Somerset NJ or How mad will my wife be if I buy a $3,000 fly rod?
I had the pleasure of attending the fly fishing show in Somerset this past weekend. Here are some (very) random thoughts.
1. You can't pump your own gas in NJ. Your guess is as good as mine on that one.
2. Folks who work the show are really nice and helpful. Ok, not Canadian nice, but still pretty nice.
3. It's important for me to remember that I will never be as good of a fly tier as any of the people that tie at the show and that's ok.
4. Pete Kutzer from Orvis is a nice person to chat with and really tall.
5. It's great to see people you haven't seen in a while. It was great seeing Daniel and team from Tenkara USA, Mike Heck, and the Trow brothers and Tom Sadler from Mossy Creek!
6. As someone with a young family, there really isn't a point in talking to anyone who is trying to sell you a trip to Mongolia or Argentina. Hiding a fly rod from the real head of the household is one thing, a trip chasing Tiamen is another. (note, there was no need to hide a new fly rod this time)
7. Speaking of spending money, I think to the trick to any fly show is viewing it like a trip to Vegas. Pick an amount you want to blow, and stick with it.
8. I'm amazed that any dealer who builds or sells bamboo fly rods let so many people just sort of walk around with them. I have a sneaking suspicion that most people who are walking around the show floor with them aren't really going to buy them.
9. The sign at the casting pond read... No Hero Casts. Good idea for the fly show and the river in general.
If you have the chance next year, make the trip to Somerset NJ. It really is a lot of fun. Now I only have to wait 2 months and I can find myself being tempted all over again by gear I don't really need when we in the DC area have our fly show.
