The Fly Fishing Retailer Show Draws Nigh; Any Requests From the Undergrounders?
By Tom Chandler on Sep 11, 2007 in Underground Entertainment
As you well know, the Trout Underground will soon be packing his tattered bags and heading for the Fly Fishing Retailer show in Denver, where we fully expect to feed at the industry trough of free beer and wild, Hollywood-style orgies parties.
On the off chance neither happens and we’re stuck actually reporting on the event, I thought I’d put it to the Undergrounders; what do my loyal twisted readers want to see?
Posts about the latest in fly line technology? In-depth analysis of the incremental improvements in wading boot evolution?
Or juicy, wholly unsubstantiated industry gossip news?
The floor is yours Undergrounders. What do you want to read about? Let me be your drunken eyes and ears…
Technorati Tags: fly fishing, ffr, fly fishing retailer, trade show
Alex | Sep 11, 2007 | Reply
Juicy Gossip and products that actually have real purpose
Sully | Sep 11, 2007 | Reply
Snarky commentary about corporate costumers for us customers.
You know- the usual.
Mark | Sep 11, 2007 | Reply
Naked pictures of Joan Wullf at the orgie…
Mad Dog | Sep 11, 2007 | Reply
TC,
I like Joan Wulff, so please don’t post any naked shots of her. That aside, try to find out the industry take on declining number new participants in the sport. And lastly, see if you can get a Donny Beaver brochure… or at least a T-shirt…
Call me,
md
kbarton10 | Sep 11, 2007 | Reply
Can you get me one of those “Jesus Loves High Modulus Graphite” tee shirts?
KW Morrow | Sep 12, 2007 | Reply
Anything’s gotta be better than that lame Maine canoe hat! LOL
Just kidding. That was awesome! LOL
Seriously, I think you should ask every industry executive you meet the following question and report back the answers to us here:
Now that we know that about ten times more fly anglers are getting their fly fishing information from websites than from magazines and TV shows, why is most of your marketing and advertising budget still being focused on outdated media?
Alex | Sep 12, 2007 | Reply
Great question, I’d like to know that too
Dan | Sep 12, 2007 | Reply
I would like to know what’s new in fiberglass rods. Take a look at TL Johnson if they are there. Maybe any Japanese glass or bamboo rod makers.
Tom Chandler | Sep 12, 2007 | Reply
kbarton: How about a nice mug instead?
And certainly, nobody’s more interested in the marketing question than I am, having condemned the fly fishing industry for its largely stone age approach to marketing…
As for glass rods, I don’t believe McFarland and Steffen will be there, and my email to T&T hasn’t been answered. That leaves Diamondback (Cortland) and Johnson, and I was planning to check in on them.
It’s a small market, but I like the rods, so…
There will no desecration of Joan Wulff on this site. Our standards are low, but some place you just don’t go…
Don | Sep 12, 2007 | Reply
A report on the new “must-have” and/or “you can’t catch a fish without” items would be nice.
Can I put dibs on any door prizes you win? I don’t need a Nor Vise, but the BANG BANG club has a nice ring to it and I can alway use some Keough hackle. A trip to the To-toy-lon River lodge might be nice…
Graham | Sep 12, 2007 | Reply
Booth babes…
Alistair | Sep 12, 2007 | Reply
Is there a free bar at these things ?
Tom Chandler | Sep 12, 2007 | Reply
I can see that my readers enjoy a keen grasp of the situation.
thee gotdam AHW | Sep 12, 2007 | Reply
REPRESENT, SON!
Tom Chandler | Sep 12, 2007 | Reply
AHW: I’m not wearing the fish costume to the show. No discussion.
kbarton10 | Sep 12, 2007 | Reply
Can you at least tell us what new songs the wall mounted rubber bass will be singing this holiday season?
Any chance for “Stairway to Heaven?” (Led Zeppelin)
Gerry C | Sep 12, 2007 | Reply
How about looking at one of the new ‘carrot’ rods. You could sample the aroma from the stem and reply, “the aroma is a little stagnate, is this last year’s model?”
Tom Chandler | Sep 12, 2007 | Reply
Ahh, the carrot rod. I forgot. Better check the exhibitor list, and hope there are no rabbits in the Colorado Convention Center.
KW Morrow | Sep 13, 2007 | Reply
I hear they really improve your night fishing.
Graham | Sep 13, 2007 | Reply
Seriously, are there any sources for reasonably-priced, fairly decent bamboo blanks?
Tom Chandler | Sep 13, 2007 | Reply
Graham; I’ll look into it, but in the quantities a custom builder would be interested in, I think you’re talking about the Chinese built blanks. Initial quality on these was uneven, but I have heard they’d improved.
Only a handful of American builders could produce blanks in any quantity, and it’s unlikely they’d give up more lucrative complete rod sales to do so.
flytimes | Sep 13, 2007 | Reply
Start a rumor that fly fisherman far and wide are tired of ultra lite, ultra fast speed sticks and want to see more in the way of staunch “medium fast” rods that can take the sort of abuse that sports who sit in the bow of a drift boat all day couldn’t possibly dish out.
That’s all.
Wyatt
Cameron D. | Sep 13, 2007 | Reply
Any new gear that will really make an impact on our fishing, like making some aspect simpler, faster, or less time consuming. And also any good books soon to be off the printing presses.
Steven | Sep 13, 2007 | Reply
Floating Fly lines with a tip that really floats
… I will be happy to test any that make that claim. (DT4 or 5)
Murdock | Sep 13, 2007 | Reply
I want to see a lot of postings about how you spent all your money buying beer for your fellow bloggers.
Tom Chandler | Sep 13, 2007 | Reply
flytimes: No way. As long as the rod companies think the parking lot rods are most desirable, the medium action tapers will remain cheaper. I mean, why clue in Diamondback that the best rods in their line are their Diamondglass, which you can often buy for $200 or less?
Cameron: Never lose that sense of humor. And I’m on the lookout for books.
Steven: Where’s the challenge in fishing a floating fly line that actually floats? Next you’ll want flies that actually float. But I’ll look.
Murdock: No way. I ain’t beer. I champagne, baby…
Moldychum | Sep 13, 2007 | Reply
We’ll buy the beer if you buy the slaw dogs.
Tom Chandler | Sep 13, 2007 | Reply
This is the difficulty in removing myself from my native habitat. I won’t have access to slaw dog manufacturing facilities.
And besides, you’re putting that beer on a company expense account. If I buy slaw dogs on this trip, I’ll have to blog another 85 years to pay for them…
flytimes | Sep 13, 2007 | Reply
Good point Tom, that’s why you’re #1. Have fun at the show.
WT
frogmorton | Sep 14, 2007 | Reply
Ask the big manufacturers to join the fight for access rights. Watch ‘em scatter like a pod of spooked brookies.
Tom Chandler | Sep 14, 2007 | Reply
Flytimes: I assume you mean #1 in terms other than excrement? Just checking…
Frog: He goes right for the jugular…
Murdock | Sep 14, 2007 | Reply
For the record, I will be selling “slaw dog offsets” at the show to those of you who would have a slaw dog but don’t want a lot of guilt about eating it. ahem…
Jack Holton | Sep 14, 2007 | Reply
Hi,
Try Dennis Stone for bamboo blanks. His ferruled blanks are $265 and have gotten great press on Clark’s forum. Also, I have bought several blanks recently from Tim Zietak and have been very impressed with both the price and quality. Give him a call, he may have some available a prices below the custom blanks on his web site.
Best Regards,
Jack Holton
Scott | Sep 14, 2007 | Reply
How about checking to see if anyone has invented a super light weight backpacking float tube — see if they have any with SpongeBob printed on them, those are the coolest ones.
Robert D. Reed | Sep 16, 2007 | Reply
While you’re up, if it isn’t too much trouble… could you check and see if anyone’s making lids for Goodwin Granger rod tubes?