Western Idaho Fly Fishing Expo

It's been a while that I do a proper blog post🎊
Back in January, we traveled to Boise, ID for Western Idaho Fly Tying Expo.
I've heard of this Expo from the audience at East Idaho Fly Tying Expo. It's held in January, apart from other Expos and a nice little show in the middle of winter.
This year, for the first time, I decided to visit as a demonstration fly tyer, author!, presenter, and a Whiting Farms Ambassador. It was about an 8-hour drive from Livingston. We did not have any troubles with snow and winter road conditions both ways.

Of course, my demonstrations were Atlantic Salmon Flies.

Day 1, I dressed an Ottawa (Captain Hale) on a giant hook😲

Day 2, I dressed a Sir Richard (GM Kelson). I'm really satisfied with this one😏

Then I had an opportunity to make a presentation regarding Livingston's spring creeks.

I had quite a huge audience👏👏👏

In coming spring, I will attend more Expos!! Stay tuned!!
My one & only Atlantic salmon fly could be yours😁

Quite A Party..........

Oh what a great time it was.................😁
The annual East Idaho Fly Tying Expo was another great success for everyone who participated - organizers, volunteers, vendors, and of course, tyers.

Coming home and looking back, now I realize I had had adrenaline surge since we got to the venue - which means I felt exhausted immediately all programs were marked off😓. That was because I took a workshop with one of the most skilled tyers as well as the greatest instructors in the world😲.
These are NOT my flies❗❗

 We worked on this pattern. How did I do? Ahhhhhh😅

On Day 1, Friday, March 29th, I conducted my own workshop - the topic was to tie elegant yet practical fishing flies for Steelhead and Salmon. Unfortunately my wifey was too busy on her own to come over and snap pictures for me. I even forgot to take pictures of flies we completed. Anyways it was very fulfilling and intense class for both instructor and students. Especially for me as an instructor, it was very meaningful in many ways.

Immediately after, my mentor conducted a very educational presentation at Tying Theater😲.

Then it was my cue😎. I traveled with frames I made through winter. And as I did last year, I tied one & only full-dress Atlantic Salmon Fly for the session.

I sincerely appreciate all the audience who stopped by and even spent with me through whole process🙇

Due to the unusual circumstance, compared to my own tying room in my house, I might have rushed a bit. This is the finished Powell's Fancy (G.M. Kelson).  I gave to a person who sat with me from the very beginning.

Day 2, Saturday, March 30th, was even busier😆
Wifey ran her own educational booth and our little one 👶 was with her most of time.

Ours will soon be one of them😊

 My session was again in the afternoon and again quite busy with good audience🙇🙏

I ran and managed time a bit better than Day 1. With some difficulties and mistakes, here's the finished Green Highlander (G.M. Kelson)😏 Also this was given to a young man who sat with me from the very beginning to the end.

Of course, there are some other reasons this Expo is our favorite annual destination.
This time, we tried Stockman's Steakhouse😋
Need I say more😋😋😋😋

 Although we didn't win these premium raffle or auction items,

Wifey had very good luck with her raffles and won something funny😉😊

Seriously I don't think there are so many events that host so many renowned tyers like this Expo.
Expo organizers have great visions and commitment to make this event happen every year. I hope it will go on year after year and I hope to be invited again and meet and interact with great tyers.
Till then👋

East Idaho Fly Tying Expo 2018

Can't believe it was over a week ago -------- good times came and went quickly..............
I have had another great times at East Idaho Fly Tying Expo. The 25th Anniversary event was a lot busier than usual with lots of superb tyers and eager audience. I really think organizers/committees of this event do great jobs to run and to keep it going year after year.

We headed to Idaho Falls via easy 3.5-hour drive from Livingston on Thursday. As we checked in our hotel and then the venue, we started to catch up with participating tyers.
In Thursday evening, I took a tying workshop with Steven Fernandez. Long story short........... I learned a lot................😏😲

This year wifey had her own booth for aquatic invasive species & fish-water conservation. Audience kept her really busy👏

 My cue😬 Tying demo table day 1❗

Just as I planned I started  working on an Atlantic salmon fly😏

 Catching up with my mentor over my winter works🙇

We were both busy😅

This time, I was able to visit tyers who were tying patterns/genres I'm not familiar with all the time. I want to try this type for my own gain and fun.

That was lots of 🐍🐛 😂

On Day 2, I first did a Destination Program. I talked about Livingston's spring creeks, covering various topics.

Then I immediately performed at Tying Theater - another salmon fly completed😬👏

As it has been, Day 2 Saturday was busier than ever. I worked on another & third salmon fly for this Expo. I had a few eager audience who sat with me for a few hours just to see one fly was completed. I really appreciated🙏

Then here's a Kate🙌👏

 The finale banquette was good and fun as always.

 Good food😋

As always we enjoyed Idaho Falls hospitality😗
I brought back some techniques and inspirations. Demonstrating to others is one thing then learning from others is equally important. To me this is all about what this kind of event is for😃😉
I want to try new techniques and patterns right now😬.......... but the fact is I have to tie and stock up flies for fishing & guiding for the upcoming season first😓

See you in Idaho Falls next year, if I don't see you on Montana streams this summer👋😉😎

East Idaho Fly Tying Expo 2017

Right after I came back from the Bighorn trip, I quickly re-packed and then Renee and I hit the road for another road trip.

For three consequent years, I attended East Idaho Fly Tying Expo in Idaho Falls. This is arguably the best event in the West.
We arrived at town on Thursday 20th. In this town, we try not to miss wonderful foods at Jakers!!

In the evening, I took a workshop, held at Jimmy's All Season Angler, with Steven Fernandez (is any explanation needed about him?): The Pompadour Salmon Fly For Advanced Tyers.  I have known him in the book and seen him tying at this Expo for the past couple of years. This was quite an opportunity to learn his signature style from him. This extreme bending is truly technical and artistic. It is indeed advanced in terms of understanding feathers and how far they can be manipulated by us. I was kind of blind 😵during the first trial. However with his detailed tutorial, I started to get a hang of it and the "light bulb" was lit in my head💡. Not too bad for the second trial, is it😏

The class remained intense and we worked longer than scheduled. Most of students completed the night's assignment. I really want to keep practicing and tweaking these techniques I learned from now on!!

Then the convention center was opened for public and for the table sessions in the morning of Friday 21st. WOW!! You seldom see these masters are in the same picture so often 😲 but could happen at this Expo😸I was just head-down and kept taking notes🙇(photo courtesy of EIFTE Facebook page).

In the afternoon. I was at my table. Before I tie any trout flies, another salmon fly discussion with my mentor🙇🙏

On Saturday 22nd, I conducted my own workshop: Highly effective Trout Flies for Montana and Rocky Mountain Region. I worked with a good group of students. I hope I was able to convey my theories and techniques beyond each pattern and hopefully students had gained something and will catch trout with these patterns in their near future.

After quick re-packing & re-unpacking, along with the quick bite, I was at my table in the afternoon. Saturday tends to be busier with more audience than on Friday. I visited with various people.

 The wrap up😆

It was another great time at Expo😁😹
I felt I was getting used to this type of event but also I have learned a lot from and interacted with further experienced professionals, including some of true World Class🙇.
I'm already looking forward to visiting next year, envisioning what I will do and more good foods in the town🍔🍖🍦🍺

Winter Tying Demonstration

Weather is still alternation of warm and cold, brisk & snow. However it seems slightly warming up. Let us see how it rolls.

On the last Saturday 4th, I was offered an afternoon tying demonstration spot at Montana Troutfitters. Due to my experience through East Idaho Fly Tying Expo, which I'm committed to go to, certainly this is not the first time to do this. I've done a Tying Theater, that lasts an hour, for two consecutive years. I just wondered how a 3-hour theater was going to be....

Getting ready.

We had quite a number of good crowds through 3 hours.

I went through about a dozen of my spring creek patterns, some of which had variations, finishing with 5 different wing styles of No Hackle Gnat.

Over all it was good!! I was able to manage a couple of technical patterns!!
I don't think it's too early to mention: see you in Idaho Falls in April!!