Last year, I was in my vehicle, Thursday night all loaded up and making a wine run for my wife when as I drove down the approach, my brakes went to the floor. Besides the usual flood of colorful metaphors that exuded softly from my lips, my mind was racing about my travels in the morning to local car garage instead of southbound on I-75 to attend the Midwest Fly Expo. I admit it. I was defeated, a small part of me was severed with a dull serrated knife. Why? What is so special about a weekend with a bunch of scruffy fishing guides and industry leaders? For one thing, it is the largest in the Midwest, and not very often you can have a collective of that many highly talented individuals in one room. For another, it is a second family. Aunts, Uncles, long lost twice removed cousins from the other side of the tracks whom we get to share our passion, stories and a beverage with but once a year. I was crushed. Stranded in Boyne. After making a call to Justin at Adipose, I posted online about my dilemma. Within an hour, amid many fellow condolences empathizing my situation, was an offer from fellow TU member nearby. “I can pick you up after lunch.” For real? How do I make this happen? Call the wife, scramble the troops and re-organize my packing so that I can be more efficient. Done. Awesome. Thank you Chad from Homewaters Real Estate.
I meant to write this last year, but after our carpool ride down this year, it seemed to make more sense. We have the ability to chat about local projects on our rivers, dam removal on the Boardman River, bridge on the Jordan, how Hex season was for each of us and solve all the little quandaries we see in the dynamic world of fly fishing.
Very honored to meet these two guys. Mr Craig Mathews from Blue Ribbon Flies and Landon Mayer from South Platte River.
This year was well attended, cooler temperatures seemed to bring in a few more anglers than last year. I had the elite honor to see it through the eyes of the Temple Fork Outfitters booth. Bear Andrews, Kate & Ray Schmidt and myself were nonstop busy either meeting new fans of the TFO line, chatting with old friends and clients from around the Great Lakes or introducing a few excited individuals to the new EDGE rods from Gary Loomis. It would be a disservice to try to mention all of the great people we get to hang out with for fear of leaving someone out. So I will post up a few pictures and ask if you have any to post on our Facebook page. Look forward to seeing many of you on the river this season and throughout the year at a river clean up near the 45th parallel. This is why we do what we do…
Special thank you is well deserved to the members of Michigan Fly Fishing Club for organizing and executing another well planned Expo. I would like to especially thank all the tyers and presenters who made the time and travelled to help this be one of the best shows in the Midwest. The Anglers who came to present- Landon Mayer, Craig Mathews, Rick Kustich and George M. Daniel– Thank you. It was a pleasure to connect and chat about the future of industry and share stories of time on the water. Look forward to seeing you again, perhaps on the river.
