I went to the Fly Fishing Show in Pleasanton yesterday.  It was a good time. Brought the girlfriend along (it was a test and she passed with flying colors) and the little sidekick.  Saw old friends, saw some new gear, had some good conversations and generally enjoyed myself.  The show even kicked down a “Media” pass for me, which made me feel a tiny bit legit.

The main highlight, however, was my little girl tying a fly.  They had volunteers ready and willing and able and my little girl was FOCUSED.

Thanks for that good people at the Fly Fishing Show.

Awesome.

Tomorrow (today, as you read this), I’m headed to the Fly Fishing Show in Pleasanton.  I’m looking forward to seeing old friends and seeing some new gear.  The Pleasanton show is the only show in town, for the whole Bay Area.  I once heard that San Francisco has more fly anglers per capita than any other major city in the US.  I don’t know if that is true, but if it is, it seems odd that the only show catering to that particular group would be a bridge and tunnel away.  So it is.

There used to the the International Sportmen’s Expo in San Mateo, but after years of decline they didn’t even do that show this year.  I worked the ISE a couple years and I worked the Fly Fishing Show a couple of years, but this year I’m going just as a regular ole’ consumer.

I generally don’t buy much at these shows… I once bought an Elkhorn 3/4 weight and a T&T 5 wt.  The T&T broke and when I sent it in for repair I learned it was a used rod and that they would repair it this time, but never again. Sadly, it is my favorite 5 wt… on the fast end of medium… good for my short line nymphing but still soft enough to throw some #20 tricos… ya know, back when I was actually fishing #20 tricos.

Really, I go to see the folks.  This year, I also hope to talk to a few folks about doing interviews for the blog.

Should be a good time.

These shows can be a lot of fun, minus the last hour, which drags on like a 6 hour bit of political theater about health care.

I got up early this morning (this post will show up on Saturday, but I’m writing it on Friday, cause that’s how I roll) at 0-dark-thirty and drove down to Pleasanton for the Fly Fishing Show.  Upon opening the crate that housed the Bonefish & Tarpon Trust display, it occurred to me I should have tried it out at home first.  Luckily, I got some help from a ladies fly fishing club I was next to.  Twenty minutes later and I was sorted.

As the throngs of mostly older men passed by (it was a Friday, a perfect time for men of a certain age to browse the show) I heard lots of interesting bonefish stories.

The one place that was mentioned time and time again was Christmas Island.  Tomorrow I have a buddy coming in who will be fresh off the plane from Xmas… can’t wait to hear about it.

Had some good conversations about bonefish, conservation, catch & release fishing and other assorted bits of goodness.

Support Bonefish & Tarpon Trust.

Other Stuff:

• This is Fly Daily, Bahamas, Nets.
• The Message Board Which Must Not Be Named has some Bahamas up… I’m not linking there. I’ve learned (slowly).
• New posts up at Guilttrip25
• Singlebarbed spots some ponzi problems with Able.

I’ll be volunteering for the Bonefish & Tarpon Trust for the duration of the Fly Fishing Show in Pleasanton, February 26-28.

If you are a Bar Area-ite and are heading to the show, stop by and say “hi” and give me a chance to try and shake some money out of you for chat about Bonefish, Tarpon and Permit research and conservation.

yeah... what he said.

Some bits and pieces floating around.

• I got out again today… trout, Upper Sacramento, two hours, 4 trout.
• New Flatswalker
• New Bonefish Flat post.
• I’ll be at the Pleasanton Fly Fishing Show for the Bonefish & Tarpon Trust… let  me know if you’ll be there.
• Colton Bay Outfitters, a wedding and A LOT of bonefish in Grand Bahama.