I had a great time at the 2018 NW Fly Tying & Fly Fishing Expo in Albany, OR last weekend. I was able to catch up with friends, watch some fly tyers, teach a Contemporary Soft Hackle Fly class, and demonstrate a few of my flies. What I was most excited about was a group of seven Next Cast Flyfishers and fly tyers who arrived at the NW Expo to show their own fly tying skills.

This is the second year Next Cast Flyfishers have tied at the NW Expo. And I couldn’t be more proud!
I’ve written numerous posts about the Next Cast Flyfisher program and helping these kids become better fly tyers. Here are a few posts to provide a little more information about them and the Next Cast program:
- Heading to the 2018 NW Expo – March 2018
- Volunteer Activities and Fly Tying – February 2018
- 2017 Next Cast Flyfishers Master Class – July 2017
- Fish Camp 2017 – July 2017
- 2017 Stan Walters Memorial Fly Tyer of the Year – March 2017
- Next Cast Flyfishers Master Class – July 2016
- Next Cast Flyfishers Camp – June 2015
I hope you spend a little time getting to know our Central Oregon Flyfisher’s youth program.
Here are a few pictures of the kids tying their flies:
Branson started from the beginning of the program.


And the Beetle Bailey fly he tied. I wonder where he learned that fly?
And his friend Joe…also with his Beetle Bailey.


Forrest tied at last year’s NW Expo.

He ties some great looking flies! Here is one of his with a little CDC for the hackle.

Kincaid also tied last year.

Here is a streamer of his.

Joey is a talented fly fisher and fly tyer as well.

You might have liked his jewel nymph picture above.
And last, but not least, we have a set of twins that are talented as well.
Anders

And the fly he tied at the NW Expo.

And his brother Isaac

Here is his streamer.

If you attended the NW Expo, I hope you were able to watch one or two of these kids. They are the future of our sport!
These kids are good fly tyers and fly fishers. I think I need to follow them around and learn a few things!
Enjoy…go fish!
John, Anders and Isaac are my grand nephews and I think Fly tying and fishing are their lifetime addictions. A great addiction in this day and age. I’m proud to say I got them started down this path. Anyway I get your weekly email and am wondering if you offer tying lessons. I’m not a beginner but have been focusing on steelhead. I like you approach of matching flies with a body of water. Looking forward to hearing from you. Thanks, Steve
Steve
Thanks for your comment…email sent.
John