Where's ours???

C

CPR

Member
Joined
Aug 2, 2008
Messages
184
A friend just hit me up for a run down to the Virginia Fly Fishing Festival in April. It got me thinking why don't we have a Pennsylvania Fly Fishing Festival or something to the like?

We have some of the best fly fishing waters in the country and a huge base of fly anglers. Has it been tried and failed or just no one every tried to pull it off?


matt
 
No, but I think I will try to make it this year. Sounds like a great time.

That is a little bit different than what I had in mind.

Something like this:

http://www.vaflyfishingfestival.org/index.html

In fact, if you look at the Speakers list, it looks like a few Pennsylvanians will be at the podium.

We've got deeper fly fishing roots than Virginia right?

right?
 
They used to hold he big symposium at Seven Springs in March but that's about it.

We've got deeper fly fishing roots than Virginia right?
Click to expand...
Hence their need for an event to promote such.

Just another day to over run an otherwise perfectly good piece of water.
 
I agree with CPR that something like this would be a given for here in PA.

There is a small scale version of this sort of event known as PA FFing Heritage Day and is held every year in June in Boiling Springs. In the past I've mentioned this in the events thread. There's usually some good demos and typically about 10 or 15 mostly local vendors. Maybe an expansion of this event (which helps raise funds for the PA Museum of FFing) could evolve into something more to the scale that CPR is thinking about.
 
Fishidiot wrote:
I agree with CPR that something like this would be a given for here in PA.

There is a small scale version of this sort of event known as PA FFing Heritage Day and is held every year in June in Boiling Springs.
Click to expand...

I was kind of picturing that when he made his suggestion and the kind of place where it might work.

Might also be a great day to fish somewhere else... ;-)
 
You beat me to it , i was going to mention the gig at the lake in Boiling Springs i'm pretty sure it's an annual event , another one is the Yellow creek chapter of TU holds an annual pig roast , and the Doc Fritchey chapter does something annually at the Stackpole hatchery. The thing at seven springs was cool i went a couple times and got to see and learn alot , they don't do that anymore do they?
 
CPR,
I agree, with all the great fly fishing tradition that Pennsylvania has, I am surprized that there is not a larger scale fly fishing festival/get together. I do recall Neshannok Creek fly shop putting together some community days, with casting demonstrations and trout stockings, but nothing real large scale. On the other hand, I wouldn't want anything too comercialized, just statewide fly tyers, artests and craftsman.
 
nothing huge but the Cabin Fever show at Four Points Sheraton is as close we get to a fly fishing show in Western PA...it is put on Trout Unlimited...a very good Family Ties set up for the kids.

Boss
 
Just another day to over run an otherwise perfectly good piece of water.


Word!
 
The festivals are great. They are, at heart, though, sponsored by and woven around equipment sellers and guides, tyers, etc. Let's neither compare the Jamboree to those festivals, nor seek to make it any more like them.

They have a Troutfest in Townsend, TN where I have been visiting the Smokies: http://troutfest.org/
 
I think a Fishermans Paradise Reunion Day would be good.

Invite all the old-timers who fished the Paradise back in the glory days to show up and tell stories. Have displays of photos from back then. And displays of tackle and flies etc. from back in the day.

It could be held right at the Paradise. There are picnic tables there. People could grill up some food. The Fish Commission might let us use the Stackhouse building for displays of photos and tackle etc. to keep them out of the weather, in case of rain.

You could have people tying flies, doing casting demos etc.
 
Back in 2007 I worked with TCO FlyShop, Tussey Mountain Outfitters, a few great fly fishing individuals, Millbrook Marsh Nature Center, DCNR, PA Fish and Boat Commission, and the State College Visitor's Center. We had several meetings regarding where it would be held and what content we wanted to have (tying, casting demos, watersports, ...etc.) We tried to model it after the Virginia festival. Unfortunately, a few of the people backed out and it never amounted to anything. It seemed that it was decided that in order to put on such a venue, it would have taken too much of each person's time. None of us wanted to go in to it half way. I think that we all wanted to make it a spectacular event for the first year, but it would have taken way too much time to go at it that way.
If anyone is interested in what we found out and some of the ideas, I'd be more than happy to share.

Don Coffey
 
These kind of things do take a great deal of someone's time, effort and yes money. I see nothing wrong with equipment manufactures and shops taking a lead role as financial backers as well as a novice charge to cover the overhead. Especially when you think about the costs for building use, heat, electricity, insurance ( these things do require liability insurance, I know, been involved with the start up of the Pa Chapter of the BOJC) and so on.

To be really sucessful I think there should be a major effort to include getting kids interested in fly fishing too.
 
The Somerset, NJ show isn't all that far for folks from eastern PA. Just across the border.

These shows do highlight an aspect of our sport that rubs me the wrong way a bit. Pure commercialism.

That said, I have been known to partake, and will again this year.
 
pcray, fly fishing is just like every other aspect in our lives. Withoutout the demand the manufactures would not have any incentive to make better products and we would all be using willow rods, horse hair lines and gut for tippets. The big and small, fly fishing shows are all about the commercial aspect of the sport. They also offer a great escape from cabin fever and a chance for us to see all the latest and greatest toys. To a lesser extent they also give traveling fishermen the chance to plan their dream trip.
 
Agree. Thats why I go. Plus you can get some excellent deals on some things. But it still leaves a bad taste in my mouth somehow.

Better than sitting at home. But I'd much rather be fishing.
 
I totally agree with everyone that posted. Our primary backer would have been the companies that we spend so much of our hard earned money supporting.
We did have issues with the scope of the event, as far as how big did we want to have it. We ended up with the feeling that there are so many great functions around the state that we would have to be bigger and "better" than the rest in order to produce a viable crowd. We also needed to have it in a central place that would allow family events to take place (hotel, shopping, swimming...etc) not everyone in our family's like to spend hours a day talking about fishing.

Personally, I would really like to see it given one more shot!

Don Coffey
 
OK then, I'll talk to the people at Simms and Sage. They can set up a big booth at the Jam, and wait, we may as well have a few beer vendors as well since that will be a big part of the get together and while we're at it.... just kidding. The Jam sounds like too much fun to ruin with that stuff. Ok, we can atleast invite the Bud girls to come along and the Bikini team from those older commercials too...
 
susquehanna chapter of trout unlimited has a good thing in march every year. i know you boys are down the road. susquehanna boys really work hard. it is generally at the picklener arena in williamsport pa. a local arena. have always thought penn college was the place. it would be a bigger draw. speakers, films, lectures. but the chapter likes it manageable. only trouble it is a primer in march. good to come to and renew your vows.

harrisburg fly fishermen has a banquet a week before easter. contact the fly shop in carlisle pa. it is great. good meal, speakers, ceremony, raffle. (i won a winston).

cumberland valley trout unlimited, great time. same thing. a trip worht it. contact cumberland valley t. u. these are the type of outings that shoud be prescribed by the health dept. when you leave, you always feel better.

what a great bunch of people that put all this together.

HATS OFF TO ALL. IF I HAD A MILLION DOLLARS I WOULD BUY YOU A FUR COAT. NO DOUBT USED AS DUBBING.

maxima
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Montana Angler Fly Fishing
Montana Angler Fly Fishing
Harman's North Fork Cottages


Real Time Data From
the USGS Site

Share this page

Back
Top