Pleasanton Show 2-26-10
The Fly Fishing Show in Pleasanton, CA, started with a bang, the bang as the gate was thrown open and the crowd tore through. Within a few minutes the aisles were filled with people busily talking and looking into every booth.
The crowd was into the show in a heartbeat
One of the booths that drew much attention was just inside the front door. And no wonder. It was filled with beautifully mounted fish—until one looked just a bit closer and realized that there were the wonderfully crafted leather fish by my friend Lance Marshall Boen. You’ve never seen anything exactly like this. He does a wide variety of natural leather sculptures as well as those colored to match the naturals. Look carefully and note the relief impressions on the bodies of some of the sculptures.
Lance (on the left) showing his leather fish to a potential client.
Fish on fish, some leather trout.
Of course one of the reasons that I so enjoy coming to the shows is the chance to meet some old friends. “Stew” Stewart is a fly tying buddy of many years, and it’s always fun to watch him, and the other tyers, as they ply their craft. I always pick up a hint here, a tip there, perhaps a new use of an old material or the use of a new material in an exciting news design.
Stew Stewert tying one of his highly effective imitations.
And then, there’s always the chance to talk with other fly fishers and fly casters from different parts of the nation and around the world. This is my friend, Michael Mauri, from Germany, doing a casting demonstration with both single-handed rod and a Spey rods. Michael is a superb caster and highly effective teacher who enjoys what he does nearly as much as does the crowd. Plenty of laughs, and at the same time a plethora of great casting instruction. We not only share a love of fly casting and fly fishing, but a love of fall-off-the-bone, barbeque ribs.
My friend Michael Mauri from Germany is not only a superb caster but a great teacher that really has fun with the crowd. Like that snappy chartreuse rod? It's all the rage in Europe (only kidding).