Tag Archives: tying and fishing wet flies

IFTS Seminar: “Tying and Fishing Wet Flies,” Saturday, Nov. 15 at 1:45pm

One of the better values in fly fishing is the admission price you pay at the Fly Fishing Show — and in this case, its sister show, the International Fly Tying Symposium. IFTS is Nov. 15-16 in Somerset, NJ. For just 20 bucks –15 on Sunday — you get the chance to learn how to tie and fish from some of the best fly anglers around. In addition to formal tying demos, you can walk the show floor and see so many masters of the craft spinning up wondrous creations. And then, there are the seminars, which are included in your admission price.

Not a bad lineup. Think you could learn something from these people? Although, I’d watch out for that Culton guy….

On Saturday, Nov. 15 at 1:45pm, I’ll be presenting “Tying and Fishing Wet Flies.” This seminar is exactly what its title suggests. I’ll teach you about wet fly types, and the kinds of feathers, furs, and materials you’ll need to tie them (and where you can find them on the show floor). Then, we’ll do the next best thing to going on a stream, as I take you through some basic wet fly presentations, strategies, and tactics. You’ll want to know how to build a wet fly team leader, and I’ve got you covered. And of course, we’ll do Q&A after.

If you’re not fishing wet flies, you’re not catching nearly as many fish as you could be. Even if you currently tie and fish wet flies, I guarantee you’ll learn something new. See you there!

Just over two weeks away: International Fly Tying Symposium, Nov 15 &16

If you want to be a rock star, you can’t just hang out with Aerosmith for the weekend. But if you tie flies, and want to get better, here’s your chance to do the equivalent with some of the best tiers in the world. You know a lot of the names: Tim Cammisa; Barry Ord Clarke; Tim Flagler; Cheech Pierce; Jeff Rowley; Son Tao. Those are just six of the dozens of work-class tiers who will be there. There are tying demos, seminars, and tying classes. But in its best, purest form, IFTS lets you walk the show floor and meet and greet and watch and learn and talk with all of these people.

If you want to become a better tier — or just learn a few pro tips — go hang out with my buddies Lou DiGena and Bart Lombardo. They’re two of the nicest, most skilled tyers in the world, and they’ll both be at the IFTS this year.

I’ll be on the show floor tying — please come say hello — and I’m honored to be doing a Seminar and making a Featured Tier appearance. The seminar is Saturday, Nov 15 at 1:45pm — Tying and Fishing Wet Flies. It’s free with your show admission. Sunday Nov 16 at 10:15am, I’m Featured Tier presenting Farmington River Favorites. That’s also part of your admission. I don’t mind telling you that I’ll be giving away some flies to a few random attendees over the weekend, so there’s some more incentive for you to attend.

If you’re not fishing LaFontaine’s Diving Caddis, you’re missing the chance to rack up impressive numbers. I’ll show you how to tie this and other high-confidence patterns at this year’s IFTS!

And did I mention the vendors? Every year I come away from this show with some hard-to-find material (s). Bring a shopping list! Naturally, if you’re there, please come say hello. It’s always gratifying to place faces to names.

Edison Fly Fishing Show Classes: Tying & Fishing Wet Flies, Friday January 24; Beyond Cast & Strip: Presentation Flies for Stripers, Saturday January 25.

Right now is a great time to sign up for one or both of my “Classes With The Experts” at the Edison Fly Fishing Show the last weekend in January. This is a great opportunity for you to book some time with me for far less than the cost of a guided trip. Both classes are designed to duplicate a teaching session on the water. Here are some details.

Tying & Fishing Wet Flies. Friday, January 24, 2:00-4:30PM. What you’ll learn: When, where and how to fish wet flies; how to tie classic spiders, soft hackles, winged and wingless wets (I will demo these patterns and discuss materials); leader construction and how to build a team of three wet flies; matching the hatch and fly selection; plus more. Oh yeah, we’re going to have fun!

It’s almost time for Little Brown Stones, and the Sandy Moorgame makes an excellent imitation. You can learn to tie and fish classic North Country Spiders like these, and other wet flies, at my Edison class.

Beyond Cast & Strip: Presentation Flies For Stripers. Saturday, January 25, 8:30-11:00AM. What You’ll Learn: How to catch the stripers that other anglers can’t; why cast-and-strip presentations are ultimately limiting; how to target and catch bigger bass on a consistent basis; how to tie classic New England-style sparse flies like bucktails, soft-hackles, and flatwings (I will demo such patterns and discuss materials); the presentations that bring your fly to the fish; and more! Same deal — we also want to have fun.

Get on target to catch bigger bass from shore on a consistent basis. I’ll tell you how I do it when you take my class in Edison!

To register, you have to go to the Edison Fly Fishing Show site here. See you there!

Marlborough Classes: Tying & Fishing Wet Flies, Saturday January 18; Beyond Cast & Strip: Presentation Flies for Stripers, Sunday January 19.

Once again, I’ll be leading two “Classes With The Experts” at the Marlborough Fly Fishing Show next weekend. This is a great opportunity for you to book some time with me for far less than the cost of a guided trip. Both classes are designed to duplicate a teaching session on the water. Here are some details.

Tying & Fishing Wet Flies. Saturday, January 18, 2:00-4:30PM. What you’ll learn: When, where and how to fish wet flies; how to tie classic spiders, soft hackles, winged and wingless wets (I will demo these patterns and discuss materials); leader construction and how to build a team of three wet flies; matching the hatch and fly selection; plus more. Did I mention having fun?

Wet flies have been fooling trout for centuries, and the fish aren’t getting any smarter. This lovely wild Farmington River brown savaged an Isonychia soft hackle on a steamy August late afternoon.

Beyond Cast & Strip: Presentation Flies For Stripers. Sunday, January 18, 8:30-11:00AM. What You’ll Learn: How to catch the stripers that other anglers can’t; why cast-and-strip presentations are ultimately limiting; how to target and catch bigger bass on a consistent basis; how to tie classic New England-style sparse flies like bucktails, soft-hackles, and flatwings (I will demo such patterns and discuss materials); the presentations that bring your fly to the fish; and more!

Being able to repeatedly catch big bass like this on the fly from shore is no accident. Take this class, and I’ll reveal my secrets of how I do it.

To register for these classes, you must go to the Fly Fishing Show website. See you there!

“Tying and Fishing Wet Flies” Promo for the Fly Fishing Show

There’s still time to sign up for the class in Marlborough and Edison.

Here are all things wet fly that I’m doing at both shows: Marlborough Saturday, January 21: Classes With The Experts, 8:30am-11:00am, Tying and Fishing Wet Flies. You must pre-register for this class.  2:00pm, Destination Theater Room A, Modern Wet Fly Strategies.

Edison, Saturday, January 28, 9:45am, Seminar, Strike Room, Modern Wet Fly Strategies. 12:30pm, Main Show Floor, Featured Fly Tier,Spiders, Winged, and Wingless Wets. 2:00pm-4:30pm, Classes With The Experts, Tying and Fishing Wet Flies. You must pre-register for this class. 

Steve Culton Appearance & Class Schedule for the Edison Fly Fishing Show, Jan 27-28-29

It’s no secret that the Edison Fly Fishing Show is the biggest, bestest fly fishing show going! I’m pleased to announce that I will be appearing once again as a presenter, instructor, and fly tier. The Edison Show runs three days, January 27, 28, and 29; I’ll be there on Friday the 27th and Saturday the 28th. Here’s my schedule:

Friday, January 27: 10:15am, Seminar, Catch Room, Finding Small Stream Nirvana. Noon, Destination Theater Room B, Wet Flies 101. 2:00pm-4:30pm, Classes With The Experts, Beyond Cast & Strip: Presentation Flies for Striped Bass. You must pre-register for this class. Admission to the show is included in the cost of any class registration for that day.

Presentation flies work even when at rest. I caught my largest bass of 2022 on this presentation fly, the R.L.S. Sure Thing.

Saturday, January 28: 9:45am, Seminar, Strike Room, Modern Wet Fly Strategies. 11:00am, Destination Theater Room D, Lost Secrets of Legendary Anglers 12:30pm, main show floor, Featured Fly Tier, Spiders, Winged, and Wingless Wets. 2:00pm-4:30pm, Classes With The Experts, Tying and Fishing Wet Flies. You must pre-register for this class. Admission to the show is included in the cost of any class registration for that day.

Overlooked and under-utilized, wet flies are a must-have in your fly box if you want to catch more fish. Learn how to tie and fish these lethal patterns in my class, Tying and Fishing Wet Flies.

As always, I’m hoping for a big turnout from my readers and followers. When I’m not doing a class or demo or speaking, you can find me walking the show floor. Please come say hello! I love putting names to faces.

Hot off the press: “Tying and Fishing Wet Flies — A Modern Take on the Ancient and Traditional Methods.” See it this Saturday at the IFTS!

In case you’ve been wondering where currentseams has been, I’ve been working on the presentation railroad, and getting ready for this weekend’s International Fly Tying Symposium in Somerset, NJ. Just finished: Tying and Fishing Wet Flies: A Modern Take On The Ancient And Traditional Methods. This is a brand new look at tying and fishing wet flies, with an emphasis on the tying aspect. You can be one of the first to see it at the International Fly Tying Symposium, this Saturday, Nov 12 at 10:30am. Still need more wet flies stuff? Join me for my tying class at 1pm, Tying Soft Hackles, Winged and Wingless Wets. Sunday, Nov 13 at 11am is another brand new presentation called Beyond Cast & Strip: Presentation Flies For Striped Bass. Both seminars are included in the price of admission to the Symposium (the class is extra). Holy smokes, I still gotta pack. See you there!