“Home” is a powerful word, especially when you’re headed that way. And in a couple hours, I’m headed that way.
Fly Fishing Retailer – as is always the case with trade shows – was more notable for the people than the products, though some of the products are pretty memorable too, and perhaps for reasons other than intended.
For example, Sage has apparently done so well with its “Bass” series of tournament-legal fly rods that it’s lovingly embracing the kind of species-specific marketing that has driven fly line manufacturers to develop approximately 1800 largely identical species-differentiated fly lines.
Undergrounders, we give you the Sage “Bluegill” fly rod:
Plus, I’ll finish up the “greening” of the fly fishing industry piece I hinted at in a prior post.
And yes, plenty more Fly Fishing Retailer news to come after I’ve sorted through the piles of literature at the Trout Underground/Man Cave World Headquarters.
See you on the plane, Tom Chandler.
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Dibs on the Sage Carp. kbarton10(Quote)
I got a chance to fish a prototype of the bluegill fly-rod. Accidently caught a crappie and the rod was ruined. Shame. SmellsLikeFish(Quote)
You should check these Vaso heated glove liners out! Have them on my last trip a couple of days ago, finally no more cold hands! v5glove.com. Keep on blogging! Katy (from Sweden) Katy Henning(Quote)
At last! A rod designed for bluegill!
Now if I can just convince the wife that I certainly can’t continue to use that old Orvis 3 wt.for bluegill any longer. Gotta do my part to keep the economy moving. Right? It’s the patriotic thing to do. harry(Quote)
Kbarton-
Garage sale yourself a Sage RPL (any line weight will do- they’re all about the same) “rebadge” it with special “bonefish of the destroyed” decals, aesbestos handle wrap, what have you.
You’re there. Sully(Quote)
For that green piece, the FFR team itself is working to ever so gently nudge the show into a lighter footprint….that sexy red and black carpet, for example, is 100% recyclable (hard for carpet), and 40% post-consumer recycled content. The CCC itself is also greening up it’s story too, even as ‘multi-housing world’ trade show descends on Denver (another Nielsen property).
call Kenji when he’s back in office Thursday and hopefully he’ll be coherent…. on second thought better email him. Kenji(Quote)
A person does need the equivalent of a 9wt to catch panfish for sure. TX_Trout(Quote)
Whilst you’ve been traveling, I’ve been enjoying “legal weed.” Even says so on the bottle caps… SmellsLikeFish(Quote)
kbarton: The Underground was throwing down for the Brownliners at the show. More on that later.
Smells: And all you’re left with is tears of shame…
Sully: You left the “skull” decal off the rod tube, but overall, you’ve clearly grasped the current industry milieu…
Kenji: You got it!
TX: Those panfish can be mean when you don’t expect it. Remember the “killer rabbit” from Monty Python’s documentary on the Holy Grail? I’ve never forgotten…
Smells: You’re a patriot, no doubt. Tom Chandler(Quote)
As much as a rod designed for bluegill is freaking awesome, I’m going to hold on to my cash until they target my fishing habits a bit more and make a rod for tiny tiny tiny bluegills! oatka(Quote)
As we say in the midwest:
Uff da. fishskicanoe(Quote)
Did you see if Scott was debuting there 2009 concept rod Redhorse model? Jean-Paul Lipton(Quote)
Tom,
Your right. Those urban bluegill in Texas are down right mean… TX_Trout(Quote)
Looking forward to hearing more of your thoughts about the Denver Show –
1. Any other new ideas from those wanting us to part with cash?
2. Did you notice any changes due to the downturn with the economy – I am sure you said there was not as many people there – is that because people dont have as much disposable income?
3. Were they interested in you being a writer/ blogger – I am pretty sure companies are always on the lookout for a bit of advertising – they are pretty poor over here in the UK with “new media”
4. You think manufacturers are going to start manufacturing rods for specific species now – obviously a bit of a ploy to get people to buy more rods – you think? Alistair(Quote)
Alistair: a mountain of work has buried me temporarily, but I’m plugging away at the FFR stuff in my odd moments (which is probably most of them, at least by that criteria).
I’ll answer your other questions in the post, but I will say that – for the most part – the fly fishing industry’s response to blogs is uneven at best.
Right now, adventure video is the rage, and with print ads tending to become less effective over time, I suspect most of the online marketing dollars are being switched into video.
I’d say manufacturers are pretty suspicious of blogs; unlike fly fishing’s print media and the emerging online magazines, blogs aren’t predictable or “safe.”
A good example might be the Sage Bluegill fly rod; I poked fun at the idea, but I doubt you’ll see much criticism leveled at the concept from the mainstream mags (both print and the new online versions).
Plenty more to come on this subject, though yes, that’s one more article that it’s tough finding time to write. Tom Chandler(Quote)
Thanks Tom – looking forward to reading it !
Yea, I think manufactures are very suspicious of blogs as they really don’t have any control of what we say – at least they know with print magazines they are relying on them to deliver positive reviews so as to actually deliver more advertising via shop ads.
Alistair Alistair(Quote)
you guys are dorks and totally miss the freakin’ point Fisher(Quote)