Category Archives: 2026 Schedule and Events

The Big Gig: Fly Fishers’ Club of Harrisburg Annual Banquet, April 8

I have the honor of being the featured speaker at the Fly Fishers’ Club of Harrisburg Annual banquet on April 8, 2016. At first I thought there must be some mistake; this, after all, is the organization that has had such luminaries as Edward Hewitt, Lee Wulff, and Ernie Schwiebert speak at their event. It’s also regarded as the second oldest fly fishing club in the United States, having been founded by Charlie Fox and Vince Marinaro (you might have heard of them, too.)

But no. They want me. So, I am both humbled and excited, as this will be the largest crowd I’ve ever presented to. The subject will be “The Little Things.”

I got the gig in part due to the substantial following currentseams has, and the many positive comments you’ve left. It’s been said before, but it bears repeating: thank you for your readership and your support.

The Little Things, Friday, April 8, at the Fly Fishers’ Club of Harrisburg Annual Banquet.

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Reminder:  Tying demo at the Compleat Angler in Darien, CT, Saturday, February 27 from 10am-2pm: Bucktails, Soft Hackles and Flatwings for Striped Bass.

Tying Demo: Bucktails, Soft Hackles and Flatwings for Stripers, 2/27/16 in Darien

I will be presenting a tying demo at the Compleat Angler in Darien, CT, Saturday, February 27 from 10am-2pm. Its focus will be Bucktails, Soft Hackles and Flatwings for Striped Bass. This is the traditional New England school of tying, with an emphasis on sparse construction, impressionism, and natural materials. For more information, contact the Compleat Angler.

Hope you can make it!

Bucktails so sparse you can read the paper through them. (You remember newspapers, right?) Actually, this is a game-used hybrid bucktail/soft hackle/flatwing. Good stuff.

Sparse SHFlatwing

The CFFA Expo: Pull up a chair and set a spell

I only had four hours — Squirt hockey game in Avon at 3pm — but I made the most of it on Tyers’ Row at yesterday’s CFFA Expo. It really is the best little fly fishing show around (Somerset, eat your heart out). Thanks to the CFFA for hosting, thanks to everyone for stopping by, and my apologies to the gentleman who wanted to see me tie the Usual — you never came back, and I had to roll at 1pm. We’ll shoot for next time.

“I’m telling you, Mark, I’m going to catch a fish this big on this fly.” 

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Next up: Flatwings, Soft Hackles and Bucktails for Striped Bass tying demo at The Compleat Angler, 541 Post Road, Darien, CT, Saturday, February 27. I think in years past it’s been 10am-2pm, so I’ll go with that. For more information/directions, visit http://www.compleatangleronline.com

 

A belated birthday and the CFFA Show Saturday 2/6

Last week currentseams.com quietly celebrated its third birthday. The site has now grown to nearly 375 followers, and I can’t thank you enough for your readership and your support. Of course, when we reach our 400th follower, we’ll do a fly giveaway drawing. (If you’ve won in the past you know that a currentseams fly goody package doesn’t suck.)

Speaking of flies, I’ll be on Fly Tyers’ Row at the CFFA Show on Saturday, February 6, Maneely’s Banquet Facility, 65 Rye St., South Windsor, CT. I’ll be there from 9am – 1pm. This is one of the best local shows anywhere. For more information and directions, visit http://www.ctflyfish.org.

If you are planning on attending, and there’s something specific you’d like to see me tie, please let me know now so I can pack the appropriate materials. I’ve already had one request for the Squirrel and Ginger wet, and we’ll make it so.

Always a popular pattern. Especially with trout.

Squirrel and Ginger cork

 

A record-setting wet fly class

Many thanks to the six soon-to-be-dangerous-wet-fly-machines who took yesterday’s Wet Flies and Fuzzy Nymphs for the Farmington River tying class — and thanks to UpCountry Sportfishing for hosting.

Leading a tying class is fun because your pupils are usually eager and engaged. Leading a wet fly tying class even more so because if the fly comes out a little messed up — and the first attempt at a pattern often does — the trout are probably still going to love it.

We covered eight patterns and a bunch of new techniques yesterday. The eight flies is the most I’ve ever covered in a four-hour class. The credit goes to the tiers, who did a tremendous job at their vises. Well done, all!

The aftermath of the tying storm.

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The Marlborough Man

I hadn’t been to the Fly Fishing Show in years. It wasn’t due to indifference — mostly it was scheduling, and that I had made up my mind that my next visit would be in a professional capacity. This year the stars aligned (thanks for squeezing me in, Ben) and I did two days as a Destination Theater presenter in Marlborough, MA. (Cue up the “Theme from The Magnificent Seven”.)

My first gig was Friday at 2pm, and I got there early enough to be able to take a quick walk around the show floor, say hi to some old friends, and make some introductions to new ones. I also wanted to support my fellow local presenters, so I caught most of Rich Strolis’ Tying Flies for the Toughest Fish, and Strategies for Fishing Them. Rich likes to fish a basic emerger template for rising trout; he simply varies the size and color of the pattern to match the hatch. As a wet fly (and snowshoe rabbit fur) aficionado, I liked that.

Having no idea what to expect, I was pleasantly surprised by the crowd that gathered to see and hear Wet Flies 101. I counted close to forty people. If you were in attendance, thanks so much for coming out, and especially for laughing at all my jokes.

On the A Team. Good room, and an even better audience.

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Saturday was a little dicey because of the impending doom generated by the approaching storm. However, fortune smiled upon me as the drive up and back were relatively snow-free. As I set up in an empty room at 9:45am, I realized that I might be presenting to just a few hardy souls. Not a chance. What started as a flurry turned into a measurable accumulation by showtime, and I want to thank everyone again for taking the time to come out. I stuck around to see some of Marla Blair’s The Hatch & Body Language of Trout for Choosing the Right Patterns. Marla’s explanation of how the rise forms translate into the feeding attitude of trout is something I have long embraced (and I think we both love stupid fish).

Can’t say you properly attended a show without buying something, so at 1pm I was walking back to my truck with a gorgeous red flatwing saddle I found buried in the piles at the Keough booth.

See you next year.

Upcoming events:

Still a couple slots open for next Saturday’s (January 30) tying class at UpCountry, “Wet Flies and Fuzzy Nymphs for the Farmington.” Call the store to register at 860-379-1952.

I’ll be on Fly Tyers’ Row at the CFFA Show on Saturday, February 6, Maneely’s Banquet Facility, 65 Rye St., South Windsor, CT. I’ll be there from show open until early afternoon. This is one of the best local shows anywhere. For more information and directions, visit http://www.ctflyfish.org.

 

 

 

 

Still room in the 1/30 Wet Fly tying class at UpCountry

UpCountry called today and said they still have some slots open for next Saturday’s (January 30) tying class, “Wet Flies and Fuzzy Nymphs for the Farmington.” Call the store to register at 860-379-1952.

Had a tremendous turnout at Marlborough today for “Wet Flies 101” — thanks to everyone who attended. More on the show later.

Space still available. Jump on it like this hefty Farmington rainbow did with a Squirrel and Ginger nymph.

Big Rainbow 9-14

Coastal Flyrodders awarded the Order of the Burrito with Negra Modelo clusters

Many thanks to the Coastal Flyrodders of Wyckoff, New Jersey for their hospitality last night. The pre-game Mexican dinner was terrific, as were the libations. I presented  The Little Things, and I’m pretty sure we all had a swell time. Not only do the Coastal Flyrodders understand that a fed presenter is a happy presenter — they have also set the questions bar at a new height. I don’t remember ever getting so many good questions, or having such engaging post-presentation discussions. Well done, all!

A beer for breakfast after a night of striper fishing doesn’t suck. But it doesn’t beat a beer with dinner.

Block Island All-Nighter Beer

Later this week: The Fly Fishing Show in Marlborough, MA. I will be appearing at the Destination Theater on Friday, January 22 and Saturday, January 23 and presenting “Wet Flies 101.” This is one of my more popular presentations, and as the title suggests, it serves as a wet fly primer. Presentation times are as follows: Friday, January 22, 2:00pm, Destination Theater Room A. Saturday, January 23, 10:00am, Destination Theater Room A. The show takes place at the Royal Plaza Trade Center in Marlborough. For more information, visit http://flyfishingshow.com/marlborough-ma/

Date change: my tying demo at The Compleat Angler in Darien has been moved from March 5 to February 27. It will focus on flatwings, bucktails, and soft hackles for striped bass.

Many thanks to CWTU and Orvis

What a great turnout last night, generated by the membership of Croton Watershed Trout Unlimited Chapter. It’s always easier — for me, at least — to present in front of a larger group. Thanks also to Orvis in Yonkers for the venue. There’s something comforting about giving a talk while surrounded by fly rods and reels.

Thus closeth my speaking engagements for 2015. If you took the time to come out and see me, thank you. I truly appreciate it. Lots more coming up in 2016, so stay tuned.

Here’s to you!

Block Island All-Nighter Wee Drop

Some new events for January 2016

Yes, it’s late enough in the present year to be able to mention next year without it seeming like a ridiculous number of months away. Ladies and gentlemen, start your calendars.

I will be making two presentations of “Wet Flies 101” at the Fly Fishing Show in Marlborough, MA, Friday 1/22 and Saturday 1/23. More details once we get into January.

And a heads up: I will again be teaching “Wet Flies and Fuzzy Nymphs for the Farmington” on Saturday 1/30 at UpCountry Sportfishing. You cannot sign up for that tying class here, and you cannot sign up until they post it on their website. I’m just letting you know it’s coming. Last year’s class sold out in no time flat.

For those of you in the NYC/Fairfield County area, I will be at the Orvis store in Ridge Hill Shopping Center in Yonkers, NY, tomorrow night 12/17, presenting “The Little Things” to the TU Croton Watershed Chapter. You need to sign up to attend. For more information and directions, visit https://www.facebook.com/cwctu

What a fun job I have.

Soft hackles have been fooling trout for centuries — and the fish aren’t getting any smarter.

Partridge and Light Cahills