The American Museum of Fly Fishing hosted its seventeenth Annual Fly-Fishing Festival on August 10. The festival brought together artisans, angling professionals, and nonprofits for a day of learning and entertainment. More than 400 visitors enjoyed our growing community of new and returning vendors.
The fly tiers’ tent was a retinue of talent offering a full day of demonstrations. This year we were joined by Bill Newcomb, Paul Sinicki, Kelly Bedford, Dave Flint, Mike Stewart, George Butts, Lisa Weiner, and Scott Biron. In the afternoon, AMFF Ambassador Scott Biron and AMFF Curator Jim Schottenham led a joint demonstration on streamer tying for the crowd, which was also livestreamed for angling fans at large. Bob Selb and Fred Kretchman were on hand again this year offering complimentary appraisals, and AMFF Ambassador Kyle Schaefer returned for a saltwater casting seminar. Writer Matt Smythe, author of Revision of a Man, signed books and read from his novella in progress, Letters to Trout Fishing in America, at the Pond Gazebo. This beautifully secluded spot created a peaceful backdrop to Matt’s reading, and we look forward to more gazebo programming.
The casting competition, hosted by Orvis, was reinvented this year to allow for greater participation. Three divisions (youth, open, and veterans) brought together a unique cross section of the angling community. Two heats were created for all three divisions, the first running in the morning and the second in the afternoon. Inside the museum, sporting artist C. D. Clarke was in attendance for the opening of a new exhibit featuring his work. In the afternoon, AMFF Ambassador Rachel Finn hosted an art workshop upstairs in the library. Downstairs, in the Selch-Bakwin Fly Room, author Peter Kaminsky discussed his collection of fishing stories by artists, authors, guides, and poets, The Catch of a Lifetime: Moments of Flyfishing Glory.
As always, special appreciation goes to our sponsors and raffle donors: Alan Bourgault, Costa, Groomingdale’s of Arlington, Kimpton-Taconic Hotel, Mulligans, Northshire Bookstore, Northshire Networks, Orvis, Pets Etc., Rockwall Property Maintenance, Smuggler’s Notch Distillery, W5 of Fly Fishing, Wagatha’s, and The Works Bakery. Additional thanks to Shannon Roy for the gift of her music and to our delicious food and beverage vendors: Ben & Jerry’s, Cut the Pie, Mount Holly Brewing, Sexy Llama, Smuggler’s Notch Distillery, and Watson Wheeler Cider. Thank you to those who supported the event and made this year’s festival a success. Approximately 380 raffle tickets were sold, the weather was beautiful, and the museum grounds were full. We look forward to seeing you again next year on August 9. Be sure to save the date!
