The Fly Fishing Shows 2023

Winter can be a long and less inspiring time for many anglers. The colder weather has a pretty low ROF (return on fun). Some focus their time tying flies or bantering on the forums. The Fly Fishing Shows can be a bright spot for many looking to get into the fly fishing mindset with some fellow anglers. They are highly regarded as an opportunity to check new gear, but the shows hold so much more!

It is a great event if you are looking for trips, rods, reels, flies, waders, tying materials, or any fly fishing gear. More importantly, in today's online world, it is the best way to get face-to-face with manufacturers, vendors, and industry experts.

Each of the shows is a multi-day event that includes a very large exhibit floor, fly tiers, retail shops, and plenty of educational programs. The outstanding classes are led by some of the best pros in the business. Many of your favorite celebrity authors are found teaching techniques and sharing some great ideas on how to improve your fly fishing. Some of my favorite classes are programs about fly fishing locations near and far.

For me, The Fly Fishing Shows are a great chance to catch up with some friends I don't often see. There is always plenty of members from Paflyfish wandering the exhibit floors or in the booths.

The Edison, NJ show is one of the biggest of the shows and the Lancaster event is clearly located close to home. I like going to both!

The local Fly Fishing Show Schedule
Edison, NJ: January 27-29
Lancaster, PA: March 4 & 5

You can find out more about times, entrance fees, and detailed locations here at the Fly Fishing website. For some more conversations follow along here on the Paflyfish forums.

 

Anybody see a vendor list for the Lancaster show yet?
The website just keeps saying "TBA"

 

I looked through it. They have a map up, you click on the booths and it says whos in it.

 

Website has most of the classes and seminars up as well.

 

I looked through it. They have a map up, you click on the booths and it says whos in it.

Wow....just looked through it. I haven't been to the Lancaster show before but that sure looked light on vendors? Quite a few booths are just multiples of the same vendor occupying several slots.
I haven't been to one of these in ages (Somerset NJ maybe?) And I remember all the rod manufacturers there...Sage, etc.
Hmmmm

 

The Chinese Flu was the start of the downturn. Vendors cancelled. Edison was missing many big vendors. Hatch, Sage, Nautilus among others were no show. Looks like it is the trend

 

The last time I drove by the Neptune Diner, which was a few weeks ago, it was open. I plan on going to the show since I live so close.

 

I'll be there Saturday late morn-early afternoon, but with kids in tow, and probably only for a few hrs. When they get too bored best not to force it. The younger boy will be wearing a scout uniform.

Say hi if ya see me.

 

My brother and I will be there mid morning to early afternoon as well. I'll be the fat one with the Santa Claus beard.

 

I will be sporting a North Carolina Tar Heel blue ball cap. There is a big basketball game for me to watch after the show when North Carolina hosts Duke(the Dean Dome is only 8.8 direct as the crow flies miles from Cameron Indoor Stadium).

I was always very neutral about this game during my 18 years living in Greensboro, NC. My daughter is a 2019 UNC graduate so I am a Tar Heel fan.

 

Went today. Was very busy when I got there (around 11:00). By 2:00 it had died down, but still a steady flow. Got to watch Tim Flagler tie. Was the highlight of the show for me. He makes it look so effortless.

 

I spent a few hours at the Lancaster Fly Fishing Show and was overall underwhelmed. I suppose there were deals to be found, but I really wasn't looking for anything in particular.

I got kind of claustrophobic from all of the people in such a confined space.

Next year, I will make an attempt to visit the Edison, NJ show.

Parking in Lancaster for anything is not easy to do. I think that this was my last Lancaster Fly Fishing Show.

 

I spent a few hours at the Lancaster Fly Fishing Show and was overall underwhelmed. I suppose there were deals to be found, but I really wasn't looking for anything in particular.

I got kind of claustrophobic from all of the people in such a confined space.

Next year, I will make an attempt to visit the Edison, NJ show.

Parking in Lancaster for anything is not easy to do. I think that this was my last Lancaster Fly Fishing Show.

I agree about how crowded it was. I wanted to spend more time browsing but felt as if someone was over my shoulder most of the time.

 

I was there. It was my first show. I didn't buy a whole lot but it was an enjoyable day. Saw Joe and Gary Borger cast. I felt like the turnout was good and people seemed interested.

 

I spent a couple hours at the show today but with my kids in tow. That meant it was impossible for me to check out anything. I was looking for an 8wt rod, but it was virtually impossible with the crowd and also trying to keep an eye on the kids.

I’ll check out the Maryland show in two weeks. It‘s much smaller and hopefully less crowded, and it’s also here in Towson so it’s almost next door to home.

 

Surprised how crowded it was. Edison was not bad at all even on a Sat. There were really no deals at Edison. When I stopped at the Scientific Angler booth the Rep informed me of a 20.00 off promotion on fly lines. He said go to any vendor and let them know. I got the relatively new Mastery Standard 4wt for 59.95 plus tax. Many of the bigger companies were no show such as Sage, Nautilus, Hatch and several others. I had a good time. It is a awful drive to that area but we stopped at a good restaurant on the way home.

 

Traffic/parking in Lancaster truly is awful.

Had the kids there from 11-2 or so.. Had a decent time. But I don't know if its on the to do list next year.

 

Was there working booth all day Saturday. It was crowded up until 3-ish and then everyone vanished. Saw a couple guys from the forum.

Parking garage situation is a joke down there.

 

I don't go to Lancaster or any of the fly fishing shows any longer but when I did, I always got there and in the queue BEFORE the show opened.

Once the doors opened I could breeze through, see if anything interested me and check it out before the jostling crowds started filling the place. I also never had any issues finding parking in garages that early.

If I was even remotely interested any longer I would either get there at the same time or show up around 2:00 or 3:00 pm. It's just too crowed for me between those hours.

Part of the issue with garages in Lancaster City during the show is I believe you only get the parking voucher for the garage next to the Convention Center. If you can do without and don't mind walking a few blocks there are other garages not too far away.

 

As for the parking situation, I had no issues. I parked a few blocks away and walked to the Convention Center with my kids. I don‘t mind walking a few blocks and don’t expect to be able to park literally next door to any event that is likely to be crowded.

 

Traffic/parking in Lancaster truly is awful.

Had the kids there from 11-2 or so.. Had a decent time. But I don't know if its on the to do list next year.

Are these at all entertaining for the kids? (I've never gone.) I changed my mind about going to Edison this year because of kid activities that popped up. It hadn't crossed my mind to maybe bring the kids as an activity in itself.