, international and private banking.
Cheryl was invited by SG Hambros Bank & Trust (Bahamas) Limited to join their team in 1992 and worked in various senior positions in the firm for Seventeen (17)  years ending her financial career at  the company as Deputy Head of Trust SG Hambros Bank & Trust, Bahamas Limited last October.
Cheryl’s driving efforts to be the best she could be in her new career in hotel management and the fishing industry has gained her the position of President of the Bahamas Out Island Promotion Board (BOIPB). A position which is exposing her to the world of hospitality management, marketing, strategic contacts and other skills for the advancement of fishing and tourism in The Bahamas.
She is keenly interested in not only supporting the efforts of the Board in its goals but also in bettering the performance of all member hotels of the Bahamas Out Island Promotion Board in the Family Islands of The Bahamas.
Cheryl has two adult sons, Patrick Gardiner and Thorne Bastian. While both sons are furthering their own careers in Nassau, they support her in the business.

Ron Belak:  Ron Belak is an award-winning writer and photographer from Evergreen, Colorado. He has fished the Colorado backcountry as an adult for over 40 years. In that time, he has fished about 600 different high lakes and small reservoirs in Colorado, as well as others in Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon, Alaska, British Columbia, Alberta and Argentina. Educated as a scientist with degrees in geology and significant coursework in the biological sciences, he approaches fly fishing from an analytical perspective, trying to describe what techniques, strategies, equipment and patterns work and what is the scientific basis for why they work. Ron Belak has published about 90 articles in Colorado Outdoors magazine and published the book entitled “Fly Fishing Colorado’s Backcountry” in December 2018. This book contains strategies and techniques for fishing high lakes and small streams. In 2021, he published the book, “The Fishing Guide to 800 High Lakes in Colorado,” which includes directions to trailheads, detailed descriptions of trails, topographical maps, and trout species and sizes. Both books are available at The Angling Bookstore at the Fly Fishing Show or through a link on Ron’s website https://www.ronbelak.com.

Dave Blackburn:  Dave Blackburn grew up in western PA where his home river was the Raystown Branch of the Juniata. He was introduced to fly-tying at age 9 by a sixth grade teacher. He was schooled by both Messiah College, along the Yellow Breeches Creek, and the Letort Run. He transferred to West Virginia University where he received his BS in Forest Resource Management while working seasonally for the USFS in the Cloud Peak Primitive Area of Wyoming as a wilderness guard. He took piano lessons as a child and later applied his ear for music to bluegrass banjo when he got his first banjo at age 17. His banjo mentors include Earl Scruggs, J.D. Crowe, Pete Wernick and Bela Fleck. He achieved early notoriety in his banjo playing by earning several ribbons at banjo contests in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. His longtime WVU roommate inspired him to add singing to his repertoire, where they formed the group the Skeenes Brothers, later becoming part of the Trapper Canyon Stringbusters based in Greybull, Wyoming. He settled on the banks of the Kootenai River in NW Montana where he pioneered the area’s first fly fishing guide service iLandon n 1982. Kootenai Angler now includes 5 river-front log cabin rentals along with a fly shop, the River Bend restaurant and a large outdoor music venue where the Kootenai River “Runs Through It”. Dave travels throughout the country as a speaker where he entertains with his unique combination of fly-fishing and bluegrass music. His current band, the Sheldon Mountain Boys, recently released their first album entitled “Thirty Years on the Mountain”.

Gary Borger:  Gary Borger is one of the world’s foremost fly fishing educators. He has taught classes and lectured internationally on all aspects of fly-fishing for trout and salmon since 1972. He is recognized as one of the world’s leaders in fly designing. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and is Professor Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin Campus in Wausau. He has published widely in sporting magazines around the world and has written six best-selling books on fly fishing. Gary pioneered fly fishing video instruction with his release of “Nymphing” in 1982. Since then he has produced 27 instructional videos and has been featured in various television programs, including his own production “The Tzar’s Trout.” Gary was a consultant on Robert Redford’s movie “A River Runs Through It.” With his award-winning CD/cassette tape, “My Madison,” he pioneered fly fishing, nature-music audios. In addition, Gary has been design consultant to a number of manufacturers in the fly fishing industry. He is a member of the Board of Governors of the Federation of Fly Fisher’s fly casting instructor certification program, a member of many conservation organizations, and was a founding board member of the River Alliance of Wisconsin. He has received many awards for conservation, including the first Lew Jewett Memorial Life Membership in the Federation of Fly Fishers in 1979. Gary currently writes, lectures, produces videos, and teaches schools on all aspects of fly fishing and fly tying.

Conway Bowman:  Conway X Bowman is a USCG-licensed captain who pioneered fly fishing for Mako sharks over 27 years ago. He has fly fished and guided around the globe from the jungles of Thailand to the remote lakes and rivers of Alaska.
Conway is regarded as one of the top fly fishing guides and anglers in the world. His pioneering of not only Mako sharks on the fly, but also west coast saltwater fly fishing has been featured in many books, and he is the author of “The Orvis Guide to Saltwater Fly fishing: 101 tips for the Absolute Beginner“.
Conway resides in the coastal town of Encinitas, CA, with his marine biologist wife, Michelle, and their boys Max and Jackson.

Mac Brown:  Mac Brown is the owner of Mac Brown Fly Fish and Fly Fishing Guide School in Western NC. Mac created the first full-time fly fishing guide service in Western North Carolina. The first Delayed Harvest on the Upper Nantahala River in early 1993 was also a result of his efforts. Check out the testimonials from others over the past three decades. He is the author of “Casting Angles” which is a fly casting handbook for those on the journey of understanding the mechanics of the cast. The ACA, FFI, and others have endorsed this text as a reference for instructors as well. Mac is a Master Casting Instructor through the Fly Fishers International.
Mac was inducted into the Southern Appalachia Fly Fishing Museum Hall of Fame under recreation on August 26, 2017.
Mac was “Angler of the Year” in Field and Stream in 1999. His articles have appeared in Fly Rod and Reel, Fly Fisherman, Angling Report, ESPN TV, Outdoor Life, Field and Stream, Fly Fishing America T.V., Fly Fishing the World, and many others.
Pro Staff Development of Fly Fishing Products
Mac is a pro staff member of Ross Reels, Simms, Maxima, and many other great companies since early 1990. He is an ambassador for the brands Patagonia, GLoomis rods, Regal Vise, Richardson Chest Boxes, and Scientific Anglers fishing lines. His most significant contributions have been the push to longer and lighter fly rods and fly line designs.

Frank Burr:  Frank learned Tenkara fishing in Japan in 1970 at the age of 6, followed by Fly Fishing and Fly tying the following year. A native of Southern California, Frank fly fishes throughout the United States, always looking for the elusive Heritage Trout. Although Trout is his favorite species, Frank will fly fish for any species just to get in a day of fishing, like Tilapia, Peacock Bass and native Goby in Hawaii. Frank has worked in the fly fishing industry for the past 11 years for Orvis and now for Snowbee USA, assisting in the design of Ultralight Fly Rods and other products in the Snowbee line. Frank is also a Traditional Fly Fishing and Tenkara instructor and Guide specializing in Golden Trout and other Heritage Trout species in California. Frank speaks and instructs at the Fly Fishing Show and other related events, clubs and shows in the USA on a variety of fly fishing related subjects and volunteers as many days as possible each year teaching youth fly fishing programs. He has been the Trout in the Classroom coordinator for the Pasadena Casting Club and currently the TIC Director for the Southwest Council of Fly Fishers International. You can find more information about Frank at: goldentroutdude.com, oasisflyshop.com and tenkaraguidecalifornia.com

Tim Cammisa:  Tim Cammisa has been addicted to fly fishing and tying for about as long as anyone can remember. From guiding on the Delaware River to fooling technical fish on the Missouri River, Tim has spent years chasing fish all around the world! He is one of the new generations of fly fishers who have taken to social media to promote and teach the sport,
starring in over 300 YouTube videos with 4 million video views. Tim’s goal is simple: Help others tie better flies and catch more fish. This includes giving presentations to clubs around the country, headlining fly fishing events, and teaching through his website: http://www.troutandfeather.com/ In 2021, Tim’s first fly tying book was released, Fly Tying for Everyone, another avenue to help others improve at the sport we all love.
The teaching comes naturally, as Tim is a 6th grade elementary school teacher. His family got hooked on fly fishing, too. Heather, his wife, loves to chase wild brown trout, plus their children join in on the fun. You will find Tim and his family exploring waters in central Pennsylvania when he’s not busy creating patterns behind the vise. Follow Tim Cammisa on all of the social media platforms, and improve your fly fishing through the tips at: www.troutandfeather.com

Charlie Craven:  After mysteriously losing all of his dad’s lures in a single day, Charlie was fortunately gifted a fly tying kit by his parents for his eighth birthday. He’s tied flies pretty much every day for the forty years since then and has figured out a few things along the way. At this point it’s become well known that he’s opinionated, outspoken and sometimes brash when it comes to flies and techniques, however it’s also obvious that his passion lies in sharing the skills he’s developed.
Over the years, Charlie has been a prolific commercial fly tyer and, for a time, a pretty mediocre fishing guide. This was due to his insistence on liverwurst and onion lunch sandwiches instead of grilled prawns like all the other sissy guides. He’s also been an Umpqua Feather Merchants Signature Tyer for over 18 years, with several fly box mainstays like the Jujubaetis, Two Bit Hooker and Baby Gonga among his over two dozen commercially available patterns. All of Charlie’s experience finally culminated in 2004 with the opening of his own fly shop, Charlie’s Fly Box, in Arvada, Colorado, where he is the head book keeper, order taker and fry cook.
He’s written three books, Charlie Craven’s Basic Fly Tying, Charlie’s Fly Box and Tying Nymphs with plans for several more when he finally gets around to them… After beating Ross Purnell in a prolonged and brutal arm wrestling match, he became the Fly Tyer’s Bench columnist for Flyfisherman Magazine and still maintains this title to this day. He was recently named to that magazine’s 50 Most Influential People in Flyfishing, and it is thought that his number 45 ranking was specifically chosen to keep his head from growing any larger. Thus far, their ploy hasn’t worked.
Charlie lives in the hills of Palmer Lake, Colorado with his lucky, patient and loving wife, Lisa, their two gigantic dogs and somewhere between three and six young adult children. He still likes quiet time, the Parachute Adams, Colorado whiskey and dry-dropper fishing from a boat.
“It’s not simply enough that a fly catches fish, it has to do all that’s asked of it, well….and style matters”- Charlie Craven

Jeff Currier: Jeff Currier resides in Hayward, WI with his wife Yvonne where he bases his globe-trotting career in fly fishing. He is on the professional advisory team for Winston Rods, Simms, Scientific Anglers, Yeti, Costa Sunglasses, Outcast Sporting Gear, Aire, Kate’s Bar, Fly Fishers International and Bauer Fly Reels and a travel ambassador for Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures. Jeff is a fly fishing lecturer and well known fish artist. He has taught the skills of fly fishing, guided fly fishers throughout Wyoming and Yellowstone National Park and escorted fly fishers on six continents. Jeff has fished in over 60 countries and caught over 450 species of fish on the fly!

Jeff’s articles, photographs and artwork have graced the pages of magazines, catalogs, brochures and books. He is the acclaimed author of Currier’s Quick and Easy Guide to Saltwater Fly Fishing and Currier’s Quick and Easy Guide to Warmwater Fly Fishing guide books. Jeff is also a well sought after expert for television, radio and numerous fly fishing films.

Jeff led Team USA to its first ever top-ten finish in the World Flyfishing Championships in Jaca, Spain. During the competition Jeff managed to fool fish on every venue and placed third in the individual standings, becoming the first American ever to take home a medal in the thirty year history of the Championships. Jeff has added four more medals in World competition including a Team Gold from Italy in 2022.

Jeff lectures throughout the United States and Canada on nearly every aspect of fly fishing. He demonstrates fly casting, teaches seminars on the basics to the advanced skills of fly fishing and presents many fly fishing destination programs ranging from his home waters to the most remote corners of the globe. Some of his shows take you to destinations you’ve never heard of and will leave you in awe that such creatures can be enticed to eat a fly!  Jeff brings a sense of humor, enthusiasm, approachability and more than forty years of fly fishing wherever he goes.  You can follow Jeff’s fly fishing adventures, exploits, tips, advice, photography and story-telling on his expanding blog and informative web site. www.Jeffcurrier.com

Pat Dorsey:  A native of Colorado, Pat Dorsey has been guiding for over 25 years. Pat Dorsey spends approximately two hundred days a year on the water, guiding clients of all abilities. Pat Dorsey is the head guide and co-owner of the Blue Quill Angler fly shop in Evergreen, Colorado. He oversees and trains more than 25 guides, setting the standard for integrity and professionalism in the Blue Quill Angler guide operation. Dorsey also, maintains an online stream report that monitors stream flows and conditions for the Blue, Colorado, South Platte (Cheesman, Deckers, Spinney Mountain Ranch, and Elevenmile Canyon), North Fork of the South Platte, and Williams Fork rivers. Pat Dorsey is a Simms Ambassador, a member of the Sage Fly Rods Advisory Team, Orvis Pro Team Member, Yeti Pro staff, and Scientific Anglers pro staff. Pat Dorsey is the Southwest Field Editor for Fly Fisherman Magazine. In 2005, Pat authored the book, A Fly Fishing Guide to the South Platte River, a complete how-to fly fishing manual for the entire South Platte River drainage. It encompasses a thorough look at each section of the river detailing the hatches and recommended fly patterns for each of the four seasons of the year. In 2009 Pat Dorsey authored Fly Fishing Tailwaters, a comprehensive book on how to fish tailwater fisheries. In 2010 a companion book to Fly Fishing Tailwaters hit the shelves, Tying and Fishing Tailwater Flies, which is jam-packed with how to tie Pat Dorsey’s favorite “guide flies”. This book includes 500 step-by-step tutorials, as well as, helpful tips and illustrations on how to rig and fish them. His latest book is Colorado Guide Flies, which was released in 2015. It features tips from the state’s best guides and includes approximately 600 proven guide flies with recipes. Pat Dorsey is an accomplished fly tier and has originated a number of very effective patterns such as the Mercury series, UV scud, Limeade, Cherry-Limeade, Paper Tiger, Top Secret Midge, Medallion Midge and the famed Black Beauty. Although Pat Dorsey no longer has the time to tie flies commercially, he once produced over 28,000 flies in a year. He is a fly designer for Umpqua Feather Merchants. His signature flies are available at the Blue Quill Angler and other specialty fly shop throughout the United States. Pat Dorsey is also a Pro Team Member for Whiting Farms. Many of his flies incorporate Whiting Farm products. Pat Dorsey is a nationally known speaker. He travels the United States sharing his passion for fly fishing at trade shows and private fishing clubs. He is a Celebrity Speaker for the International Sportsmen’s Exposition in Denver and is very active in Trout Unlimited and the conservation of cold-water fisheries. Pat Dorsey is the proud father of three wonderful boys, Forrest, Zach, and Hunter. He also has two step children, Nicole and Michael Richardson. They, like their dad, enjoy fly fishing. His wife, Kim, is an avid angler and often appears with Pat at trade shows and other speaking engagements. Kim and Pat Dorsey, also, host a yearly trip to Alaska Sportman’s Lodge each September with a group of his clients.

Taylor Edrington:  Taylor Edrington was raised in the fly fishing industry, and studied on the river under the tutelage of such greats as Gary Lafontaine, Mel Krieger, Chuck Fothergill, Larry Kingrey and his father Bill Edrington. Suma Cum Laude graduate of the Leads School of Business at the University of Colorado, Taylor now owns and operates Royal Gorge Anglers on the Arkansas River. Royal Gorge Anglers will be celebrating this year its 25th year of operation as a flagship flyshop of the Rocky Mountain Region and the largest flyshop, lodge and guide service combo in the Southern Rockies. The guide service at Royal Gorge Anglers has been deemed one of the finest fly fishing guide services in the country, and received the Orvis Company Endorsement as one of the premier outfitters in the Southern Rockies. Royal Gorge Anglers boasts a 3000 sq. ft. retail space with such fine outdoor brands as Orvis, Patagonia, Simms, Sage, Scott and many other fly fishing specialty brands. Prior to his ownership of RGA, Taylor grew up guiding and instructing on the Arkansas River and various other Rocky Mountain watersheds. For just shy of a decade, Taylor guided in both Central and Southwestern Alaska, and is a US Coast Guard Certified Saltwater Captain. Taylor also worked as the general manager of a flagship lodge in the Iliamna region of Alaska for 3 seasons. Along with his fly-fishing pursuits in the US, Taylor has hosted fly-fishing adventure travel for clients on 4 continents through his global adventure travel business, Cross Current Travel Group and holds three fly rod world records. Beyond the details, Taylor is an extreme advocate for fishery conservation and simply strives to build awareness about the sport of fly-fishing for all ages.

Ed Engle:  Ed Engle’s fly fishing articles have appeared regularly in newspapers and magazines for more than 30 years. In the 1970’s his articles on short line nymphing techniques were among the first to appear in national fly fishing magazines. Since that time he has taught thousands of fly fishers the subtle art of nymphing through his books and articles, on-the-water seminars, and at his popular nymphing class sponsored by the Fly Fishing Show. Ed’s newest book, Trout Lessons (2010), considers what to do when your usual fly fishing solutions don’t work. His interest in tying and fishing small flies led to the publication of Tying Small Flies (2004) and Fishing Small Flies (2005). The two-volume set is credited with helping create the current surge of interest in pursuing trout with small flies. Ed’s dedication to fishing bamboo fly rods resulted in the publication of Splitting Cane (2002) which chronicled the life and craftsmanship of sixteen working rod makers. His first book, Fly Fishing the Tailwaters (1991), was a groundbreaking explanation of how to fish the regulated rivers found below dams. Ed is a regular contributor to American Angler, The Boulder Daily Camera and Gray’s Journal. In addition, he has written for Fly Fisherman, Fly Rod & Reel, Flyfishing & Tying Journal, Trout, Fly Tyer, Sports Afield, and Saltwater Fly Fishing. Ed’s current projects include work on a new book, coming up with new small fly patterns (he’s a Signature Fly Tier for Idylwilde Flies) guiding on Colorado’s South Platte River, and teaching at fly fishing seminars throughout he country. For more information or to contact Ed go to www.EdEngleflyfishing.com

Tim Flagler: Tim Flagler is the owner of Tightline Productions, L.L.C., a video production company located in Califon, NJ. Although he produces video programs over a wide range of topics, his specialty is fly fishing. Tim is a well-known fly tying instructor. His YouTube videos are some of the best in the business and his YouTube channel, practicalpatterns.com currently has over 106,000 subscribers and 33 million views. Almost every week he produces a new fly tying or “how to” video which appear not only on his YouTube channel but on Midcurrent and the Orvis News fly fishing blog as well. They’re also featured on Trout Unlimited’s national website and in the Orvis Learning Center. In addition, he has a regular column “Beginner’s Masterclass with Tim Flagler” in Fly Tyer magazine, which selected Tim as their “Fly Tyer of the Year” in their Winter 2022 issue. Many of Tim’s tying videos take the viewer well beyond just the tying of the fly and show what it looks like underwater, what natural it represents and how it can be fished.

Tim’s a fixture at the Fly Fishing Shows – giving presentations, teaching classes and often as a Featured Tier. He enjoys guiding year round for Shannon’s Fly & Tackle in Califon, NJ. and hosts annual trips to Patagonia in the spring and to the Kootenai River in MT in the summer. He’ll be hosting trips to Iceland starting in the fall of 2023.

Rob Giannino:  Rob Giannino is the Founder of Fly Fishing Journeys, a fly fishing media company focusing on Podcasting, YouTube Vlogging and Social Networking.  He is also an outdoor speaker, writer, photographer, videographer and aerial drone operator. Rob lives in Greater Boston and one of his passions is connecting with the local fly fishing community, sharing experiences and planning for more. He serves as a guest speaker at fly fishing shows, Trout Unlimited chapters and other outdoor events. He’s also part of a partnership group that owns a private fishing club in northern Quebec called Camp Du Lac Bohier. Accessible only via float plane, the camp has three log cabins, a dining lodge and sits 70 miles northeast of Natashquan, Canada. Rob owns a Digital Media Agency helping businesses around the world promote their services online. He combined his joy for helping businesses in the digital space with his passion for fly fishing and created FlyFishingJourneys.com. Bringing fly fisherman together and sharing the love for the sport, both on the water and online fulfills a lifelong dream.

John Gierach: John Gierach is an American author and freelance writer who formerly resided on the St. Vrain River in Lyons, Colorado and now lives in Larimer County, Colorado. His books’ themes are based on his various fly fishing adventures, some of which take place with his friend, A.K. Best. A few of his works include The View from Rat Lake, Even Brook Trout Get the Blues, and the cult classic–Trout Bum. His work has appeared in Gray’s Sporting Journal, Field & Stream where he is a contributing author, and Fly, Rod, and Reel where he is an editor at large. He also writes columns for the Longmont Daily Times-Call out of Longmont, Colorado and the monthly Redstone Review and a monthly column for the The New York Times. This is a rare chance to meet one of the most well known fly fishing authors in person!

Whitney Gould: Whitney currently guides for Head Hunters Fly Shop on the Missouri River in Montana. She is an angler, full-time fishing guide, casting instructor and part-time painter. She has a degree in Painting from Temple School of Fine Arts and a masters degree in Landscape Architecture from Rhode Island School of Design. Fishing allows Whitney to merge her creativity with her love for fishing and the outdoors. Whitney is a seven-time Spey-O-Rama World Casting Champ and is an FFI Certified Two-Hand Fly Casting Instructor. She is currently training and planning, if the planets align, to compete in the World Championships in Fly Casting in 2022. Whitney is the owner of Gould Standard Fly Casting.

Jason Haddix:  Jason resides in Berthoud, Colorado where he enjoys fishing and tying for the many different species the area has to offer. He has been fly fishing/tying for over 30 years. Since his beginnings in the sport he has become a demonstration tier, full time commercial tier, speaker, fly designer, writer, instructor & guide.
Along this journey Jason has formed several rewarding partnerships with great companies in the fly fishing industry. Everything from Daiichi hooks to Regal vises to Cortland lines and many more.
Throughout the year he guides for several different services and ties flies to fill commercial/custom orders. When not on the water or at the vise he also dedicates part of his schedule to work with groups such as TU, Platte Rivers Veterans, Project Healing Waters and many others to help teach tying and fishing techniques.
You can catch up with him at the fly fishing shows, tying events or shop demos and classes he offers as well as on social media at Jason Haddix Fly Fishing.

Jeffrey Hatton: It has been a long strange float for me and it has always had a thread related to fly fishing. In junior high school I started selling fly’s to my football coach. After a stint as an Ironworker right out of high school building up Denver, the rivers called me back and I started tying flies for A.K. Best in the early 1980’s. By the late 1980’s I had moved to the western slope of Colorado and found my home waters of the Gunnison drainages. I have worked as a guide in the Black canyon of the Gunnison and through the 1990’s I also spent a time working in a couple of fly shops and there was a 4 year stint as the Harvest foreman and production manager of Whiting Farms, this was followed by a 3 year period at SCOTT rods as their corksmith. In 2000 I formed my own company titled Gnomish Rod Works to produce Art level bamboo rods on a one of a kind basis. In 2005 My first book was published by Amato Publications and is titled Rod Crafting; a Full color pictorial history of rod making . I have also put together one of the finest collections of antique rods covering 200 years of history in the country and I take great joy in sharing it with my fellow anglers. I was awarded the Rod Maker of the Year award in 2005 at the Southern Rod Makers gathering.

Michael Mauri:  One of the world’s outstanding fly casters, Michael was born and raised in Germany. He caught his first fish at age six in a small stream in Bavaria and, six years later, began concentrating on every facet of the sport of fly fishing. That included education as a technical engineer of aquaculture.
Since 1998, Michael has participated in international shows and conducted single- and double-hand casting workshops around the globe. As a professional fly-fisher, he has guided throughout Europe and the United States. Welcoming new challenges, he continuously hones his skills while – at the same time – coming up with new designs for his own products just as he has long done for equipment offered by leading firms in the fly-fishing industry.
Michael is an innovator in all aspects of fly fishing and he created his own unique casting method, the Effective Fly Casting Technique or EFCT. The secret of EFCT fly-casting is natural movement, which makes it easy to learn – whether a beginner, novice, or seasoned casting veteran. Don’t miss an opportunity at shows or otherwise to join one of the most respected instructors in fly fishing and casting including all aspects of single-handed and double-handed spey casting and overhead casting.
Michael offers, year around, guided trips and fly-casting lessons in Stuart, Florida where he and his wife Emily live with their daughter Emma.

Landon Mayer:  Landon Mayer is owner an operator of Landon Mayer Fly Fishing. His angling success is fueled by an addiction to pursuing large trout with small flies and lightweight fly-fishing equipment. Mayer enthusiastically teaches and demonstrates his techniques and on-river knowledge to fellow anglers and has developed innovative strategies for sighting, hooking, and landing selective trout. He shares these tips and secrets in his books The Hunt for Giant Trout: 25 Top Locations in the US to Catch a Trophy (new for 2019), Trout Tips: A Guide’s Secrets, Tactics and Techniques, Colorado’s Best Fly Fishing, Sight Fishing for Trout, and How to Catch the Biggest Trout of Your Life, in addition to his new film with Headwater Media: Mastering the Short Game.
Landon’s passion for fly-fishing has allowed him to make several noteworthy contributions to the sport on and off the water. This has included travels to fly-fishing related organizations of the Mid-Atlantic, West, Pacific Northwest, Southwest, and Southern states, as well Landon will be sharing his teaching through fly-fishing classes, presentations, and demonstrations of his unique techniques at this year’s Marlborough, Denver, California, New Jersey, and Atlanta Fly Fishing Shows
Mayer has been guiding in Colorado full time on the South Platte River for the last 23 years, and one full season on the Nak Nek River in AK. He resides in Florissant, Colorado.

Jess McGlothlin:  For more than fifteen years, photographer and writer Jess McGlothlin has traveled the world with a camera, pen, and a fly rod, helping manage fly lodges, pioneering new fisheries, and documenting it all with both images and words. Her work has taken her around the globe, leading her to chase fish on six continents, and while on assignment in the past years she’s learned how to throw spears at coconuts in French Polynesia, dodge saltwater crocodiles in Cuba, stand-up paddleboard down Peruvian Amazon tributaries, and eat all manner of unidentifiable food. She still enjoys airports.

As an angler, she’s won fly-fishing tournaments throughout the U.S., and managed guide teams on three continents. But she’s happiest in far-off corners of the world with both a camera and a fly rod close by, and she’s formed a career around exploring unique fisheries and making images in the truly wild places of the world. She enjoys teaching photography—especially with an emphasis on fly-fishing and travel photography—and has worked in challenging environments from the Wadi Rum to the Arctic, photographing fly-fishing, tactical work, and adventure travel.

Jess is available for contract, editorial, and assignment work, and is currently based in Missoula, Montana, USA. She’s an FAA certified sUAS pilot, and enjoys shooting underwater imagery. See more of her work at www.JessMcGlothlinMedia.com.

Karin Miller:  Karin Miller is Owner and Founder of Zen Tenkara/Zen Fly Fishing Gear, the only 100% Women-Owned rod company in the world. Since 2012, Zen has been a leader in tenkara product design and manufacturing and the company has a reputation of being innovative, cutting edge and for pushing the boundaries of the tenkara method with high performance rods.
Karin fishes around the globe and travels extensively to test rods, target different species, and do presentation. Karin uses both tenkara and rod/reel setups in both fresh and saltwater. While she is passionate about big rainbows, permit and GT’s, currently her favorite fish are golden dorado.

Alice Owsley: Alice was born in Ohio and introduced to fly fishing at a young age on the spring creeks of Northeast Ohio. She moved out west after graduating from college to pursue a career in the fly fishing industry. She currently operates Riverside Anglers guide service out of West Yellowstone, Montana. Alice has been guiding for 15 years on the Madison, Henry’s Fork and waters of Yellowstone National Park, teaching clients of all skill levels her trout catching ways. Alice also spent a season on the famed Naknek River of SE Alaska chasing King Salmon and large Rainbow trout. In 1999, she completed Joan Wulff’s Fly Casting Instructor Course. She is a Simms Guide Ambassador and a member of the ClackaCraft pro staff who has been a licensed outfitter in Montana since 2004.

Jason Randall:  Jason’s credits much of his passion for fishing to his father. “Some of my earliest and happiest memories involve fishing,” he recalls. “I remember many trips to Canada or Minnesota for pike and small mouth.” As a young man, he learned fly fishing from other mentors.
The blessings we receive are meant to be passed on to others, so to share his passion and knowledge, in 2002, Jason began a career as an outdoor writer with feature articles appearing regularly in American Angler, as well as Fly Fisherman, Fly Tyer, Eastern Fly Fishing, Northwest Fly Fishing and many other outdoor magazines. His first book, ‘Moving Water: A Fly Fisher’s Guide to Currents’ was released in 2012 by Stackpole/Headwater books. It studies the effect of current on trout, their prey species and our angling presentation. His second book ‘Feeding Time: A Fly Fisher’s Guide to What, Where and When Trout Eat’, was released in August of 2013. It focuses on matching your fishing strategies to the trout’s feeding strategies, especially when targeting large trout. In 2014, the third book in the ‘Fly Fisher’s Guide’ trilogy was released- ‘Trout Sense; A Fly Fisher’s Guide to What Trout See, Hear and Smell’, which offers anglers an opportunity to know more about the quarry they seek. In April 2017, Jason’s forth book was released from Stackpole/ Headwaters Books. Titled ‘Nymph Masters; Fly Fishing Secrets from Expert Anglers’, this book explores the depths of nymph fishing and advanced nymph fishing techniques.  In 2017, Jason joined Luminaries Bob Clouser, Ed Jaworowski, the late Lefty Kreh and many others on the TFO National Advisory Team and was the lead advisor for designing the TFO Drift rod and the family of TFO Stealth nymphing rods. Jason appears and presents at shows, clubs and events throughout North America.

Karlie Roland:  Karlie Roland works as a sales rep for Umpqua Feather Merchants, one of the largest suppliers of flies and other tackle items to fly shops around the country. Prior to this recent change of career, she worked as a guide for Trouthunter, a fly shop/lodge located on the Henry’s Fork River in Last Chance, Idaho.

Philip Rowley:  Phil has been fly fishing for over 30 years. His love of fly fishing has taken him across North America pursuing trout, Atlantic and Pacific salmon, char, pike, walleye and numerous other species on the fly. But Phil is best known for his stillwater exploits. A former commercial fly tyer, Phil has written for almost every major fly fishing publication in North America. He has authored three books and numerous feature articles and two regular columns. Phil’s first book Fly Patterns for Stillwaters is a best seller. In addition to his writing, Phil has four instructional DVD’s. In 2007, Phil was a member of the gold medal winning team at the Canadian Fly Fishing championships. When he isn’t on the water Phil travels North America performing at outdoor shows, providing seminars, speaking to fly clubs and conducting fly-fishing schools. Phil also provides instructional stillwater guiding on the lakes located a short distance from his Edmonton area home. Phil has appeared on a number of T.V. shows including, BC Outdoors Sports Fishing, Sport Fishing B.C., Fishing Alberta and Fishing with Shelly and Courtney. Phil is presently one of the co-hosts of the New Fly Fisher, an educational fly fishing production. Make a point of visiting Phil on-line at, www.flycraftangling.com.

Christopher Rownes: Originally from England Christopher Rownes now lives in Switzerland where he works for Guideline Flyfishing and runs his own fly-fishing school.
Christopher has over 45 years of experience in Flyfishing and is a specialist in Spey casting techniques with the single-handed Rod.
He was privileged to study Fly casting under the guidance of the legendary Mel Krieger. It was a Mel who introduced him to Fly casting instruction. Mel and Christopher gave countless workshops together all over Europe.
Christopher has demonstrated at many of the major Flyfishing shows , and has taught worldwide to instructor level and has spent years studying the art science and techniques of fly casting and has acquired a reputation, not only as an outstanding Fly caster, but also one with a rare ability to teach others in a relaxing humorous way.
In 2008, he became a certified Master fly casting instructor of the FFI and in 2019 recipient of the Mel Krieger of Fly-casting award in recognition of significant contributions to the FFI Certified Casting Instructor Program, and dedication to fly casting instruction worldwide.

Kara Schuett:  Kara grew up in the mountains of Idaho where she learned to hunt, fish, and enjoy the outdoors. After moving to Dillon, Montana in 2012, she pursued her love of fishing and became a guide. Now she gets to share her passion of the outdoors and fishing with beginning and seasoned anglers alike. 
Kara started a successful women’s and girl’s fly fishing clothing line, Yellow Sally, and she and her husband own a hunting business, Montana Bucks and Ducks. When Kara isn’t guiding or running her businesses, she spends her time on the family farm and ranch with her husband and 4 year old son.

Rick Takahashi:  Rick Takahashi: Rick Takahashi has been tying flies for over sixty-eight years; he is a retired Art Educator and Special Needs Educator and a art department chairperson. He earned a Master’s Degree in special education, ran a home for special needs high school students, a ski instructor for Denver Children’s Hospital Disabled Ski Program and a camp director for the Boy Scout disabled summer scouting program. He is a volunteer for the Platte River and Denver Healing water Veteran fishing Program. He is an author, illustrator, and presenter on fly-fishing programs based on his books “Modern Midges and Modern Terrestrials”. He’s newest book “The Fly Tying Art’ Creative Patterns for Common Hatches” based on the patterns he has designed and flies he likes to tie. Rick was an illustrator, writer and many of his flies, illustrations and articles were featured by Fly Fisherman Magazine. He is a Umpqua Feather Merchants Signature Fly Designer, on the pro staff of Whiting Farms, Daiichi, Semperfli, Flymen, Orvis, Canadian Llama, Solarez , San Juan River flies and Finest Fly Benches Pro Staff member.
Rick has appeared in Randall Kaufmann’s book “Fly Patterns”, Todd Hosman’s book “Colorado Flies”, “Hatch is On” by Chris Santella, “Fly Fishing Rocky Mountain National Park” by Steve Schweitzer, “Colorado’s Best Fly fishing” by Landon Mayer, “Flies of the Greater Yellowstone” by Bruce Staple, and “Colorado Guide Flies” by Pat Dorsey. He has illustrated and written articles for Fly Fisherman Magazine. He has participated in several podkasts from Ask About Fly Fishing and the Denver Outfitters. Rick has been a featured fly tier at the Denver Fly Fishing Show, International Sportsmen Exhibition, West Denver TU Tying Clinic, Fly Fishing Rendezvous, Western Colorado Sportsmen and Outdoor EXPO and has presented his fly tying techniques and Fly fishing Techniques in Wisconsin, Texas, New Mexico as well at many of the fly shops in the region. Ricks other interests when not tying flies or trying to catch fish, is creating art, cooking and enjoying his friends. He lives with his wife Susan, and daughter Haley who is a student at CU Boulder and his son Josh who is a Radiologist Tech in Arizona.
Rick enjoys bringing fly fishing and fly tying to others, he ties flies every day for the pure joy of creating, “I’m one of those guys who enjoys tying flies as much as fishing them”.

Luong Tam:  Luong Tam, trained as a design engineer by trade and the founder of Tenkara Tanuki, is a tenkara rod designer and builder. Luong has been passionate about fly fishing since the ’90s and is a member of many fly casting clubs in California. For the last few years, he became hooked on tenkara and obsessed enough to start his company Tenkara Tanuki. He attends tenkara schools every year taught by Masami Sakakibara, a Japanese tenkara master who is a living legend. Luong has developed casting techniques and fly fishing methods that take advantage of simpler and more efficient tenkara rods. Over the years, He has been giving presentations, workshops, and on-water clinics all over the state.

 

Authors:

Andrew Weiner:
DOWN BY THE RIVER

Ron Belak:
THE FISHING GUIDE TO 800 HIGH LAKES IN COLORADO (New Release)
FLY FISHING COLORADO’S BACKCOUNTRY

Gary Borger:
FLY GEAR
THE ANGLER AS PREDATOR
FISHING THE FILM
LONG FLIES
NATURALS
NYMPHING
READING WATERS

Conway Bowman:
THE ORVIS GUIDE TO BEGINNING SALTWATER FLY FISHING

Mac Brown:
Casting Angles

Tim Cammisa:
FLY TYING FOR EVERYONE

Charlie Craven:
CHARLIE CRAVEN’S BASIC FLY TYING
CHARLIE’S FLY BOX: SIGNATURE FLIES FOR FRESH AND SALT WATER
FLY FISHERMAN FOUNDATION FLY PATTERNS: 101-401
TYING NYMPHS: ESSENTIAL FLIES & TECHNIQUES FOR THE TOP PATTERNS
TYING STREAMERS: ESSENTIAL FLIES AND TECHNIQUES FOR THE TOP PATTERNS(new release)

Michelle Cummings:
THE REEL SISTERS

Jeff Currier:
CURRIER’S QUICK AND EASY GUIDE TO SALT WATER FLY FISHING
CURRIER’S QUICK AND EASY GUIDE TO WARMWATER FLY FISHING

Pat Dorsey:
FLY FISHING GUIDE TO THE SOUTH PLATTE RIVER
COLORADO GUIDE FLIES: PATTERNS, RIGS, AND ADVICE FROM THE STATE’S BEST ANGLERS AND GUIDES
FLY FISHING TAILWATERS: TACTICS AND PATTERNS FOR YEAR-ROUND WATERS
TYING & FISHING TAILWATER FLIES

Ed Engle:
FISHING AND TYING SMALL FLIES
FISHING SMALL FLIES
TYING SMALL FLIES
SPLITTING CANE: CONVERSATIONS WITH BAMBOO RODMAKERS
TROUT LESSONS: FREEWHEELING TACTICS AND ALTERNATIVE TECHNIQUES FOR THE DIFFICULT DAYS
FLY FISHING THE TAILWATERS

John Gierach:
ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD(New Release)
DUMB LUCK AND THE KINDNESS OF STRANGERS
GOOD FLIES: FAVORITE TROUT PATTERNS & HOW THEY GOT THAT WAY
A FLY ROD OF YOUR OWN
ALL FISHERMEN ARE LIARS
FISHING BAMBOO: AN ANGLER’S PASSION FOR THE TRADITIONAL FLY ROD
TROUT BUM
NO SHORTAGE OF GOOD DAYS
FOOL’S PARADISE
STILL LIFE WITH BROOK TROUT
AT THE GRAVE OF THE UNKNOWN FISHERMAN
FLYFISHING THE HIGH COUNTRY
DEATH, TAXES, & LEAKY WADERS
STANDING IN A RIVER WAVING A STICK
DANCES WITH TROUT
ANOTHER LOUSY DAY IN PARADISE
EVEN BROOK TROUT GET THE BLUES
WHERE THE TROUT ARE ALL AS LONG AS YOUR LEG
THE VIEW FROM RAT LAKE
FLYFISHING THE HIGH COUNTRY
SEX, DEATH AND FLY FISHING
FLY FISHING SMALL STREAMS

Jeff Hatton:
Rod Crafting: A Full-Color Pictorial & Written History from 1843-1960

Landon Mayer:
LANDON MAYER’S GUIDE FLIES (new release)
HUNT FOR GIANT TROUT
COLORADO’S BEST FLY FISHING: FLIES, ACCESS, AND GUIDES’ ADVICE FOR THE STATE’S PREMIER RIVERS
HOW TO CATCH THE BIGGEST TROUT OF YOUR LIFE
SIGHT FISHING FOR TROUT
101 TROUT TIPS: A GUIDE’S SECRETS, TACTICS, AND TECHNIQUES

Shyanne Orvis:
TO THE RIVER WE GO (new release)

Jason Randall:
NYMPH MASTERS: FLY FISHING SECRETS FROM EXPERT ANGLERS
FEEDING TIME: A FLY FISHER’S GUIDE TO WHAT, WHERE, AND WHEN TROUT EAT
MOVING WATER: A FLY FISHER’S GUIDE TO CURRENTS NYMPH MASTERS: FLY FISHING SECRETS FROM EXPERT ANGLERS
TROUT SENSE: A FLY FISHER’S GUIDE TO WHAT TROUT SEE, HEAR, & SMELL

Philip Rowley:
THE ORVIS GUIDE TO STILLWATER TROUT FISHING (New Release)
FLY PATTERNS FOR STILLWATERS: A STUDY OF TROUT, ENTOMOLOGY & TYING
STILLWATER SELECTIONS
STILLWATER SOLUTIONS
CONQUERING CHIRONOMIDS VOLUME 1
CONQUERING CHIRONOMIDS VOLUME II ADVANCED TACTICS

Steve Schweitzer:
A FLY FISHING GUIDE TO ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK
A FLY FISHING GUIDE TO COLORADO’S INDIAN PEAKS WILDERNESS AREA
DESIGNING POPPERS, SLIDERS AND DIVERS

Rick Takahashi:
THE FLY TYING ARTIST
MODERN TERRESTRIALS: TYING & FISHING THE WORLD’S MOST EFFECTIVE PATTERNS
MODERN MIDGES: TYING & FISHING THE WORLD’S MOST EFFECTIVE PATTERNS

Fly Tiers

Dave Allison: Originally from West Texas, I started fishing as soon as I could walk. Moving around from Tennessee, New Orleans, and then Miami for 30 years, I was able to fish many different types of waters. After retiring in 2010, from a long career in Veterinary surgery and neurology, I moved to Park City Utah, and my fly fishing obsession was under way, logging 160 days on the water that first year. I am currently the President of High Country Fly Fishers, TU chapter #599, I work with Project Healing Waters, Casting for Recovery as well as tying at several shows a year around the western U.S.

Jonathan Antunez: Jonathan has been a student of the art of fly tying and fly fishing since the age of 25. A fateful trip to the Shoshone River in Wyoming converted a bass fisherman into an absolute trout fanatic. His current focus is tying classic wet flies and fishing them with old world technique; namely, Fixed Line Fly Fishing.  Recently, his fly, ‘the Secret Sally’ was featured in Gordon Van Der Spuy’s newest book: “The Feather Mechanic II, Beyond the Pattern.” He will be demonstrating this fly and many others he finds particularly successful on Colorado waters such as: English North Country Spiders, Spanish Moscas Ahogadas (Drowned Flies), and Japanese Kebari.

Kisha Atkin: Kisha s earliest fishing memories involve catching rainbow trout with her family in Flagstaff, AZ when she was just a 9 year old girl. She spent many years working as a wildland fire fighter and dispatcher for the US Forest Service and always felt more at home in the outdoors. She s always been passionate about fishing, but didn’t discover fly fishing until later in life. She says fly fishing saved her life and sanity in incredible ways and completely set her world on fire. She dove right into fly tying at the same time and has developed an insatiable desire to learn and share all things fly fishing with those around her. She is happily married and has 2 young boys, 11 and 14, and their family of four travel extensively throughout the states chasing fish. She feels overwhelmed with gratitude for the unique gift it is to have her whole family live-and-die for fly fishing/ tying like she does. They currently live in Texas where they operate their small business to appropriately fund their fly fishing addiction. There they hunt big bass on the fly in between trips out West for some time on the river chasing monster trout. You can follow their adventures on Instagram at @mommaangler.

Nick Blanco: Nick Blanco aka WYCO grew up fishing the lakes and rivers throughout Northern Colorado and Southern Wyoming.  Nick is a Marine Corps veteran, history teacher, and taco connoisseur.  When he is not larping at his local park you can find him targeting carp.  Nick has been tying flies since 2012 and is a fly designer for Montana Fly Company.  

Tyler Boroff: Tyler is a full time fly designer, fly fisherman, father, and guide. He tied his first fly at the age of 3. From there on he realized fly fishing would change his life and become a huge priority for him. He decided to concentrate on fly tying and perfecting his craft. Tyler had the opportunity to travel to several different rivers, lakes, and streams all over the world allowing him to benefit from his fathers military career. By sharing his passion Tyler hopes to instill the genuine love for the water and the beautiful creatures that live within.

Michael Burgess: I was introduced to fly fishing and fly tying, about 15 years ago, by a very good friend. Over those 15 years I dabbled in tying flies, but it wasn’t until four years ago that I truly dedicated my time and effort into learning more about the craft and improving my fly tying skills. Since then, it’s developed into a passion and I love the creativity it allows me to express, especially when I’m working with new materials that offer novel and exciting possibilities.
I always look forward to working with and learning from the very skilled tyers that I’ve had the pleasure of meeting on my fly tying journey. In addition to learning from them, I always hope that I can pass on some insights and original ideas of my own. One of the aspects that I find most enjoyable about the art of fly tying is being able to teach the younger generation.
My main focus over the last couple of years has been on tying nymphs and midges. Most evenings you will find me at my fly tying bench, using my Renzetti Master Vise to craft flies, as I sip on a good glass of bourbon.
I’m honored to be able represent Semperfli, Renomed, and Gulff as a pro team member.

Jude Duran: A Native New Mexican, Jude Duran has been Fly Fishing the waters of Northern New Mexico since he was 16. Jude is a nationally-recognized fly designer, published author, and Fly Fishing speaker. He has done Fly Fishing presentations, and fly tying demonstrations all over the Western US. Jude has ten years of guiding experience on the World Famous San Juan River in Northwestern New Mexico. His approach to fly tying is meticulous. Jude specializes in tying small flies for tail waters.

Forrest Dorsey: Forrest was born and raised in Colorado where he spent endless hours fishing the South Platte River with his dad. He has been fortunate enough to take his fly fishing addiction to the next level by traveling to many bucket list locations, including Alaska and Patagonia.  Forrest is the proud owner of Tailwater Junkie and is an Umpqua Feather Merchants fly designer and Regal Pro Staff member.  He has recently relocated to Asheville, NC and looks forward to learning new waters in Western North Carolina and sharing his passion for fishing and photography with others.

Daryl Eakins: Daryl is an avid fly fisherman and fly designer with a focus on proportion and silhouette. For the most part he is often hanging with his family, stalking carp on a fly rod, or actively burning time behind the vise. Shortly after taking a fly tying class and learning the importance of proportion and silhouette, carp fly design was close on the horizon. With attention to detail throughout his designs, all choices are made with intent and purpose resulting in flies that are durable, versatile, and productive. In addition to his carp designs, (of which three are now Umpqua Signature Patterns) he also ties large bucktail streamers for peacocks, dorado, and musky. Daryl launched Nervous Water Flies in 2019 and offers his custom carp designs as well as bucktail streamers for warmwater species, trout, musky, dorado, and peacocks. You may have also heard his work on several IF4 selections as the Sound Designer and Mixer on Capture Media Adventures films, as well as the winning IF4 2019 film Midnight Mission.
Daryl is currently an Umpqua Signature Tyer, Vicuna Dubbing Pro Team member, and Anadromous Fly Fishing Ambassador. Stop on by and let’s talk fly tying!!
Daryl’s Umpqua Signature Patterns:
Hipster Dufus
Detroit Mop City
H.V.R.T. Carp Fly
Reservoir Dog (Streamer)
Colors: Mr. Green, Mr. Black, Mr. White, and Mr. Brown

Joel Evans: Living in Montrose, Colorado for over 40 years, Joel has plied waters large and small particularly around Colorado and neighboring western states. He combines fishing, guiding, writing, photography, and fly tying.  Joel has been at various times a pro team member for a number of fly fishing manufacturers and suppliers. He is a member of Gunnison Gorge Anglers TU/FFI and currently serves on the board of Colorado Trout Unlimited and Fly Fishers International / Eastern Rocky Mountain Council and is a member of the FFI fly tying group with a Bronze Award.  As a writer, he is a regular outdoor columnist with the Montrose Daily Press, having written articles since 1996 and is the fly tying columnist for the High Country Angler, contributing both articles and videos. He has had other articles and photographs published in newspapers, magazines and fishing guides. Joel has taught hundreds of kids and adults the art of fly tying.  Major stream improvements to the Uncompahgre River have been a passion project for Joel for decades. Notable past successes have included the catch and release quality water below Ridgway Dam and new access with in-stream structures within the city limits of Montrose. A current project involves a new business park with river frontage for which Joel is on the river design committee.  His reel is engraved “Thanks Dad” as tribute to father E.T. Evans, who took his son fishing at an early age. From small creeks and stockwater tanks in Ruidoso, New Mexico to the fast water of the Roaring Fork of Aspen, Colorado, Joel learned about trout. Joel has been through the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, at the river canyon bottom, on foot, twice – one of only a few to ever do this high risk adventure.

Tim Flagler: Tim is the owner of Tightline Productions, L.L.C., a video production company located in Califon, NJ. Although he produces video programs over a wide range of topics, his specialty is fly fishing. Tim is a well-known fly tying instructor. His YouTube videos are some of the best in the business and his YouTube channel, practicalpatterns.com currently has over 106,000 subscribers and 33 million views. Almost every week he produces a new fly tying or how to video which appear not only on his YouTube channel but on Midcurrent and the Orvis News fly fishing blog as well. They re also featured on Trout Unlimited s national website and in the Orvis Learning Center. In addition, he has a regular column Beginner s Masterclass with Tim Flagler in Fly Tyer magazine, which selected Tim as their Fly Tyer of the Year in their Winter 2022 issue. Many of Tim s tying videos take the viewer well beyond just the tying of the fly and show what it looks like underwater, what natural it represents and how it can be fished.
Tim s a fixture at the Fly Fishing Shows – giving presentations, teaching classes and often as a Featured Tier. He enjoys guiding year round for Shannon s Fly & Tackle in Califon, NJ. and hosts annual trips to Patagonia in the spring and to the Kootenai River in MT in the summer. He’ll be hosting trips to Iceland starting in the fall of 2023.

Dylan Gonzales: My name is Dylan Gonzales. I have been tying flies since 2017. I’m from Los Lunas, New Mexico. I am small town raised and proud to be that way. I primarily fish the San Juan River in Northern New Mexico, so my flies are typically based around that fishery, however, I tie a lot of different patterns from small Semi-realistic midges to Catskill style flies. I look forward to sharing my flies as I progress in fly tying, being a voice for the younger generation of tyers, and helping youth get on the vise and out on the water. I have appearances on Farm & Ranch Living, American Fly Fishing and Fly Tyer Magazine. 

Eli Gonzales: A little about me… I am an electrician, I’ve been in construction all my life and its how I earn a living. Since we were very young, my Dad took me and my brother fishing and fly tying was just the next step. I enjoy all things when it comes to tying flies. I enjoy tying small flies for the tail waters I usually fish, but I also like to dabble in semi realistic patterns. I’m always looking for something new and better with the flies I tie, keeping it fresh and innovating. I like my steak medium rare, I enjoy a cold beer every now and then and try to keep things simple. I guess you could say, I’m just a simple fly tyer.

Jason Haddix: Jason resides in Berthoud, Colorado where he enjoys fishing and tying for the many different species the area has to offer. He has been fly fishing/tying for over 30 years. Since his beginnings in the sport he has become a demonstration tier, full time commercial tier, speaker, fly designer, writer, instructor & guide.
Along this journey Jason has formed several rewarding partnerships with great companies in the fly fishing industry. Everything from Daiichi hooks to Regal vises to Cortland lines and many more.
Throughout the year he guides for several different services and ties flies to fill commercial/custom orders. When not on the water or at the vise he also dedicates part of his schedule to work with groups such as TU, Platte Rivers Veterans, Project Healing Waters and many others to help teach tying and fishing techniques.
You can catch up with him at the fly fishing shows, tying events or shop demos and classes he offers as well as on social media at Jason Haddix Fly Fishing.

Larry Holt: Larry Holt began his fishing career as a young boy on the waters of Northern Minnesota before moving to Colorado in 1965 and developing an interest in fly fishing while attending college in Gunnison, Colorado. His passion for fly fishing escalated after a fishing trip to the Bighorn Mountains in 1996 in search of golden trout. Larry began tying flies in 2002 after attending a fly fishing class from renowned artist, author and fly fisherman Dave Whitlock and soon after became consumed by the art. To date, he has tied well over 7,000 flies, many for friends and family members. Larry routinely donates his flies to Project Healing Waters (a non-profit organization that provides opportunities to wounded veterans and uses fly fishing as an outlet to heal) as well as many other similar organizations. Fly Tyer magazine has recognized Larry and featured his originally designed flies twice, while a third remains pending for publication. Said Fly Tyer editor David Klausmeyer, Readers Favorites are inspiring and often encourage me to get back to my vise and start tying. Larry Holt s submission which he calls the Soft-Hackle Aftershaft Pheasant Tail Nymph is a good example, thanks for the encouragement Larry! Larry lives in Broomfield, Colorado with his wife, Lori and dog, Sully.

Phil Iwane: Fly tying and fly fishing is a passion that I love to share with people of a like passion. Being artistic by nature, I view each fly I tie as a piece of art. Nothing is so rewarding as tying your own flies, selecting the correct fly for the water and conditions that you are fishing, presenting your fly, watching the fish take it, fighting it, landing it and then releasing it. I am an Umpqua Fly Designer and they have selected my Iwan-e-Dun extended body mayfly series and my Phil s No Mercy Midge and I will be showing you how to tie them. I will be also sharing other patterns that I have had great success with. I am a Fly Designer for Umpqua Feather Merchants, an Ambassador for Whiting Farms Genetic Fly Tying Feathers, Pro Team Member of the Solarez UV Resins, Pro Staff for the Force Fly Fishing Predator Vises and Dr. Slick. I have tied at The Fly Fishing Show, International Sportsman Exposition, West Denver Trout Unlimited Fly Tying Clinic, Orvis Events, Fly Fishing Rendezvous, St. Vrain Anglers Trout Unlimited Fly Tying Expo as well as many of the fly shops in Colorado such as Charlie s Fly Box, Kirk s Fly Shop, Front Range Anglers, St. Peter s Fly Shop, Laughing Grizzly Fly Shop, Bass Pro Shop, Scheels, Living Waters Fly Fishing Texas, Sportsmans Finest Texas and I actively support our disabled veterans through Project Healing Waters Colorado. I am looking forward to sharing my flies with you, tips on how to fish them and my nymphing rig that has worked well for me for many years.

Joe Jackson: Joe is a professional fly tyer most known for his artistic patterns spun with deer hair, creating real masterpieces like Baby Yoda, Hummingbirds, and T-rex’s. Joe is a veteran and a retired Sergeant in the U.S. Army. Joe spends most of his time tying flies, and volunteering as an ambassador for Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing. Joe has devoted his life to his passions on the water, chasing fish and sharing his passion with those around him.

Tim Jacobs: Tim, a native of Michigan, is a fly fisherman and fly tyer from the Roaring Fork Valley. He works as an instructor at the Michigan Youth Trout Camp each summer and for Project Healing Waters in Colorado. Tim has published numerous articles and authored the book Tying and Fishing Deer Hair Flies (2018, Stackpole Books). Additionally, he was a Federation of Fly Fishers certified casting instructor who taught the Sage Casting Clinics during the 1990 s. He has guided in the Steamboat Springs area and the Roaring Fork Valley. Tim appears at numerous flyfishing shows and fly shops as demonstration fly tyer for the Whiting Farms Pro Team, Regal Vise Pro Staff and Nature s Spirit Pro Staff

Stephen Johnson: Stephen has been fly fishing and tying flies for almost thirty years. For the last fifteen years he has developed a preference for small stream fishing. Fishing small streams takes him back to a time when fishing was about fishing, not about the latest fly, line taper, rod action or destination. He prefers stalking fish and making the proper cast and presentation to competing with other anglers for a spot on the river. Stephen has tied trout flies, streamers, and saltwater flies but his passion is tying North Country flies (sometimes called soft hackles in the US), especially for small streams. Since these flies consist of minimal materials, they look easy to tie. However, the challenge for the tyer is the right material in the correct amount in the appropriate place: then the sum is greater than the parts. The simple beauty of these flies appeals to his preference for minimalistic and impressionistic fly designs. He brings a great amount of knowledge about these flies to the vise and has spent many hours perfecting techniques. Happily, fish also find North Country flies very appealing!

Merne Judson: Merne has had a rich career in the fly fishing industry. After a lifetime of guiding, Merne has retired to spend more of his time tying his custom fly patterns, teaching his fly tying classes and traveling and lecturing on the sport he is so passionate about. When not fishing or tying, he can be found in his art studio or with his family float-fishing a western river. Earlier, in his career, Merne made regular appearances on ESPN Outdoors, Outdoor Life Network and the Sportsmen Channel, all while hosting a weekly fishing radio show in Gunnison Colorado. Merne has been a proud member of the Whiting Farms Pro Team for 25 years and his flies have appeared in many different books and magazine articles throughout the years. His fifty years of tying quality flies has created a following of fly fishermen which includes Presidents, professional athletes, business leaders, fishing guides and avid fly fisherman throughout the western United States who seek a quality, durable pattern. Merne and his wife, Sarah, own and operate Judson Fishing & Magic Fly Co. — www.judsonflies.com

Bill Kirk: I started my fishing adventures in a rural farming community in central Missouri at a very early age with a can of worms and a Zebco rod and reel. From there, I moved on to fly fishing in farm ponds and lakes for Bluegill, Crappie, and Bass. In 1982, my wife (Tammy) and I moved to Colorado Springs, and my interest turned to chasing trout with a fly rod across Colorado and the western US. In 1994, I discovered the wonderful world of fly tying and have been trying to create that particular fly that every fish in the water wants to eat. Most recently, my interest has turned to learning the history of bamboo fly rods.
When off the water, I guide and teach classes for The Peak Fly Shop in Colorado Springs, Co. I also enjoy volunteering with the Boy Scouts and Project Healing Waters.

Chris Krueger: Chris is a fly designer out of Fort Collins, CO, where he owns and operates Rocky Mountain Fly Design. Learning to tie at a young age, Chris grew up fishing his patterns and designs throughout the waters of northern Colorado and Wyoming. Tying commercially since the age of 14, he immediately developed a lifelong passion for the art and craftsmanship of fly tying. Now a teacher by day and fly tier by night, Chris combines his two passions and spends much of the year working with youth, teaching fly tying, demonstrating at shops and fly shows, tying commercially and spending time on the water. Chris finds his true fishing passion throwing articulated streamers for large predatory trout in Colorado and Wyoming. He is a pro-team member with Regal Engineering, Whiting Farms, and a signature designer with Montana Fly Company. For more information, please visit www.rockymountainflydesign.com.

Steve Maldonado: I am a Airline Mechanic for SOUTHWEST AIRLINES. I m a Colorado Native and grew up fishing and hunting with my father. Went into the MARINES after High school and was Stationed in North Carolina where my Best Friends father was a Professional Bass Fisherman. My friend introduced me to Bass Fishing and it was something I excelled at and really loved to do. I incorporated it into my flyfishing. Working fot the Airline in Dallas I lived in East TX near World Famous LakeFork where I fished and competed on the BudLight and Bass Champs Trail for many years knocking on Angler of The Year several times with such brutal competition. I ve fly fished in Alaska, Argentina, Chile, Belize, Canada, Mexico and all over the US. With Saltwater/RedFish being my favorite next to BIG BASS AND BIG TROUT on Giant Streamers. Been tying for a few years always learning and willing to share patterns and techniques with others.

 

Tim Mack: Tim started tying at age of 12. His grandmother tied flies for a local fly shop in Salt Lake City, UT and help him understand tying classic patterns that she would tie for the shop. Mostly self taught, he would sell flies to friends and family.  Started  tying and working for ATF Fly Shop eventually taking a management position there after leaving a career in Pharmacy. ATF was bought out by Sportsman’s Elite after 4 years and he worked for Sportsman’s Elite as Flyfishing Dept Manager then as General Manager for 6 years. Tim has tied at many shows and clinics throughout New Mexico and Colorado.  He is the lead tying instructor for his local PHWFF and Wounded Warrior chapters and is also a volunteer guide for those groups. He also is one of the tying instructors for MVFF Flyfishers Liars and tyers and his videos can be seen on their website and Facebook page. Tim has guided in New Mexico, mainly on private waters in Southern New Mexico.  Many of his patterns have been published in different books like Modern Midges and Modern Terrestrials. He specializes on flies for small creeks and tailwaters. He recently joined Daichii Pro Team.

Dennis Martin: N/A

David McElwain: I have been fly tying professionally for 40 plus years and publicly in many areas around the country at FFI events and Tu events as well as prior events of The Fly Fishing Show . I am also an author of Our Grandfathers Flies, a retrospect of flies brought to this country 100 + years ago by fly fishers seeking the adventure of fly fishing in this country ,many of which are still tied today with many of the same materials as well as materials of new innovations.
I am also an accomplished custom fly rod builder and Team member of the SaraBella Fishing custom fly rod builders
From 1999 to 2013 I was the team lead of the Bass Pro Fly shop in Denver Co.
in 2019 I was the winner of the winner the AFFTA Hog Pond Hero fly casting championship

Mark McMillan: A lifetime Coloradoan, Mark has been fly fishing for nearly 40 years and fly tying since the late 1970 s. A self taught tier, he has become known for his inventive use and incorporation of common and not-so-common materials into flies of his own design. He has been a demonstration tier and instructor at various Fly Shops, Conclaves, Trout Unlimited fund raisers, and Fly Fishing and Tying shows in Colorado and the west since 2003. His patterns are effective fishing flies for trout, bass, wiper, and carp, and his strong interest in carp fishing has led him to build a shallow water carp fishing boat complete with poling platform for pursuing his beloved golden bones. Mark has been guiding walk-wade, float tube and pack horse trout fishing trips, and teaching casting and fly tying classes since 2000. He is a member of the Whiting Farms and Vosseler pro teams, and often jokes that he is a pro staff member with Michaels, Hobby Lobby, Jo-Ann Fabrics and Dollar Tree.

Jordan “Hans” Mylant: Hans is an Umpqua Signature Fly Designer, Professional Fly Fishing Guide and Anglers Covey floor manager. He’s lived in Colorado Springs for 32 years and most of his free time is spent stalking the banks in search of feeding trout. When he decides he likes something, he gets nerdy about it, which is what happened with euro nymphing. Now that s what he does most these days. He started tying flies ten years ago and has accumulated several lifetimes worth of tying material since then. The collection just seems to keep growing. If Hans is at home, you will likely find him watching some fishing show while spinning bugs at his tying desk.

Ted Patlen: Winner of seven fly-tying world championships, has demonstrated at fly-fishing venues from the rocky shores of the Pacific coast, across the states as well as Canada, from a 12th century convent in Italy, north to Scandinavia, to the heart of Great Britain as well as on a hot dusty parking lot in Roscoe, New York.

Carl Pennington: As a young adult after fishing for many years with friends and family I decided to teach myself to tie flies to save a little money. Armed with a Thompson Model a vice and basic tools and materials I got started on what would become a life long pursuit of knowledge and skill in the art of fly tying. Twenty years and thousands of flies later I realized that I wasn t saving any money bout I had developed a love for tying flies for trout. Fly tying has been a passion of mine and has grown in recent years with my appreciation for Colorado and all the great fishing waters it holds. I don t travel much and may never fish anywhere else which is fine by me. I would have to say my signature patterns are those that require the most attention to detail and purporting such as the pheasant tail, biot emergers and parachute dry flies. I am a bit of a perfectionist when comes to the size and profile due to many years of fishing Colorado tail waters and the tiny flies they require. Just recently two of my fly patterns have been pickup by Montana Fly Co. I m also a staff designer for Deek Creek Flies in the UK.

Juan Ramirez: Juan grew up in Northern New Mexico fishing the small streams and creeks of the Sangre De Cristos. In 1997, a switch to fly-fishing was made and he has never looked back. Over the years, he has guided on the Cimarron River in New Mexico as well as the South Platte River in Colorado. Juan received his first tying kit when he was 15. After a few disastrous creations , it was put away for a few years. In college at Durango, CO the kit was opened and a new appreciation for the globs of fur, feathers, floss and thread was created. Now after 15 years of tying Juan is an accomplished fly tier. Currently a part time guide for Anglers Covey, there are not many seconds that pass without the thought of fishing or tying that go by. Juan runs a blog about fly tying and fly fishing at hopperjuan.blogspot.com. Got Hoppers?

Jane Retherford: Jane is on the Board of Directors for Colorado Women Flyfishers, a member of Trout Unlimited, Fly Fishers International, and mentors foster children through fly fishing with The Mayfly Project. She ties at the International Sportsman’s Exposition, Orvis, and various Trout Unlimited Expos throughout Colorado. She tied at the inaugural CTU Troutfest at Coors Field. She is known for creating fish-catching flies using foam, UV resins, and other materials.

Al Ritt: Al has demonstrated at The Fly Fishing Show (Denver, Somerset, Edison, Lynnwood and Pleasanton), International Fly Tyer’s Symposium in Somerset, ISE in Denver, FFI Fly Fishing Fair (loveland, West Yellowstone, Livingston, Boise and Spokane), WCFFE in Calgary AB, TU/FFI Fly Tying Expo’s in New Mexico, Idaho, Colorado, Arkansas, and Michigan.
 2022 FFI Buz Buszek recipient
 Bronze, silver and gold FFI Fly Tying Skills Awards
 Authored 25 Best Most Versatile Flies
 Published in Fly Fusion, Fly Fishing and Tying Journal, Fly Tyer, Hatches, Flyfishing Journal and the FFI/FTG newsletter
 Profiled in Colorado Trout Flies; Great Patterns and the Remarkable People Who Tie Them by Todd Hosman, The Master’s Fly Box by David Klausmeyer and contributed tips for Better Flies Faster by David Klausmeyer
 Fly designer for Montana Fly Company

Steve Rogers: Steve is originally from eastern Pennsylvania, but moved to Fort Collins in 2005 after graduating with a degree in Biology. He currently works as a biological science technician at the National Wildlife Research Center in Fort Collins. Steve started tying and fly fishing when he was 13, but took an extended 18 year hiatus until he returned to tying and fly fishing. after two hip surgeries, Steve realized that he wasn’t going to be able to play goalie in ice hockey for ever, so he turned his obsession to fly fishing. A self diagnosed streamer junkie , Steve can often be found carrying two rods just in case the streamer bite is on. Steve loves to talk and spread his knowledge (or lack there of), whether it is at his tying demos in northern Colorado, in the shops, or on the river. If he gets too long winded, he won t be offended if you just tell him to shut up !

Jeff Rowley: My name is Jeff Rowley, I was born and raised in Amarillo Texas where I live with my wife and two sons. My love of trout fishing started in the 70 s at our family cabin in Eagles Nest New Mexico. That love for fly fishing has since expanded to include both bass and salt water fishing. My brother and I got our love for the outdoors from our dad from a young age. In 1982 when I was 12 years old my parents got me a fly tying kit for Christmas. That started my life long passion for tying flies. I like to push myself to think outside the box and tie new and different flies. I like to put artistic flair into my flies and I think I get that from my mom and her incredible artistic abilities.
Shane Shuster: While chasing my dream to become a professional snowboarder, I made the move from Las Vegas, NV to Lake Tahoe, Ca. In my spare time I began to fly fish the Truckee River. My passion quickly changed from snowboarding to fly fishing, and I was quite literally hooked. I soon found myself on the river daily, but frustrated that I couldn’t get the picky fish to bite due to the pressure put on the fish by other anglers. I started to study entomology by collecting bugs and tying my own flies. I became fascinated with the craft of tying flies and the artistic nature of trying to create realistic patterns to illicit strikes on illusive fish. I’ve been tying daily now for 8 years, and along with fly fishing, family, falconry, and my being a fire fighter/ paramedic, I am truly loving life!

Steven Schweitzer:  Steve is the author of the award winning “A Fly Fishing Guide to Rocky Mountain National Park” and the newly released “A Fly Fishing Guide to Colorado’s Indian Peaks Wilderness Area” co-authored with Mike Kruise. Steve is a contributing editor for Angling Trade magazine and writes the ‘Masters at the Vise’ column for Southwest, Northwest and Eastern Fly Fishing Magazines. He has authored numerous articles appearing in Fly Fisherman Magazine, Trout, Wall Street Journal and many other regional angling publications. He also is contributing author & illustrator for the book “Drag Free Drift – Presentation Techniques for Fly Fishing”, authored by Joe Kissane. Besides writing, Steve also is an innovative fly tyer, with his patterns appear in books by Chris Mann, John Shewey, FFF Masters, Rick Takahashi & Jerry Hubka and others. Steve also has been active in TU, serving as president of the Lee Wulff Chapter. Steve makes his home in Greeley, CO. By day, Steve works as a consultant in the broadband and digital media industries.

Shane Shuster: While chasing my dream to become a professional snowboarder, I made the move from Las Vegas, NV to Lake Tahoe, Ca. In my spare time I began to fly fish the Truckee River. My passion quickly changed from snowboarding to fly fishing, and I was quite literally “hooked.” I soon found myself on the river daily, but frustrated that I couldn’t get the picky fish to bite due to the pressure put on the fish by other anglers. I started to study entomology by collecting bugs and tying my own flies. I became fascinated with the craft of tying flys and the artistic nature of trying to create realistic patterns  to illicit strikes on illusive fish. I’ve been tying daily now for 8 years, and along with fly fishing, family, falconry, and my being a fire fighter/ paramedic, I am truly loving life!

Scott Stisser: Scott was born in Livermore California 1956 and grew up in Pleasanton California. Began fly fishing and fly tying in 1972. Sent many years under tutelage of Andre Puyans at the famous Creative Sport Enterprises in San Ramon, then Walnut Creek and finally Pleasant Hill. After many years was asked to teach fly tying lessons at Andre s shop. Went on to college became an electrical engineer but continued avidly tying flies and fly fishing. Tied semi-commercially for Hat Creek Anglers when it moved to Pleasanton. In about 1983 I fell in love with Atlantic Salmon fly tying, have practiced this art ever since. Some of my patterns have been published in 3 or 4 books now, to include Modern Midges, Modern Terrestials and 10 classic Atlantic Salmon flies in Classic Salmon Fly Patterns by Michael Radencich.

Vincent Su: Vincent, an outdoor enthusiast who lives in the Denver metro area. Born in 1964, he did not know anything about fly fishing until 1997 introduced by his father in law. He quickly grew to love both fly fishing and fly tying. After catching the first fish with a fly he tied himself, as a gear-head person, the excitement got him hooked and prompted for some innovations. He is the inventor of the 720 Vise. He also enjoys photography and by studying aquatic insects with macro photos, he has developed some of his own tying styles and techniques. By learning fly fishing from tail water, in order to better match the hatch, he has developed his own hook size system. In summer time, he s rarely seen by other anglers as he likes to explore lesser known waters, especially pocket water fishing with dry flies in the mountains. When it comes to fly tying, although he enjoys tying dry flies the most, he also likes soft hackle flies and life-cycle patterns, such as still-born flies and emergers.

Rick Takahashi: Rick has been tying flies for over sixty-eight years; he is a retired Art Educator and Special Needs Educator and a art department chairperson. He earned a Master s Degree in special education, ran a home for special needs high school students, a ski instructor for Denver Children s Hospital Disabled Ski Program and a camp director for the Boy Scout disabled summer scouting program. He is a volunteer for the Platte River and Denver Healing water Veteran fishing Program. He is an author, illustrator, and presenter on fly-fishing programs based on his books Modern Midges and Modern Terrestrials . He s newest book The Fly Tying Art Creative Patterns for Common Hatches based on the patterns he has designed and flies he likes to tie. Rick was an illustrator, writer and many of his flies, illustrations and articles were featured by Fly Fisherman Magazine. He is a Umpqua Feather Merchants Signature Fly Designer, on the pro staff of Whiting Farms, Daiichi, Semperfli, Flymen, Orvis, Canadian Llama, Solarez , San Juan River flies and Finest Fly Benches Pro Staff member.
Rick has appeared in Randall Kaufmann s book Fly Patterns , Todd Hosman s book Colorado Flies , Hatch is On by Chris Santella, Fly Fishing Rocky Mountain National Park by Steve Schweitzer, Colorado s Best Fly fishing by Landon Mayer, Flies of the Greater Yellowstone by Bruce Staple, and Colorado Guide Flies by Pat Dorsey. He has illustrated and written articles for Fly Fisherman Magazine. He has participated in several podcasts from Ask About Fly Fishing and the Denver Outfitters. Rick has been a featured fly tier at the Denver Fly Fishing Show, International Sportsmen Exhibition, West Denver TU Tying Clinic, Fly Fishing Rendezvous, Western Colorado Sportsmen and Outdoor EXPO and has presented his fly tying techniques and Fly fishing Techniques in Wisconsin, Texas, New Mexico as well at many of the fly shops in the region. Ricks other interests when not tying flies or trying to catch fish, is creating art, cooking and enjoying his friends. He lives with his wife Susan, and daughter Haley who is a student at CU Boulder and his son Josh who is a Radiologist Tech in Arizona.
Rick enjoys bringing fly fishing and fly tying to others, he ties flies every day for the pure joy of creating, I m one of those guys who enjoys tying flies as much as fishing them .

Matt Thornton: Matt and his wife Shawna are the owners of AM to PM Flies LLC based out of Boulder, Colorado. They are invested in making handmade quality flies and streamers. Matt became addicted to the waters of Colorado when he moved here 16 years ago from the Midwest. His goal is to make fly fishing enjoyable for everyone while being a continual learner himself. He loves the fly-fishing community and would like to be a leader in the Rocky Mountain region. He believes in the power of the outdoors and enjoys finding inspiration to be creative and unique each time he goes out. Stop by and say hello, he would love to meet you.

Cat Toy: The beautiful river resonates trickles, bubbles, and ripples with the existence of what a river is. Fly fishing for Cat has become the art of fly tying, casting, and the passion to entice the trout at many picturesque rivers, creeks, and streams of Colorado. Fly tying gives Cat the artistic touch of creating the tiniest forms of art for the prize, the trout. Cat grew up in Mammoth Lakes, California, spin fishing trout in the scenic lakes, rivers, and creeks in a quaint ski resort town nestled in the magnificent Southern Sierra Nevada mountain range. She has always had a zest for the outdoors with a background mastery of fishing, downhill skiing, mountaineering, and racing motocross. She caught her first trout fly fishing at the Frying pan river in Colorado, and her passion mushroomed to win this gift. Cat is a professional fly fishing guide for Blue Quill Angler. Cat is on the prostaff team for Solarez, Anadramous Fly Company, Togens Fly Shop, Mystic Fly Rods, Fin River Gear, WORN, and Shop McFly.

Ken Walrath: I learned to fly fish from my grandfather at the age of 6. He told me if I kept losing his flies that I better learn to tie my own. That started my fly-tying career. I still have the first vise I ever bought, and also one of the first rotary vises from Universal Vise. Being in the Military and traveling gave me the opportunity to fish overseas and both East coast and Wet coast waters. I lived on the East coast for many years and participated in the Fly-Fishing Shows, the Rhode Island Saltwater show and several smaller shows throughout New England. I taught fly tying for Project Healing waters and contributed flies to not only Healing Waters but also Casting for recovery. I was also featured in Fly Tyer Magazines summer of 2013 edition. In 2020 I retired, and my wife and I loaded up our travel trailer, put some things in storage, sold everything else and hit the road. We traveled the United States for 3 years, fishing wherever we went. Caught my first carp on a fly rod while in south Dakota! We traveled until we found a place to call home. I currently live in Oklahoma and have opened a fly shop where I sell material and flies. I still make a pilgrimage to the San Juan River every year. I also have the fun of teaching others to cast and fly fish, trying to do my part in keeping this great sport alive.

Frank Whispell: My name is Frank Whispell and I have been fishing all of my life and fly fishing for the past 30+ years. I am a Professional Fly Designer with Umpqua Feather Merchants, a fly fishing and fly tying instructor and guide for Trappers Lake Lodge among other venues. I am also a Fly Fishing Adventure Host and take clients on adventures to Alaska Wilderness adventures, as well as all around the lower 48 states to include fresh waters and salt waters. I have been adding venues for other far flung locations but due to the current climate for travel this will be on the back burner for some time to come.

Tom Ziegler: Tom, beginning at age 10, cut his fly fishing teeth on the crystal-clear spring fed streams of the Missouri Ozarks fishing for both wild trout and, in the warmer streams, the wild and native smallmouth bass. After moving to the Colorado Front Range many years ago he fishes for the large diversity of species available, from Cutthroat to Carp. Tom has demonstrated fly tying at several national and regional shows as well as local fly shops along the Front Range, specializing in deer hair flies for trout and bass. His Tri-Minnow pattern has been featured in The Best Bass Flies . In addition to tying demonstrations, he has published fly fishing photography in The Fly Fish Journal, Southwest Fly Fishing, MidCurrent and The Best Bass Flies . He has also managed a fly shop and is a FFF Certified Casting Instructor. Find him on Instagram: @tomzieglerflyfishing

 

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Exhibitors & Map



Note from the Director

 

A Note from the Director:  You are cordially invited to the 22nd Anniversary of the Denver Fly Fishing Show at the Gaylord Resort and Convention Center. The Denver Fly Fishing Show was the largest gathering of the fly fishing community in the world the last two years, but our New Jersey show is looking to reclaim that. Join your fellow anglers to keep Denver at the top! This will be an exciting and all-inclusive event that you won’t want to miss. Some highlights will be:
• The largest exhibit floor in the history of the Denver Fly Fishing Show, yet again!
• New 2024 products from manufacturers.
• Programs and learning opportunities for youngsters and families.
• Women’s Fly Fishing Showcase with an exhibitor venue focused on the
woman angler.
• Fly Fishing Fashion Show
• Casting demos and instruction with Gary Borger, Landon Mayer, Michael
Mauri , Jeff Currier, Mac Brown and more!
• Fly tying with Ed Engle, Charlie Craven, Tim Flagler, Pat Dorsey, Tim
Cammisa and more!
• Classes with the Experts where you can get one-on-one time with the Pros.
• The must-see International Fly Fishing Film Festival on Friday at 6:30
featuring award-winning fly-fishing films.
• The most extensive list of professional speakers in any single location.
• Lodges, resorts, exotic vacation destinations offering the best fly fishing
trips on the planet.
• Live, on site Podcasting
• Live and art demonstrations
• Live bamboo rod building demonstrations
• New rods, reels, lines, accessories, clothing, waders, boots, books, DVDs and
anything else you may want to purchase, plus our exclusive author’s booth.
• Conservation organizations and opportunities to volunteer for the sport
you cherish.
Every day of the Denver Fly Fishing Show offers something different. This show was our first to sell out with a waiting list for exhibitors. Join this community gathering and lets make it the biggest event in history! You can’t see it all in one day so plan on the weekend and bring your friends and family.

See you there!

Ben Furimsky and The Fly Fishing Show Family

Tickets

Fly Fishing Show Tickets: 

Click HERE for general entry tickets.

Click HERE for IF4 film festival tickets.

Programs, Seminars and Classes

(click for more information about programs, seminars and classes)

Featured Classes

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Seminars

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Featured Fly Tiers

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Casting Demos

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Theaters

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Author's Booth

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Special Events

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Women's Showcase Schedule

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