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Artistic view of a Male Pteronarcys californica (Pteronarcyidae) (Giant Salmonfly) Stonefly Adult from the Gallatin River in Montana
Salmonflies
Pteronarcys californica

The giant Salmonflies of the Western mountains are legendary for their proclivity to elicit consistent dry-fly action and ferocious strikes.

Dorsal view of a Kogotus (Perlodidae) Stonefly Nymph from Mystery Creek #199 in Washington
This one pretty clearly keys to Kogotus, but it also looks fairly different from specimens I caught in the same creek about a month later in the year. With only one species of the genus known in Washington, I'm not sure about the answer to this ID.
27" brown trout, my largest ever. It was the sub-dominant fish in its pool. After this, I hooked the bigger one, but I couldn't land it.
Troutnut is a project started in 2003 by salmonid ecologist Jason "Troutnut" Neuswanger to help anglers and fly tyers unabashedly embrace the entomological side of the sport. Learn more about Troutnut or support the project for an enhanced experience here.

Wbranch
Wbranch's profile picture
York & Starlight PA

Posts: 2635
Wbranch on Jan 15, 2012January 15th, 2012, 4:09 am EST
Are there any PA forum members considering going to the Lancaster Fly Fishing show in February? It is being presented by the same outfit that puts on the Somerset, NJ show and all the other shows. Some one told me it is taking the place of the King of Prussia, PA show that was cancelled.

http://www.flyfishingshow.com/Lancaster.html
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.
Lastchance
Portage, PA

Posts: 437
Lastchance on Jan 15, 2012January 15th, 2012, 6:10 am EST
I'm planning on attending.
CaseyP
CaseyP's profile picture
Arlington, VA/ Mercersburg, PA

Posts: 653
CaseyP on Jan 15, 2012January 15th, 2012, 7:08 am EST
planning to be there Saturday. it's absolutely great that we don't have to go all the way to Somerset. if the "Philadelphia" show last year was any indication, this will be a typical "The Fly Show"--first class!
"You can observe a lot by watching." Yogi Berra
Wbranch
Wbranch's profile picture
York & Starlight PA

Posts: 2635
Wbranch on Jan 15, 2012January 15th, 2012, 8:01 am EST
"it's absolutely great that we don't have to go all the way to Somerset."

Amen to that!!! There used to be a show in College Park, MD put on by the same group that was about half the size of Somerset but otherwise a great show. It was cancelled a few years ago and I was disappointed. Now though with a show about twenty-five miles from home I can spend the $45 I would of spent on gas on some fly fishing items instead. I hope it gets a good turn out so it will be a recurring show.
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.
Shawnny3
Moderator
Pleasant Gap, PA

Posts: 1197
Shawnny3 on Jan 15, 2012January 15th, 2012, 11:34 am EST
I'll be there. I think the organizers switched venues because they didn't sign up in time for the space they had last year. It was a decent show last year, not all that big but with enthusiastic show-goers. Hopefully it goes well in the new venue. Hope to see you guys there.

-Shawn
Jewelry-Quality Artistic Salmon Flies, by Shawn Davis
www.davisflydesigns.com
Flyflinger
Fredericksburg, Virginia

Posts: 30
Flyflinger on Feb 18, 2015February 18th, 2015, 10:56 am EST
Yes, my wife and I will drive the three hours or so from Fredericksburg, VA to Lancaster. She is not interested in fly fishing, but she is keen on quilting, Lancaster being the quilting capital of the world. So while she is shopping about, I'll be attending the show. John Shaner and David Allerbaugh are my reasons for attending. They are the wet fly tying and fishing gurus I missed when I could not attend both the Fly Tying Symposium and The Fly Fishing Show in Somerset, NJ.

I have fond recollections of the show at College Park, MD. Chuck Furimsky (sp?) was the promoter as he is at all such shows. I met some terrific people at the College Park show, one being the grand old man, George Harvey. He was just amazing. He was over 90 years old at the time and had to take his breaks from the show, but he was certainly a gamer. He would get excited as a little kid when he spoke of certain techniques or places.

I doubt I shall find much in the way of fly tying materials, since I now look for game bird skins. Only a very few US fly shops carry products from Veniard or Cookshill. This year seems tough for those US retailers to get products from Overseas.

However, the presentations from Shaner and Allerbaugh will be well worth the trip. A bonus will be any other wet fly specialist I meet there. BTW, anybody know of a good restaurant in Lancaster city? My wife and I will book a hotel room Saturday night and drive home Sunday. Hopefully, the weather won't be a problem.
Flyflinger
Fredericksburg, Virginia

Posts: 30
Flyflinger on Feb 18, 2015February 18th, 2015, 10:59 am EST
Good Heavens, I didn't notice the date of the OP's question. Sorry about that. I'm still going, though.
Wbranch
Wbranch's profile picture
York & Starlight PA

Posts: 2635
Wbranch on Feb 18, 2015February 18th, 2015, 11:13 am EST
Flyflinger,

There is a fly shop in Hereford, MD called Great Feathers that used to sell some Veniard products. They also have an overall fantastic selection of fly tying material. It is an hour drive for me but anytime I need a few items it is worth the drive.
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.
Flyflinger
Fredericksburg, Virginia

Posts: 30
Flyflinger on Feb 19, 2015February 19th, 2015, 3:18 am EST
Wbranch, I've been shopping at Great Feathers. Kevin Compton runs the shop and normally carries materials no other retailer does. Besides Veniard, he also carries products from Cookshill, which is well known for its quality bird skins. Lately, Kevin got in bird skins from Cookshill, but is awaiting his order from Veniard. It's taking quite a long time. He updates me once in awhile as to the status. I've been waiting for waterhen/moorhen from Veniard so I can tie the Waterhen Bloa. I know I can substitute with valley quail (John Shaner's suggestion) or starling (Roger Fogg's latest book), but I am trying to tie as close to the original recipe as possible.

I have yet to visit the shop, though I live in VA. The address is Sparks, MD, which must be near Hereford, MD. I haven't asked Kevin, but I wonder whether he is going to be a vendor at Lancaster.

In my search for bird skins, I ran across a website called Feather Emporium. Anybody have experience with that retailer?
Wbranch
Wbranch's profile picture
York & Starlight PA

Posts: 2635
Wbranch on Feb 19, 2015February 19th, 2015, 5:43 am EST
Great Feathers has a booth at many of the local fly shows so he might very well have one at the Lancaster show. I'd call him to be sure.
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.
Flyflinger
Fredericksburg, Virginia

Posts: 30
Flyflinger on Feb 19, 2015February 19th, 2015, 11:38 pm EST
Wbranch, I had confused Kevin Compton and Great Feathers. Kevin runs Performance Flies, PA and is the one waiting for his order from Veniard. Great Feathers is in Sparks or Hereford, MD. I placed an order yesterday with both. The stock in both is quite low in both right now. I imagine they are both await deliveries from UK. I did managed to get the soft and medium waxes I wanted from Great Feathers.

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