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3. Somerset Show (this weekend)

Hello, everyone. I've been absent from the board lately both because of a computer crash and because I've been preparing for the International Flytying Symposium this weekend (Nov. 22-23) in Somerset, NJ. I was wondering if any troutnuts are going to be there. If so, please stop by my booth and say hello.

Take care,
Shawn

Shawn, you've just given me the reason i needed to move heaven and earth and see if it's at all possible to get there. congratulations on getting a booth! any of you other troutnuts who live closer--GO SEE Shawn's amazing flies. it will be worth the price of admission, i guarantee you.

Thank you for your flattery, Casey - I hope I don't disappoint. Not to try to tempt you too much (or make it too obvious to everyone that you're a woman!), but I'm hoping to have ready the first of my wearable pieces on display at the show. It's the first of what I hope will be a series of Carrie Stevens necklace pendants. A Gray Ghost, of course.

-Shawn

P.S. Shoot, I just realized that now your husband might not let you go...

oh, jee...Alec was so impressed by the hooks alone last year, look for both of us!

Hi all,
I found out about the show this weekend.
Since I don't fish for Salmon.....
Is the show worth a 3 1/2 hour drive? I would have to drive down and back in one day (and perhaps take my grandaughter). Is it like the other shows where I can get touchy feely before I buy. I don't like to order from catalogs as you never know about quality, color, and quantity. Are they likley to have bargins there?
Pete

Pete -

This show is expressly a tying show, but it is not focused on artistic tying - all types are featured. Approaching tiers and vendors is encouraged, and I'm sure you'd be allowed to handle the flies you were thinking of buying. Not being one to buy finished flies myself, I can only say that there are often excellent deals at shows like this on flytying materials. I only presume that goes for flies as well. There is another Somerset show in January that is a flyFISHING show - much bigger but more guide services and rods and such. The January show is one of many in a circuit of flyfishing shows, one of which probably happens in New England. The unique thing about this weekend's show is that it is specifically a TYING show, and it is at least advertised as the biggest such show in the world (still much smaller than the January show, though). If great tying is up your alley, then try to make it. But if you're just interested in getting a good deal on flies, you might not want to make the drive.

-Shawn

Hi,

From what I understand materials are also sold and you can inspect things such as rooster capes etc. to pick what you want. Correct me Shawn, if I'm wrong; it's been a while since I attended.

Yeah, definitely, Louis. If I can sneak away from my booth, I have a list of difficult-to-find items I'll be looking for. One great thing about buying materials at a show like this is that you can inspect what you're buying. This is especially important if you need to get the color juuuust right or you want a skin that has a sweet spot in the sizes you tie most.

-Shawn

Thanks for the info. It looks like just what I want (not interested in far far away, and expensive). I have a list of materials I was about to send away for, I'll bring it, and I never buy hackles I can't see.
Thanks again.
Pete