The Fly Fishing Trade Show Wars: What Happened? (And Why Did the AFFTA Prez Resign?)
By Tom Chandler on Feb 4, 2008 in News
While I’m not turning the Underground into the Fly Fishing Industry Gossip Blog, I’ve already posted a pair of articles about fly fishing’s trade show wars — specifically the Metal Cage Chainsaw Death Match between Denver’s The Fly Fishing Show (headed by Chuck Furimsky) and the American Fly Fishing Trade Association’s (AFFTA) just-launched show.
Furimsky or Ramsay in the crosshairs? (photo courtesy Garrison Photography)
If you’ll recall, AFFTA launched a consumer trade show on the same weekend as Furimsky’s existing consumer show, and admitted that yes — they were targeting the Furimsky show for termination.
The shows were held the January 4-6 weekend, and yes, I’d love to know what happened.
So does Denver Post columnist Charlie Myers, who asked his readers who went to which show and why.
The dueling fly fishing shows that ended last week at two Denver locations created considerable buzz among the long-rod community.
Many anglers chose to return to the longstanding Fly Fishing Show at the Denver Merchandise Mart, others switched allegiance to the American Fly Fishing Trade Association’s new offering at the Colorado Convention Center and quite a few opted for a peek at both.
Some comments lauded the space and family friendly nature of the AFFTA show, and yet there were several complaints about the cancellation (without notice) of a pair of celebrity clinics.
The Fly Fishing Show (at the Merchandise Mart) seemed to go off as usual; Dave Sewak of The Fly Fishing Show said "we had great weather, so attendance was excellent. We had no problems, and people loved the show."
Some complained that the Merchandise Mart is small, and that there weren’t enough opportunities to try new gear.
Ramsay Departure Spices the Mix
Adding intrigue to the mix was the post-show departure of AFFTA President Robert Ramsay, who announced via press release that he was leaving the organization to pursue other interests.
It’s intriguing to speculate about the causes of the departure, but our last shred of journalistic integrity requires us to write that his departure could be wholly unrelated to the consumer trade show follies.
We’ll know for sure in a few months, when we find out if the AFFTA show commits a repeat engagement.
Did any Undergrounders attend? Any comments from the gallery?
See you anywhere but at a trade show, Tom Chandler
Fly TImes | Feb 5, 2008 | Reply
“Journalistic Integrity”
That’s just old fashion, the pros don’t even use that stuff anymore.
Tom Chandler | Feb 5, 2008 | Reply
I know, but I found three dusty cartons of it at a junk shop and I’m using just a pinch here and there to make it last.
Bastard Mike | Feb 5, 2008 | Reply
WOW!
As a self imposed, poverty stricken rodmaker who has not attended either of the shows in Denver, AND as I’ve have had just enough beer to type a thoughtful reply, AND have a dead dog laying in the shop…here’s my two pennies…
Fly fishing shows suck.
There I said it!
Now that I said that…Chuck has been running a winter show in Denver, of all places, in January for years now. I’m not flying there and I’m not driving there in the middle of winter…sorry.
The other guys, well they too have fishing shows throughout the year as well. Promoting a show only with the purpose of running the other gy out of town or existance is merely a low-holing tactic that I hope will bite them in the ass.
I once thought about doing a show they promoted when I lived in SoCal. I was quoted a price for a 10X10 space that would have made General Motors whine (more than their trucks.)
Chuck has been very good to the bamboo makers. He seems to understand that we are not Sage or Loomis or any other of the big boys and still gives us a chance to piss with them.
He even has made ( I understand) a seperate section just so folks could go see what bamboo was all about without sticking us among the unclean. He gives us a chance to show our wares, not that I can take advantage of it! But he supports the little guy in all this and for that, my thanks go out to him.
Now I need to hook a winch up to this dog and deal with that…
Tom Chandler | Feb 5, 2008 | Reply
A dead dog? Still, we’re counting that as a vote for Furimsky.
Gnome | Feb 9, 2008 | Reply
My thanks to Chuck for his commitment and dedication to the Bamboo rod Community and the efforts that he has put forth to help the small makers; myself included.
It is alwys a treat to put up the antique display and see the reaction of people as they spend time in it. Looks of reverence and awe are the normal and the number of times I was thanked for doing the display at the show where uncountable.
The monkey business of the other show was a slap in Chucks face and goes completely against any and all traditions associated with the noble sport of flyfishing.
I am in complete agreement with Mike’s comment about their underhanded low holing tactics.
The show was a great success for me as I am now almost another year behind with new orders from the show.
Go Chuck!!!!!!!!!!
Jeffrey L Hatton
Gnomish Rod Works
Kenji Haro | May 7, 2008 | Reply
I think the point of the AFFTA show was that Chuck’s was not contributing to the industry growth…. fine for the art of bamboo rodmaking, but how does that get more people involved in the sport, which can support your local shops and eventually garner more interest in your niche? Did The Furimsky show give proceeds, even a little, to the association that supports the sport in DC and does outreach to get more people aware and involved?
Think big picture… or admit you just don’t care about what happens to the fly fishing industry, you’ve got your niche and that’s all that matters.
Gnome | May 8, 2008 | Reply
Mr. Haro,
Lack of growth in the industry is NOT FINE for the bamboo potion any more than it is for the rest of the industry.
As a member of the industry for more than 25 years to make the statement of
“Think big picture… or admit you just don’t care about what happens to the fly fishing industry, you’ve got your niche and that’s all that matters”
I care to a degree that is more than most!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In the last 5 years I have spent close to $10,000.00 in insurance to cover my collection as it has travelled to the Fly Fishing Show and to museums and also to rod makers gatherings and to FFF and TU conclaves and fund raisers. So to say that I do not care about the industry is a blatant falsehood.
And to say that Chuck does nothing is also false as he donates the space for my display and in the last couple of years that is not an insubstantial amount (in excess of $4,000.00) and he does it so people can enjoy the world class museum display that I have put together and that is not the action of a man who does not care.
Have you spent/donated to that level? and that does not include 4 bamboo rods donated to TU/FFF fundraisers and numerous other donations from guided trips to flys to art etc.in just the last 8 years and that is just part of what I have donated.
How about the youth fly tieing classes that I have given for free over the last 25 years. There are a couple of hundred youngsters out there that have learned to tie and to cast from me and all of this has been done for free.
So to make the statement that “I do not care”
Is an insult to a level you do not understand.
And I reiterate one of my earlier statments;
GO CHUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jeff Hatton
Tom Chandler | May 8, 2008 | Reply
Kenji: I appreciate the perspective, but have to call your conclusion into question; we either support AFFTA’s takeover of the Denver show dates, or we don’t care about the fly fishing industry?
I can think of more than a few AFFTA members who don’t meet the “contributing to growth” criteria, and more importantly, is that alone enough to make you a target of the industry trade association?
I think my question (and the question on the lips of a few others) doesn’t revolve around whether the AFFTA should or shouldn’t get into the trade show business (and for what reasons).
They seemed to run a nice show, and their youth/newbie targeting seemed to be a hit among those who responded to Charlie Meyers’ post.
The question has more to do with the deliberate targeting of an existing show, and for reasons that — even after a conversation with Robert Ramsay — still seem a little murky.
That’s the kind of infighting that doesn’t serve any industry in the grip of a slowdown.