2025 Calendar of Fly Fishing Events!

The Fly Fishing Show, Denver 2025, February 21, 22, and 23rd the Gaylord Rockies Resort!

The fly fishing show of the year, join me, Dave Allison, Jonathan Artunez, Kevin Arculeo, Nick Benik, Marcus Bevier, Tyler Boroff, Michael Burgess, Jeff Currier, John Demuth, Jude Duran, Daryl Eakins, Joel Evans, Tim Flagler, Dylan Gonzales, Eli Gonzales, Jason Haddix, Travis Hanson, Larry Holt, Phil Iwane, Joe Jackson, Tim Jacobs, Stephen Johnson, Merne Judson, Bill Kirk, Lance Kittel, Chris Krueger, Steven Maldonado, David McElwain, Kim Mutaw, Hans Mylant, Carl Pennington, Juan Ramirez, Jane Retherford, Jeff Rowley, Allen Rupp, Shane Schuster, Steve Schweitzer, Spencer Seim, Robin Spaight, Scott Stisser, Rick Takahashi, Son Tao, Matt Thornton, Cat Toy, Todd Turner, Frank Whispell, Jason Yi, and Tom Ziegler.

• The largest exhibit floor in the history of the Denver Fly Fishing Show, yet again!

• New 2025 products from manufacturers.

• Programs and learning opportunities for youngsters and families.

• Women’s Fly Fishing Showcase focused on the

woman angler.

• Casting demos and instruction with Christopher Rownes, Gary Borger, Landon Mayer, Jeff Currier, Mac Brown and more!

• Fly tying with Phil Rowley, Ed Engle, Tim Flagler, Pat Dorsey, Tim

Cammisa and more!

• Classes with the Experts where you can get one-on-one time with the Pros.

• The must-see International Fly Fishing Film Festival on Friday at 6:30

featuring award-winning fly-fishing films.

• The most extensive list of professional speakers across the globe.

• Lodges, resorts, exotic vacation destinations offering the best fly fishing

trips on the planet.

• Live, on site Podcasting

• Live and art demonstrations

• Live bamboo rod building demonstrations

• New rods, reels, lines, accessories, clothing, waders, boots, books, DVDs and

anything else you may want to purchase, plus our exclusive author’s booth.

• Conservation organizations and opportunities to volunteer for the sport

you cherish.

Please join this amazing fly fishing event!  I hope to see you there! 

The St. Vrain Angler Trout Unlimited Fly Tying Expo 2025!

WHEN | February 8, 2025, Saturday

WHERE | American Legion Post 32 Longmont, Colorado

ADMISSION | $20 - See Event registration page

Doors open | 12:30pm

Food and beverage available for purchase at venue

The St. Vrain Angler Trout Unlimited and Laughing Grizzly Fly Shop co-host an annual Fly Tying Expo that features expert tyers from Northern Colorado and throughout the state. This Expo offers the opportunity for one-on-one interaction with the tyers where attendees can chat and learn their patterns, tips, and pointers. With more than 30 tyers demonstrating an astounding variety of flies, attending the Expo is a crash course in upping your tying skills.

The Fly Tying Expo is a fundraiser to support the Chapter’s work and outreach. Flies tied at the event are donated by the tyers for bucket draws. The event also features a silent auction including trips and fishing related items. Fundraising proceeds go to:

1.  Youth programming that introduces kids to fly fishing and healthy watersheds; 

2.  St. Vrain Creek habitat improvement and restoration; and

3.  Educating our community on the value of healthy streams and trout habitat.

2025 Tyer lineup 

Jonathan Antunez | Scott Drake | Rod Dufour

Phil Cavendor | Chuck Esch | Jason Haddix

Kevan Davidson | Stephen Johnson | John YI

Shannah Fedus | John Majerus | Steve Maldonado

Dennis Martin | Mark Mcmillian | Teryll Monroe

Rich pilatzke | Jane Retherford | Micheal ringus

Dick shinton | Marty staab | rick takahashi

anh thai | cat toy | Susan underwood

James Ushiyama | Frank whispell | janine whispell

lydia wickizer | fran Blayney | Phil Iwane 

stephanie hazelton

January 18th, 2025, Saturday from 9 am to 2 pm!

Angler's Covey, Womens Fly Tying Showcase

Please join me for this very special event featuring a day of fly tying by the ladies!  Come see Anh Thai, Cat Toy, Rachel Leinweber, Amy Grigg, and Lydia Wickizer tie their favorite fly patterns.

This is a great opportunity for fly tyers of all abilities to ask questions, learn, and be a part of the fly tying community!  There will be some giveaways throughout the day.

Don’t miss this chance to see some of most creative and awesome women fly tyers!

Anglers Covey:

295 S 21st St, Colorado Springs, CO 80904

We hope to see you there!

The International Sportsmen's Expo is happening January 9th through January 12, 2025

Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday!

The Denver Colorado Convention Center

700 14th Street

Denver, CO 80202

Phone: (303) 228-8000

Email: info@denverconvention.com

Public Show Hours:

Thursday Noon to 7:00pm

Friday Noon to 7:00pm

Saturday 10:00am to 7:00pm

Sunday 10:00am to 4:00pm

2025 Fly-Tying Video Theater Schedules 

Thursday, January 9th, 2025 12:00-3:30pm: 

Steve Schweitzer - Dick Shinton - Susan Underwood – Richard Pilatzke- Terra Groah - Todd Birchby – John Yi - Joe Brenton - Jane Retherford - Mary Manka 

3:30-7:00pm: Steve Schweitzer - Ralph Rhoades - Hans Mylant - John Vevurka – Janine Whispell – Terra Groah - Eric Pettine - Todd Birchby – John Yi – Joe Brenton - Jane Retherford - Mary Manka 

Video Tyers: Frank Whispell (12:30); Mark McMillan (2); Kirk Bien (3:30); Chris Steinbeck (5)

Friday, January 10th, 2025 12:00-3:30pm: Daryl Eakins - Dennis Martin - Dick Shinton - Susan Underwood - Frank Whispell - Janine Whispell - Ben Baxter - Cat Toy - Bret Oeltjenbruns – Steve Schweitzer - Tim Jacobs - Elkan Normadin 

3:30-7:00pm: Garrison Doctor - Scott Stisser - Steve Maldonado - Kevan Davidson - Barbara Luneau - Mark Rayman - Bill Kirk – Cat Toy - Joel Evans – Eric Pettine - Tim Jacobs - Renea Pedersen 

Video Tyers: Garrison Doctor (12:30); Steve Maldonado (2); Pat Dorsey (3:30); Steve Schweitzer (5) 

Saturday, January 11th, 2025 10:00am-2:00pm: 

Rick Takahashi - Chris Krueger - Chuck Esch - Kevan Davidson – Steve Rogers - Steve Schweitzer - Stephanie Hazelton - Joel Evans – Shannah Fedus – Frank Whispell - Cat Toy - Anh Thai

Sunday, January 12th, 2025 10:00-1:00pm: 

Daryl Eakins - John Vevurka - Chuck Esch - Phil Iwane - Bret Oeltjenbruns - Stephanie Hazelton - Antonio Rodrigues - Lydia Wickizer - James Ushiyama - Jon Easdon – Mark McMillan - Loren Mcglone 

1:00-4:00pm: Daryl Eakins – Joel Evans - Renea Pedersen – Stephen Johnson - Barbara Luneau - Mark Rayman - Joe Brenton - Eric Pettine - Fran Blayney - Natasha Blayney - Jonathan Antunez – Richard Pilatzke 

Video Tyers: Daryl Eakins (10:30); Phil Iwane (12); Loren Mcglone (1:30), Antonio Rodriguez (3)

We hope to see you there! 

Fly fishing in New Zealand

 

Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would have the opportunity to fish in New Zealand.  It is worth it to travel halfway across the world and fish here!  Picturesque rivers with gin clear water, and enormous, magnificent wild trout.  We were on central North Island which is primarily rainbow trout territory.  Some of the best trout hunting and sight fishing for the wary 8-10 pound plus stout rainbow trout.  

Mt. Taranaki.

Mount Taranaki is the second highest mountain in the North Island, and it is a monumental geographical feature of the region.  The word Taranaki likely reflects the Māori connection to the land, describing the iconic volcanic mountain in New Zealand, Mount Taranaki.  Mount Taranaki, stands at 8,261 feet, a majestic and iconic stratovolcano in New Zealand.  It’s not only the second highest mountain in the North Island after Mount Ruapehu, which rises to 9,177 feet, but also holds great cultural and spiritual significance for the Māori people.

Some of the most picturesque remote landscapes.

The foliage and flora found around the rivers on the North Island of New Zealand thrive in moist, nutrient-rich soils including plants like New Zealand flax, kahikatea, cabbage trees, mānuka, and rushes often grow along the banks of the rivers. Other native plants include New Zealand sedge, Māori onion, toetoe, purua sedge, cutty grass, tussock grass, and jointed wire rush.  The ecosystem is an incredibly rich that supports a variety of fish, native birds, and insects while also playing an essential role in the water purification and erosion control.

The incredible bug life in the river.

The morning skies were darkened overcast with an intermittent drizzle.  The water was crystal clear and the river bottom bejeweled with colorful large river rock.  Our guide, Adam Priest, from the Mount Taranaki area prepared us for a full day of miles to explore and fish onto one of North Island’s stunning rivers.  The river scenery was so breathtaking, I had to consistently concentrate on my wading in the river and where Adam was.  Stop where Adam did as these huge, wild rainbow trout are guarded and would flee a favorite riffle or pool immediately.

The scenery is magnificent and very remote.

Precise, quiet casting upriver to the trout, or the game was over.  A successful take and hook set required careful skills to fight and bring in these stunning wild trout.  The play of these trout was exhilarating, but needed ample opportunity to unleash, otherwise, it was a losing strategy.  If he ran, you hurdled along. The art of netting always comes right down to patience.  The first fish in the net seemed unbelievable, but an absolute moment of triumph!

New Zealand longfin eel live in the rivers and creeks.

Upon enjoying the unique plush flora, fernery, forests and coastal gardens, I discovered the New Zealand longfin eels.  They live an incredibly long life with recordings of females reaching 106 years in age and weighing up to 52 lbs.  They spend their lives in the rivers, lakes, and streams before migrating to the sea to breed.  They can grow quite long up to 79 inches in length.  Magnificent creatures if you asked me.  They may attack trout as one of my trout I caught had a bite to its tail.

This rainbow trout bit by a longfin eel.

A successful thrilling day of wading and stalking the trout!  A return to the to the hotel for a hot shower and some fish and chips for dinner.  A day full of amazing memories!  A day fishing on the North Island of New Zealand is definitely a goal or dream one would like to accomplish; I highly recommend it!

Digitalis Purpurea

The play of these trout was exhilarating!