2020 Western Idaho Fly Fishing Expo

I had a terrific time at the 2020 Western Idaho Fly Fishing Expo last weekend in Boise, ID. It was my 8th year tying flies at this Expo and I’m beginning to feel right at home!

As I mentioned in last week’s post, I decided to demonstrate a couple of Golden Stone dry flies – the Norm Wood Special and Clark’s Lady Stone.

In addition, I took materials to tie Sparkle Duns and my RiverKeeper Soft Hackle Cripple. I had several people ask about them and I tied up a few.

One of the weekend highlights was sitting next to Clark Lucas as he dressed dee wing steelhead flies. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to him talk about steelhead fishing with all those who stopped to see him. His passion for fly fishing and fly tying just oozes out of him!

Here are a few close-ups of his flies.

And a sequence of him setting the dee wings.

Yes, Clark is a master of his craft! He fishes these beautiful flies on the Clearwater River and the Little and Main Salmon River in Idaho.

You can find out more about Clark Lucas at Salmonfly.net – The Flies of Clark Lucas.

I’ve stayed with Gretchen and Al Beatty since my first Expo in Boise. I can’t thank them enough for their continuing friendship and hospitality over the years.

Here is an image of Gretchen concentrating as she ties a fly.

Gretchen was honored with the Buz Buszek Memorial Fly Tying award by Fly Fishers International last year. All I can say is…it’s about time! She joins Al as an award recipient. He received the same honor in 1999.

They are very willing to share their knowledge and continue as prolific authors for fly tying technique. You can find their books on Amazon and Kindle. I’ve mentioned them in several Throw Back Thursday Fly posts. You will have an opportunity to see them tie if you attend NW Fly Tyer & Fly Fishing Expo in Albany, Oregon on March 13 & 14, 2020.

Here are my traveling partners Sherry Steele and Jerry Criss deep in concentration as they tie a fly.

Thanks to my RiverKeeper Flies readers who stopped by my tying table and said “hi”. I enjoyed meeting them and finding out what they enjoy about my website.

I’m already looking forward to next year.

Enjoy…go fish!