One of the best ways to overcome cabin fever during the long winter months is to attend a fly-fishing consumer show . . . or perhaps several of them. This year, show season kicks off a month early, as the Great Lakes Fly Fishing Show is this weekend in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Then things really get rolling right after the new year in Denver, with The Fly Fishing Show and the International Sportsmen’s Expo on consecutive weekends. Over the next four months, there’s a wide variety of events from Washington to Massachusetts, and from Texas to St. Paul.
Every year, the list changes. Here are the shows on last year’s list about which I could find no information for 2020:
- Western Michigan Fly Show
- Hawkeye Fly Fishing Association Meeting & Show
- The Fly Fishing & Wingshooting Expo
- Cheyenne Fly Fishing Expo
- Western Maine Fly Fishing Expo
If you’ve got a link or other info on any of these, I’ll put them back on the list.
So find the show nearest you (or the big one you’re willing to travel to) and mark your calendar. Spending two or three days checking out new products, fondling tying materials, or watching one of your heroes on the casting pond is a great way to beat the winter blues. These shows are also great places to check out the new Orvis stuff!
Orvis will have the full booth at the Fly Fishing Show events in Denver, Pleasanton (CA), Edison (NJ), and Atlanta.
Photo via The Fly Fishing Show facebook page
December
7 Great Lakes Fly Fishing Show—Grand Rapids, MI
January
3-5 The Fly-Fishing Show—Denver, CO
9-12 International Sportsmen’s Exhibition—Denver, CO
10-11 Western Idaho Fly-Fishing Expo—Boise, ID
11-12 Virginia Fly Fishing & Wine Festival—Doswell, VA
16-19 International Sportsmen’s Exhibition—Sacramento, CA
17-19 The Fly-Fishing Show—Marlborough, MA
18-19 Heartland Fly Fishing Festival—Lebanon, IN
18 Cabin Fever Day—Appleton, WI
24-26 The Fly-Fishing Show—Edison, NJ
25 Kentuckiana Fly Fishing Show—Shepherdsville, KY
31-2/1 The Fly-Fishing Show—Atlanta, GA
February
1 Greater Cincinnati Fly Fishing Show—Loveland, OH
14-23 Indianapolis Boat, Sport & Travel Show—Indianapolis, IN
15 Fort Wayne Fly Show—Fort Wayne, IN
15-16 The Fly-Fishing Show—Lynwood, WA
22 Bear’s Den Fly Fishing Show—Taunton, MA
21-23 Troutfest Texas—New Braunfels, TX
21-23 The Fly-Fishing Show—Pleasanton, CA
22 18th Annual Fly Fish New Hampshire Show—Manchester, NH
22-23 Lefty Kreh’s Tie Fest —Linthicum Heights, MD
March
7-8 The Fly-Fishing Show—Lancaster, PA
13-14 Northwest Fly Tyer & Fly Fishing Expo—Albany, OR
13-15 International Sportsmen’s Exhibition—Scottsdale, AZ
14 Maryland Fly Fishing Show—Towson, MD
14-15 Midwest Fly Fishing Expo—Warren, MI
19-22 International Sportsmen’s Exhibition—Salt Lake City, UT
20-21 North Idaho Fly Fishing Expo—Lewiston, ID
20-22 Great Waters Fly Fishing Expo—St. Paul, MN
21 Fly Fishing Expo of Long Island —Hauppauge, NYE
21-22 Texas Fly Fishing & Beer Festival—Plano, TX
April
3-4 East Idaho Fly Tying/Fly Fishing Expo—Idaho Falls, ID
17-18 Wasatch Intermountain Fly Tying & Fly Fishing Expo—Sandy, UT
June
27 Spey Nation—Pineville, NY
July
21-25 FFI 2019 Fly Fishing Expo—Bozeman, MT
27-28 Branson Fly Fishing Expo—Branson, MO
Editor’s Note: If I’ve left out any shows, please include the details in the comments below, and I’ll add them to the post. Thanks!
Photo by Hutch Hutchinson
Florida?!
Yea, why not Florida? We cast a line or two at the Flats critters.
I can’t wait!
Yes! We need a show in Florida.
Florida! If you build it they will come.
Spey Nation. June 22 2019. Pineville,NY.
Added! Thanks.
How can it be the International sportsman’s exhibition? Everything is in the continental USA. What makes up the International element?
Are there other countries outside America ? surely not !
The Fly Fishing Festival at the American Museum of Fly Fishing. Manchester, VT. August 10, 2019
Thanks! Please remind me closer to the even, as well.
how about the shows in canada were and when kevin willett
March 3, 2019… The Penns Woods West Trout Unlimited will hold their annual “Cabin Fever” fundraiser show at the Double Tree Hotel in Cranberry Twp. Pa , just outside of Pittsburgh, Pa, conveniently off the PA turnpike. Lots of fly tying/fly fishing quality vendors, several instructional speakers, 9Am-4PM. Check out their website for more details.
Artistry in Angling Fly Fishing Event at Disobedient Spirits in Homer City, PA on March 30th, 2019 from 3-10pm.
need more shows in ny or nyc.
Florida, please. We fly fish down here too. And many of us spend our vacations fly fishing in other parts of the country.
How about the Great Pacific Northwest. I didn’t see any shows in Oregon or Washington.
Albany, OR March 13-14
Hi Phil,
the Heartland Fly Fishing Festival is scheduled for Jan. 18-19 2020 with a great line up of speakers, presenters, guides and outfitters including Orvis Carmel, (IN). Lebanon, IN is just outside of Indianapolis, theHFFF is in its third year and going great. Thanks for including us. Our website, Heartlandflyfishingfestival.com schedule should be current now, (Dec. 18) and also follow us on Facebook for current activity. We appreciate all you do to keep us informed.
Thank you.
Joseph Smith
The 18th Annual Fly Fish New Hampshire Show
Executive Court Banquet Facility
located at 1199 South Mammoth Rd. in Manchester, NH
Feb 22 9am
The Western Maine show
Gould Academy Field House
39 Church Street, Bethel, Maine 04217
March 16th, 2019