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Sad news. December 6th, after a hospitalization of several weeks,  Jack finally lost his protracted battle with lung cancer.  He was in bed resting comfortably, attended by friends, with the first snow of the season falling silently outside.

Jack was one of the most talented and entertaining members of our Fly Fishing Show Family.  He has been a regular at our shows since the beginning.  He loved to teach, tell stories, and dance.  His innovation in fly tying will continue to influence fly tiers for many years to come.  There will never be a Fly Fishing Show or International Fly Tyers Symposium that Jack will not be thought of or missed.

Please visit www.jackgartside.com

Read more here.

Thank you Jack.

(Jack in 1985 after sleeping on the bank of the Madison in his waders, despite the bears and buffalo, to be the first to work his favorite pool)

Fly Fishing Show Exhibitor, Skip Storch, Inducted into the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame

Skip Storch, Ultra-Marathon Swimmer of South Nyack, New York is being Inducted into the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame on Friday, September 11th at the International Swimming Hall of Fame in Fort Laderdale, Florida.

He was nominated for ESPN’s ESPYS Award for "Best Outdoor Athlete" for his 85.5 mile ultra marathon swim of 32 hour 52 minute triple circumnavigation swim around Manhattan Island in 2007. He was 50 years old and set both the double and triple World Records during the same swim. He also saved a kyacker pinned under a boat during the first lap. He became the first person to swim the entire 15 mile length of the East River in 1990. During that swim he swam the complete length of Hell’s Gate in a lighting and hail storm. Although the swim started out in clean waters, 3.5 million gallons of raw sewage was release due to a fire at Ward Island sewage treatment plant. Skip swam through it.

Skip started swimming in the 1970s when directed to do so by his doctors. He lost his spleen and was sickly. He built up his health by swimming distance. Not fast, but persistently he increased his durations from 12 to 24 hours and eventually 36 hours nonstop for charities and environmental awareness. His 10 to 12 mile work outs were the foundation of his swims. During his four decades of ultra marathons he raised enough monies to build two indoor therapeutic pools, wheelchairs, and equipment for the multiply disabled.

In 1988 he swam for the first time the 150 mile length of the Hudson River from Albany to Manhattan Island in 53 hours staged. The following two years in two exhibitions swims Skip swam 85 miles of the New Jersey Shore and 100 miles of the Long Island Sound as both staged/assisted swim to promote clean waters. In 1993 he attempted to swim the 92 mile Florida straights from Cuba to Florida, but was forced to retire after 25 hours.

In 1999 a Hurricane named Floyd barreled up the US coast and caused significant damage to his home making him homeless and in financial dispare. Trying to rescue his business he fractured two vertebra paralyzing his right arm. After a successful life saving operation he had limited use of his arm. The doctors told him he would never have the range or enough power to swim another stroke. Skip rededicated himself to the water and after two years of self-rehab he swam his first stroke.

On September 11th 2001 the twin towers were destroyed. This terrorist act haunted him. Living less than thirty miles from ground zero and having a compromised immune system, he stayed away from the area for one month. Upon returning he got sick from the air quality. He like so many others from the metropolitan area got a lymphatic disease call sarcoidosis. To save his life he started taking medicine. He was uncertain about his life expectancy and started training again with a vengeance for a marathon swimming comeback. At the age of 48 he set the Albany to New York Hudson River Swim in 41 Hours 30 Minutes. The next year two tumors were removed from his arm and it set him back again. At the age of 50 he pulled off the triple around Manhattan Island dedicating all proceeds to the Victims of 9/11.

Fly Tyer Matt Matsushita dies in car accident

Friend and famed fly tier Matt Matsushita was killed in a one car accident on Aug 2. He was returning home to CA from demonstrating some fly tying in CO at the FFF Conclave.  Matt was a regular tier at the Fly Fishing Show in CA.  He will be missed.  Our thoughts go out to his friends and family.  Catch a big one Matt.

Matt tying one of his mayflies

Tom Baltz makes the news.

Celebrity fly tier Tom Baltz makes a splash teaching fly fishing on the news.  See him at http://www.wgal.com/video/20065457/index.html.  Way to go Tom!

Fly Fishing Show is on Twitter.com
Now you can keep up to date with the Fly Fishing Show on Twitter.com.  Visit us at www.twitter.com/flyfishingshow and click on the Follow button to get our updates.

Expo-Guide Is on The Prowl For Unsuspecting Show Exhibitors

Fly Tyers Enjoy some fishing

We thought you might enjoy this photo of several of our demonstration fly tyers that got together on the annual fishing trip to Seven Springs Mt. Restort in PA.  Seven Springs is the home to the very first Fly Fishing Show over 20 years ago!  Many of these fly tiers have been with the show ever since.  Thanks for your continued support and we hope to continue growing our friendships for years to come.

2009 Show Responses

Due to a number of request to hear how shows went and as many responses sent in, we are posting some feedback from the 2009 shows.

Chuck Furimsky's Fly Fishing Shows are the cornerstone of Hardy's approach to the market.  We work with our dealers and their customers, always looking forward to Springtime surrounded by friends and colleagues every weekend until ice out, one great show after another.
Jim Murphy
President
Hardy North America Ltd.


Just a note to tell you how much I enjoyed working some of your Fly Fishing Shows last season.  It almost seems that the time we spend at a general show is not near as productive.  Your Fly Fishing Shows are the best and I hope you have continued success in the years to come.
Best Regards,
Jim Teeny

Denver 2009:

Thanks again for a great show in Denver.
We had lots of guys coming through our booth keeping us busy for most of the weekend. I also had great audiences at my talks in the Destination Theatre. This was our third time attending the Denver show and it was our best one yet.
As always I like to take advantage of being at the show for three days and I got a chance to chat with Bill Keough, Enrico Puglisi, Tom Baltz and John Gierach. Having all those names under one roof, you can’t help but learn more about fly fishing and fly tying. This is the only show where attendees have that opportunity.
Looking forward to Bellevue. All the best,
Trevor Nowak
Fly Fishing Marketing and Guiding
Plummer’s Arctic Lodges
Winnipeg, Manitoba

We've been attending the Fly Fishing Show in Denver since its conception and have always been satisfied with the attendence. This year was no difference. Our target market was there as usual and we had our best sales result to date.
Bill Leuchten
Front Range Anglers

The Denver Fly Fishing Show is one of the top venues that I have tied in.  The show allows me to share with other my joy of fly tying.  The quality of the fly tiers are top notch, very knowledgable, enjoy sharing what they have learned and are very friendly.  I look forward to tying at the Denver Fly Fishing Show, it' one of the highlights of my year.
Rick Takahashi, Professional Fly Tier

Despite a challenging economy and a lack of support from within the fly fishing industry, this show has proved it is here to stay.  Crowds were great every day of the show and we reached our goals in sales.  We even sold out of many items way too early.  This is the place to be for anyone interested in Fly Fishing from the Rocky Mountain area.  If there was only more time to enjoy all the features!
Brooke Murphy
Manager
The Angling Bookstore


A couple of my friends attend your Denver show last weekend and they reported having a good time and stated that they bought some product at very reasonable prices.
Gary Berlin
President, American Fly Fishing Trade Association


Some of our prestigious fly tiers: Al, Deward, Herman, John, and Tom hard at work demonstrating their skills in Denver.

Marlboro 2009:

The show was great for us as a local guide service.  More and more
clients come out with us each year and this show is both for gaining new clientele
and checking in with existing clients.  We book more trips each time we
attend.  With the struggling economy people are looking for alternatives to
expensive trips and I think this gives local guides huge opportunties at
any of your shows. 
Dan Harrison
harrisonanglers.com

Wherever you looked at the Marlborough and the Somerset shows, NEC was there - The NEC Booth, The Teaching Pavilion, Scout Tying Lessons, Hosting CCI's at an Ongoing Education Program, Introducing Fly Fishers to the CCI requirements.  NEC's involvement in the Fly Fishing shows was made possible only because of the Encouragement and Support provided by Chuck Furimsky, owner of the Fly Fishing Shows.   Thanks Chuck!!!
North Eastern Council of the Federation of Fly Fishers

Somerset 2009:

The show once again was great! Attendance seemed to be as usual and the folks walking around seemed happy to take their minds off of the real world stuff. Not as many “full bags” as I would have liked to see but all in all I would say it was a 10+. Chuck and all his staff did a wonderful job. This is without question the best fly show in the country.
Henry Cowen, Professional Guide/Fly Tier/Speaker

Wherever you looked at the Marlborough and the Somerset shows, NEC was there - The NEC Booth, The Teaching Pavilion, Scout Tying Lessons, Hosting CCI's at an Ongoing Education Program, Introducing Fly Fishers to the CCI requirements.  NEC's involvement in the Fly Fishing shows was made possible only because of the Encouragement and Support provided by Chuck Furimsky, owner of the Fly Fishing Shows.   Thanks Chuck!!!
North Eastern Council of the Federation of Fly Fishers

Charlotte 2009:

I have been going to the Fly Fishing Show in Charlotte for a number of years. I really appreciate that opportunity. It is a great resource and I look forward to the event each year.  I especially enjoyed the shows at the Charlotte Convention Center.  Please keep up the good work. While this year's show probably suffered from the economic circumstances we currently face, it was nevertheless, very enjoyable.
Thanks again.
Doug - Happy Patron


Our impression of the 2009 Flyfishing and Wingshooting show could not have been better! It will be very hard to think of any “bad or ugly” to go with all the “good”!  We will certainly encourage new vendors to the show that may be a good mix for you and pass on your information to them as well. 
Thank you for a great show and a job well done!
 
Debbie and Tim Flanigan
Nature Exposure


Bellevue 2009:

You guys have been great again this year.  I really appreciate the support you give and the opportunity you provide.
 
Scott Hed
Director
Sportsman's Alliance for Alaska



This was my first year tying at the Fly Fishing Show.  It was a great experience.  The Fly Fishing Show was very accommodating, even with short notice.  Eumer and I are very thankful for the experience...Thank You!!!

Joe Fitzpatrick, Fly Tyer


Portland 2009:

We just got back from the Portland Oregon Fly Fishing show. It was a surprisingly good turnout despite this economic situation we are in. There was a definite lack of manufactures at the show. Rumor is they(AFFTA) are boycotting Chuck's shows because they didn't get a kick back from the fruits of his labor and saw an opportunity to cripple him when his partner retired. I thought the AFFTA job was to promote the sport of fly fishing ?
It would seem that we all need to work together to keep the fly fishing industry alive and healthy, especially with our current economy. If we do not continue to educate people to our wonderful sport where will we be ?

Bill Downs
Clearwater Lodge
www.clearwaterlodge.com
www.downsflyfishing.com


Pasadena 2009:

Well, last weekend the annual Fly Fishing Show rolled into town.  I was pretty excited.  Even though I hate crowds, I had been looking forward to it for weeks.  Since I had never been, I really wasn't sure what to expect.  To be honest, I was worried that current economic times was going to keep people away.  As usual, I was worried over nothing.   Just like from Field of Dreams,  "If you build it, they will come."   Chances are if you fly fish and live in the  Los Angeles area you found yourself in Pasadena at some point over the weekend.  I talked to folks that had driven over two hours to make it there.   I have to say, Chuck Furimsky, who owns the show, puts on a great event.
Paul-www.dsflyfishing.com


Pleasanton 2009:

We had an excellent show and did a lot of teaching and learning.  Hope to keep the relationship going for future shows.
Thank you for a exciting show.
 
Gerry Ng
NCCFFF VP Education


I have attended every show since you came to Northern California.  Overall, I thought the show was terrific and you made some improvements over prior years that were notable.  The number of the casting ponds, both inside and out, seemed different and an improvement.  I found that I was able to cast at any location with ease and was not "crowded".  This made trying out different products comfortable and I was able to perform a proper test drive.  Good Work.  I think the number and types of exhibitors was a good mix.  There were outfitters, fly shops, material vendors and others.  This offered a  nice variety.  Overall, I thought the show aesthetics were much improved and allowed the customer to have a more pleasurable experience.  Everyone should be pleased with the improvements made.
Rick-Valued Patron



The California Sportfishing Protection Alliance deeply appreciated your offer of a free booth at the Fly Fishing Show in Pleasanton, CA. We were able to make many new contacts and renew old ones.

Jerry Neuburger
California Sportfishing Protection Alliance

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All info on this site is as accurate and timely as we can make it. Please note that changes beyond our control may occur before the actual show dates. If you need to confirm anything just before each show, please check this web site or call us at 1-866-481-2393.