Category Archives: 2026 Schedule and Events

Kicking off the 2017/18 presentation season (and other items of interest)

It’s been a weird weather summer (we’ll take it over last year!) but I hope you got your licks in as much as I did. Housy smallmouth, some striped bass on the Cape and Block, and a ton of night fishing for big browns kept my boots wet and my body clock shattered.

I’m excited about the fall trout season, not to mention stripers and of course steelhead. Hard to believe that my presentation schedule begins next week.

“The Little Things” at SE Mass Trout Unlimited, Middleborough, MA, Tuesday, September 12 at 7pm. This is the original The Little Things presentation. The meeting is open to the public. For more information, visit the SEMASS Trout Unlimited website.

“The Little Things” (with a touch of Farmington River info) at The Fly Casters, Boston, MA, Thursday, October 12. The Fly Casters are a private club, but if you know a member you can wrangle an invite as a guest.

“Trout Fishing for Striped Bass” at the Cape Cod Fly Rodders, Thursday, October 19, Hearth and Kettle, Rt 28, Yarmouth, MA, 6:30pm. It’s a brand new presentation! I’m still putting it together, but the more I work on it, the more excited I’m getting about sharing it. Come learn how to apply trout and salmon fly fishing tactics to striped bass fishing — and start catching the stripers that everyone can’t catch.

Arts of the Angler Show, Saturday/Sunday November 4/5, at Ethan Allen Inn, Danbury, CT. I’m hoping to present at least one of the days. Sadly, fly tying looks like it’s not going to be possible. Details to come once we figure them out. For more information, visit the cffcm website.

The Fly Fishing Show, January 2018. No specifics yet, but I am hoping to present again in Marlborough, MA, and to add Edison, NJ to the schedule.

Articles: Look for Streamer Kings in the Jan/Feb 2018 issue of American Angler. I interviewed George Daniel, Chad Johnson, and Tommy Lynch for this piece, and the result is a treasure trove of information on streamer fishing for big browns. Of course, there are several other articles in the wordsmithing pipeline. I’ll let you know about them as they near publication.

Guiding: Weekends this fall are going to be non-starters, so if you want to hit the Farmington with me, pick a weekday. The river fishes well year-round.

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to say hello on the water, and of course thank you for reading and following currentseams.

Coming to a fishing club near you this fall.

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Long Island Flyrodders awarded the Legion of Cookout Merit

Many thanks to the members of the Long Island Flyrodders for their generous, welcoming spirit. What an impressive crowd — I believe it was nearly 60 — on a fine summer’s evening. The Long Island Flyrodders know that a fed presenter is a happy presenter, and I must say that my cheeseburger, dog, beans, and — bonus! — bag of Cheetos really hit the spot. (The beer was tasty, too.) Thanks again for hosting me, and I look forward to a return engagement.

These folks know how to hold a meeting. Good spread, good people, good energy — the bar has been set to a new height. 

LIFlyrodders

Summer Presentation: “The Little Things” at the Long Island Fly Rodders, Tuesday, August 1

Most fishing clubs go on summer hiatus. Not the Long Island Fly Rodders. In fact, they’ve booked yours truly to kick off their fall meeting season with “The Little Things.” I’ve heard rumors of a pre-meeting barbecue, so how can I resist?  Tuesday, August 1, 6:30pm, at the Levittown VFW Hall, 55 Hickory Lane, Levittown, NY. For more information, visit liflyrodders.org.

Speaking of presentations, I’m currently working on “The Little Things 3.0” and an as yet untitled one on how I fish for striped bass.

If you want to catch big stripers like her, pay attention to the little things. (Using a floating line and learning the greased line swing doesn’t hurt, either.)

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“The Little Things” tomorrow night at the HFFA and IFFF screening in Branford

Come one, come all. This is my last gig before the summer hiatus kicks in:

“The Little Things,” Thursday, May 4, Housatonic Fly Fishermen’s Association, Wallingford, CT. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 65 North Main St, 7pm. For more information, visit the HFFA Facebook page.

There’s also the IFFF screening at the Stony Creek Brewery in Branford, 6pm.

Me or beers & movies. Tough call.

Flirting with 500 followers, spring appearances

We’re winding down the spring 2017 appearance schedule:

“The Little Things 2.0,” Thursday, March 16, Farmington Valley TU, Unionville, CT. Doors open at 6:30pm. Meeting is open to the public. For more information, visit the FVTU website.

“The Little Things,” Monday, April 3, FCFGPA. This is a members only gig.

“The Little Things,” Thursday, May 4, Housatonic Fly Fishermen’s Association, Wallingford, CT. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 65 North Main St, 7pm. Everyone welcome. For more information, visit the HFFA Facebook page.

Whew! Then we can all just go fishing.

On to the fantastic 500. One day we’re at 502 followers. The next, 499. So it goes in the razor-edge, cutthroat world of website subscribers won and lost. Once we stabilize over the 500 mark, we’ll have our usual currentseams follower appreciation giveaway. You, being a loyal reader, never let your subscription expire. Right?

Ooh. Ahh. Ohh. Striper swag from a previous giveaway.

Striper Soft-Hackles

Show and Tell

It’s no secret that I love the CFFA Show. Saturday reminded me why it’s the best little fly fishing show around.

The Baranowski boys, Tommy and Matt (two very talented tyers and anglers) were seated to my left on tyer’s row. After watching me painstakingly create a dubbing loop of squirrel fur, Matt asked if I’d ever used a rotodubber. No, so I borrowed his. Ka-ching! Never mind that crap about old dogs and new tricks. I now own one. So thanks, dude. I also left with some ringtail, a few beads, and Robert Smith’s book The North Country Fly. Many thanks to the CFFA for inviting me to tie (and thanks, Dick, for the flies and the feathers, and Alton for the cigar).

Most of all, thanks to everyone who took the time to stop by and chat and ask questions. I appreciate your loyalty and your readership.

Matty at the vise. That’s steelheader extraordinaire Stan Otlowski in the background.

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So much depends upon a gold and silver rotodubbing tool…

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Sunday was my tying class, “Farmington River Favorites,” at UpCountry Sportfishing in New Hartford. A very enthusiastic group came armed with good questions and nimble fingers. We covered a broad range of patterns and techniques, and I want to thank the class for making my job as an instructor easy.

The sign could say, “Men and Women Working.” Thanks to Torrey Collins for the photo.

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Coming up this week:

“The West Branch of the Farmington River,” Wednesday, February 8, at East Jersey TU, Rochelle Park, NJ. Have Farmington River enthusiasm, will travel. For more information, visit the EJTU website.

“Farmington River Favorites” Tying Demo, Saturday, February 11, 10am-2pm at The Compleat Angler, Darien, CT.  At this demo, I’ll be tying some of my favorite patterns for the Farmington River. There will be a little bit of everything: wets, dries, nymphs, and streamers, from traditional classics to new designs. These are all high-confidence, proven patterns, and I’ll also discuss how and when I like to fish them. For directions and stuff, visit the CA website.

Tie Food

‘Tis the season to be busy at the vise. I’ve also been sequestered in my lonely writer’s garret, churning out new material for your favorite publications, and buffing up some old presentations — not to mention outlining some new ones for 2017.

So, no fishing for me for two weeks now. (I know. That’s just plain wrong.)

A couple reminders:

I will be tying at the CFFA Fly Fishing Expo & Banquet, Saturday, February 4, Maneely’s, South Windsor, CT. Come see why the Expo is the best little fly fishing show going. I’ll be there from the morning thru early afternoon. If you’re there, be sure to say hello. For more information, click here.

There’s still space in my “Farmington River Favorites” Tying Class, Sunday, February 5, 9am-1pm at UpCountry Sportfishing.  There will be a little bit of everything: wets, dries, nymphs, and streamers, from traditional classics to new designs. These are all high-confidence, proven patterns, and I’ll also discuss how and when I like to fish them. If you’ve taken my wets and fuzzy nymphs class before, most of these patterns will be new. Sign up through UpCountry Sportfishing.

We’re getting close to the magic number of 500 followers. Of course, we’ll have a giveaway to celebrate.

Last week’s worth. Some of these are for customers, some for future guide trips, and some for me. 

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Thanks TVTU and on to Marlborough

The threat of freezing rain couldn’t dampen the spirits of the members of the Thames Valley Chapter of TU. We had a great crowd for “The Little Things,” and some intriguing post-presentation discussions. This is a group that is passionate about fly fishing. A thousand apologies for forgetting your name, but I’ll balance that with a thousand thank yous to the gentleman who gave me the Nat Sherman Metropolitan Selection Explorer. I’ll be enjoying that on a future Farmington River outing.

On to Marlborough! Hard to believe that The Fly Fishing Show is already here.

“Wet Flies 101,” at the Fly Fishing Show, Marlborough, MA, Friday, January 20, 1pm, Catch Room. We’re in the big room for this one, so come out and support your friendly local fly fishing writer guy! For more information, visit the Fly Fishing Show website.

“Wet Flies 101,” at the Fly Fishing Show, Marlborough, MA, Saturday, January 21, 10am, Destination Theater, Room A. Smaller room, same energy and information. I may be tying after the presentation and will let you know if that’s the case. For more information, visit the Fly Fishing Show website.

Wet Flies 101

“Farmington River Favorites” fly tying class at UpCountry Sunday, Feb 5

I’ll be leading a fly tying class at UpCountry Sportfishing in New Hartford on Sunday, February 5. Here’s the class description from the UpCountry site:

Join outdoor writer and Farmington River guide Steve Culton as he explores some of his favorite patterns for the Farmington River. There will be a little bit of everything: wets, dries, nymphs, and streamers, from traditional classics to new designs. These are all high-confidence, proven patterns, and Steve will also discuss how and when he likes to fish them. Participants will need a vise, thread and tools. All other materials will be provided, including a pattern recipe list. The class starts at 9am and will run about four hours, giving you plenty of time to get home for the big game. Space is limited to six people. Tuition is $75, paid in advance and non-refundable.

Please do not contact me to register. You must sign up through the shop, and you can find them here.

From a class a few years ago, very serious-like. But we like to have fun, too.

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Thank you, CVTU (and a couple more small items)

Many thanks to the Candlewood Valley Trout Unlimited chapter for being most excellent hosts last night. The presentation was “The Little Things,” and I couldn’t have asked for a better audience (especially the gentleman in the front row who laughed at all my jokes). Thanks also for the pizza — a fed presenter is a happy presenter — and I’m looking forward to “The Little Things 2.0” with you all in the future.

I have a really fun job. Much better than desk work.

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Next up: “The Little Things,” Tuesday, January 17, 7pm, at Thames Valley TU, Bozrah, CT. Like above, this is the original Little Things. From the TVTU website: Fly tying starts at 6:00 p.m. and the meeting begins at 7:00 p.m. Meetings are open to the public and there is no charge so come and join us. For directions and stuff, visit thamesvalleytu.org.

And I see currentseams.com is edging its way toward 500 followers. We will, of course, be giving away some goodies to celebrate!