2026 Fly Fishing Show Recap

·29 min·2 clips

A massive snowstorm forced Matthew to cancel his author panel at the Fly Fishing Show, leaving half the crew stranded.

Matthew opens by noting the timing of the 2026 Fly Fishing Show and encourages listeners to attend upcoming events. He outlines the episode's focus on his presentations, observations, and interactions at the show. His first presentation, 'Translating Small Stream Skills to Big Water,' was well-attended, and he mentions a recorded abbreviated version available. The second, 'Backcountry Trout: Gear and Tactics,' featured high audience participation with questions on finding spots and gear choices. A planned author panel on guidebooks was canceled due to a snowstorm in New Jersey, leading to travel disruptions and hotel accommodations. Matthew sat in on other presentations, including Steve Colton's on the Farmington River and Abby Schuster's on fishing Martha's Vineyard. He praises Tim Flagler's communication skills in fly tying and fishing seminars. The host emphasizes the prevalence of small businesses at the show, highlighting addiction recovery programs like Reeling for Serenity and Adams Parachute, where he heard personal stories from participants. He also mentions the American Museum of Fly Fishing and gear brands like Rock Spring Nets and Backcast Vintage. Matthew discusses fly rods from companies such as Far Bank (Sage, Redington, Rio), Wolf Fly Rod Company, and Wicked Fly, noting specific models like the Fish Whistle. He covers art vendors like Live Edge Exclusives, which creates river-themed tables, and The Forge Fly, which makes large metal flies. The episode includes a brief story about being recognized as a 'celebrity' at the show and reconnecting with a former camp attendee, John Turvey. Matthew recommends volunteer opportunities with groups like Casting for Recovery and Project Healing Waters. He concludes with updates on his articles for Dark Skies Fly Fishing and a book recommendation, 'Fly Fishing Life in the Mid Stream' by Tehran Tehrana.

As heard by us

A fly-fishing show recap where booth finds lead back to the people sustaining the sport.

The 2026 Fly Fishing Show comes across as more than a gear stop, with Matthew of CastingAcross.com moving between the wider expo scene and the quieter pull of individual booths.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

Want a fly-fishing show recap that drifts from wooden nets to the people and projects around the booths?

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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