Forgive Tyler Befus if he appears a bit stressed during his presentations at The Fly Fishing Show next weekend.
After all, there’s a first book due at the publisher in three weeks for which he’s also doing all the original color artwork, a task that never comes easily. Next, consider the demands of a position on the pro staff of Whiting Farms, the leading producer of fly-tying hackle, plus hours lost at various times rehearsing for theater productions.
Then there’s the trip to New Jersey this month for another Fly Fishing Show appearance, followed by an April trip to Japan, where he’ll try for several odd fish species as a follow- up to an article in a magazine published in that country.
The guy has more dibs on his time than Santa on Christmas Eve, which understandably might make him seem a little anxious at times.
But don’t mistake this for a case of nerves.
“I’ve been to a lot of these shows in Denver and done a lot of fly-tying in front of people,” he said.
Just past his eighth birthday, Tyler Befus already is a veteran performer of the stage and tying vise, a four-sport athlete with a state age group ranking, not to mention holder of International Game Fish Association junior world fly rod records for kokanee and sheefish.
Don’t expect him to get all jelly-kneed when speaking about a subject that has become as natural as breathing. Tyler was out of diapers when he caught his first trout, but not by much. He cast to, hooked and landed a fish on the Uncompahgre River near his home in Montrose before his third birthday.
This surprises only those who don’t know his father, Brad Befus, sales manager for Montrose-based Ross Reels, book author, lecturer and himself the holder of several adult world fly rod records.
Life with the Befus family often revolves around fly-fishing – at least when Tyler isn’t participating in basketball, Little League, spring and fall soccer and three nights a week on swim team, with which he qualified for state at his age level.
“He makes me feel like a slacker,” said papa Brad, who also will perform at the show.
Tyler manages this in part because he is home-schooled by his mother, Lisa, which permits schedule adjustments.
This will be his second fly-tying demonstration at the Denver show, which runs Friday through Sunday at the Denver Merchandise Mart Pavilion. He’s a five-year veteran at the Western Colorado Fly Fishing Expo in Grand Junction and a regular speaker at various Trout Unlimited and school programs.
Tyler’s presentation on how young people can become involved in fly-fishing – a theme that mirrors the book that will be released later this year by Pruett Publishing – will be at 11 a.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday, both at the Destination Theater.
Brad Befus will be among a long list of fly-fishing luminaries at the show with seminars on fishing the four seasons in Colorado and on fishing for carp, an activity about which he has written a book with Aurora resident Barry Reynolds, another show regular.
Father and son will demonstrate tying techniques at various times on the Fly Tyers Aisle. You’ll recognize Tyler immediately. He’s not the slacker in the bunch.
Listen to Charlie Meyers at 9 a.m. each Saturday on “The Fan Outdoors,” radio KKFN 950 AM. He can be reached at 303-820-1609 or cmeyers@denverpost.com.
