Perhaps, just perhaps, there is a change going
on in the fly fishing industry for the better.
For the past year, or so, much hand-wringing
and tooth-gnashing has been the order of the
day. Most retailers and manufacturers have
dithered over which big tackle show to attend
this fall. For those of you that don't know,
or much care either, there has been one, and
one only, every fall in Denver, CO. It is where
most of the fly tackle manufacturers went to
entice the fly tackle dealers to buy the latest
and greatest stuff for the up-coming year.
Producers and buyers from several world markets
showed up annually for the three day event.
Like most things, over the
years it grew and expanded and tried to be bigger
and better each fall. Then the inevitable happened.
Dissension and fragmentation entered the scene and
with it the potential for a second show developed.
Not only the potential; a new group formed and set
one up. On the surface this may seem as a good
idea, but hold on. It costs plenty for a manufacturer
to set up at these things. Time, dollars, etc. And
to set up at two shows in the same month and in
different states? How about the retailers? The same
goes for them too.
The results were near
mass-confusion in the industry for the past
several months. Questions like; which show
to go to, should we go to both, not go to
either, which is going to be bigger, can the
new group produce a bigger show than the
older group in it's first year? This was not
small stuff for the industry; it really shook
them up. As could be expected, some went to
one, others to the other, some to both, and
some did not attend either one. Well, so what...
Perhaps you and our
recreation will benefit, that's what. It
got things moving. It woke up some of
the more complacent ones. Hard to argue
with the fact that competition is good
for a trade. Sometimes just a good shake-up
is in itself not too bad an idea. Instead
of whining about lemons, let's hope these
guys can make lemonade from this season and
both spend time supporting the recreation
they each claim to love and not worry too
much about each other. I personally wish
them both the best success now and in the future.
I could only attend one
of the shows this fall. I chose the one in
Salt Lake City, UT. It was just dandy. How
did I like it? Just fine. It was very well
attended, very sincere merchants and buyers,
well run from the top down. Was it better
than the show in Denver last year? Not a
fair question, they are all different.
So, who is my
'Pick-of-the-Show?' Miller-Freeman.
They are the boys who put on the show in
Salt Lake City, UT. They seem to me to be
the biggest single feature of the show. I
know you were looking for some neat 'something'
I found at the show as a pick. Trust me, I
found plenty and will bring them to you over
the next months. But, my hat is off to the
guys that got together and formed the group
and set up the show, and made it all work out
so well. Congratulations
Miller- Freeman and all the
rest of you that made it possible.
~James Castwell
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