Just got home from 3 days at the iCast/IFTD show held in Las Vegas. This was my very first time to LV. I wasn't really impressed with the place. The show location was at the Las Vegas convention center right next door to the Las Vegas Hotel, formerly the Hilton. This was definitely a larger show than the IFTD show last year held in Reno due to the fact that all the conventional manufactures were there.
We started out Wednesday in the fly fishing section of the show. It took me 1.5 hours just to walk the first aisle. Stopped and talked with a lot of friends who were there and looked at some of the new items. Talked with Craig Hayes (owner of Turneffe Flats Resort) for a long time. A group of us are heading there in Nov.
Spent some time talking to Jon Bauer of Bauer Fly Reels, next door to him were John Shewy, Jon Luke from Southwest Fly Fishing Magazine. Jon and I exchanged a few ideas regarding flies for carp and muskie. Shewy asked "where the hell is Hanley" Also visited with the Wapsi people, spent time talking to Martin Bawden who has Flymen Fly Fishing company. Looked at the articulated wires for making segmented body's. I also made a stop at Rainy's to talk about flies for the catalog. Talked with Arron in the RIO booth. By then my knees and feet were HURT'N. and I was only half way through the fly side. I saw Bob Clouser stopped and chatted with him in the Jim Teeny booth & I can't remember who else I talked too.
The next morning I went over to the dark side.... Damn, they sure to have a lot of lures, clothing, sun glasses, etc... Some of the big manufactures were on that side, also. Like Costa, Loomis, TFO, Shimano, Columbia, etc.... Stopped by the TFO booth and talked and stayed there a long time. Lefty was in the booth most of the day, Rick Pope was running in and out of the office talking and writing orders. Also Nick Curcione was there along with Scott Leon from San Diego. I gotta get down there and fish with Scott one of the years...Also saw some of the big names like Bill Dance, Jerry McGinnis, Hank Parker. The Costa booth was always packed I didn't have time to ask about prescription sunglasses. But we were invited to the pool party which was held on Thursday night at the Hard Rock Cafe/Casino. These people did it up right. Lot's of hor's de voirs, live music and an open bar... They also gave out gift packages which were a pair of sun glasses, insulated beer can holder, crookies, hats, and something else. A fantastic party.
Lot's of manufactures had free beer, winds, finger foods on Thursday afternoon.
This show was not opened to the public and iCast was very strict on who was walking the floor. If you weren't were you badge, you had better go back to your booth or you were asked to leave.
Next year the show is being held in Orlando, FL.... Don't think I'll be attending that show.

JAY

OH YEAH, of course I did gamble. I think they are going to name a wing of the hotel after me