Fly Fishing Retailer World Trade Expo, Denver CO Road Trip!

[Eric Ryan]

I am invited to attend the Fly Fishing Retailer World Trade Expo, Denver CO on Sept 8-10. I am going to drive, and I would like to find someone to carpool with me (share good times and driving.) I will be leaving Sept. 6 and driving to Denver in a new Honda Civic (4500 miles old.) I plan to take two days to get there to make the show oppening on the 8th. I plan to car camp (with tent), and possibly hotel every other night for shower. This is a low budget road trip with ice chest for food and water. I will pay for gas. You will bring your own food, tent, some hotel/camp money and admission fees. It looks like a really big show, and I will be networking and need to be indipendent for most of it. I plan to go to the show on the 8th and 9th and start home (Roseville) on the 10th, and arrive on the 11th evening.

Check it out:

http://www.flyfishingretailer.com/flyfishingretailer/index.jsp


Sincerely,
Eric Ryan, Owner
Ryan Rod Co.
www.ryanrodco.com

[Eric Ryan]

Just a quick update to tell you all how the trip is going...I want to thank this list for helping me find a driving partner (and soon becoming good friend) Steve Sullivan. He is dedicated and focused on pursuing a career as a Sales Representative in the fly fishing industry. I am dedicated and focused on becoming a prominent manufacturer in the fishing industry. We are currently in Salt Lake City at his Aunt and Uncle's house. We arrived in good time making the 650 mile trip in 11 hours. We will be leaving tomorrow morning for Denver and a second relatives house.
I hope to have an interesting report for all on this list who are interested.

Sincerely Yours,
Eric Ryan, Owner
Ryan Rod Co.
www.ryanrodco.com

[Eric Ryan]

Steve and I arived in Denver Wendesday night the 7th. Sept. The drive from Salt Lake City was started kind of late due to the fact that we wanted to check out a few fly shops there. We found two excelent shops, well stocked and with very nice employees. All of whom cast my rods and enjoyed them. We got to Steve's Great Aunt and Unkle's house in Denver around 9 pm, and visited until late at night. Strangers can be very entertaining and hospitable!

Thursday morning--on to the show. After getting though a short line at regestration, Steve and I got into the wholesale arena and decided to split up. The event is hudge! I was totally blown away. All the known brands, and many I have never seen before. Being an trade-only show, there where all professionals there. Everyone is dressed business casual, polite, and attentive. There are 300 booths--most of which have between 2 and 10 exhibitors. I just have to say that the core of the fly fishing retail industry is alive with inovation, quality, and competitive pricing. I am convinced that shows like this create the business relationships that bring great products to the hands of the consumers.

Two very large casting ponds where there, one in the middle for standard fly casting, and a larger one off to the side for Spey. Both were always busy.

I met several key and influencial people there including: Joan Wulff, Lefty Krey, and Garry Loomis. These people are "lifers" and should be recognized by all who enjoy our sport for their personal contributions.

I also met many new faces (to me) who were just as excited about new technologies and traditional tackle as I am.

Friday is our last day here, and I hope to give one final report before our return. I hope all who read this post enjoy yet another aspect of our grand sport.

Yours Truely,
Eric Ryan, Owner
Ryan Rod Co.
www.ryanrodco.com

[Gregg Machel]

Thanks for the updates Eric, I certainly enjoy reading them. Keep it up and enjoy your trip.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

This is a great show for all the dealers but it would be great if they opened it up to the public for a few days.

We usually go everyother year but now I wish I had gone.

We meet many people that I have know for many years which is wonderful.

[Blake]

The rest of the show was pretty decent too!

[Eric Ryan]

Final Report...

Steve Sullivan and I got back to Roseville around 8 pm last night safe and sound. We left Denver Saturday at 12:30 pm because we went back to the Retailers’ show for one last visit. I met so many people, it is all somewhat of a blur. We drove hard Saturday from Denver through Salt Lake City to stay at a dumpy casino in West Wendover Nevada. We arrived around 11:30 pm. The room was actually very comfortable, and all slept well.

Yesterday, we left Wendover and pushed on through Nevada to take a couple of hours fishing on the Truckee and the Little Truckee (California). We fished under the Boca bridge in cold fast water. Steve hooked a large rainbow with a PT Flashback on an indicator rig. He was using 6x and took his time landing the fish. I watched from the other side of the river with a big smile on my face. In five years of fly fishing, I have never had a competent fly fishing partner, and Steve is very good. I did not catch, and so we decided to go to the Little Truckee.

At the Little Truckee, we pulled off to fish at a picnic area half way between Boca and Stampede reservoirs. I didn’t think there would be good fishing due to the possibility of heavy fishing pressure at this site, but Steve insisted. Steve took the upstream path and I stayed near the car. I noticed many mayflies in the air, and started studying the water. I waded across the small river and took a position at a the top of a small riffle. I sat there for a few minutes and just watched the flat water up-stream. And then I saw the hatch. First one mayfly, then more seemed to magically appear on the waters’ surface. They were large too. I scooped one up and saw that it matched very well to a size 14 light Cahill. I then noticed the trout! First one rise then another, and soon I was presenting the Cahill with upstream casts, just a few feet ahead of their position. It was my turn to catch trout. My HexAngler bent deep with every run of the Rainbow, and my Hardy Featherweight sang in appreciation.

What more can I say? We had a great road trip. We made new friends, and shared good times. I hope anybody who reads this will consider taking a chance on a stranger to share an experience of our grand sport--fly fishing.

Sincerely yours,

Eric Ryan, Maker HexAngler (tm)
www.ryanrodco.com

ps. We’re going for Salmon today on the Feather!!! (To be continued?)

[Lee Haskin]

Hi Erik,

Sorry I missed you. I was tying flies in the Targus booth, and I wish we could have met.

Maybe next time.

Our group was able to spend a few days on the North Platte, after the show, and caught some nice trout.

See you down the road.

Lee Haskin