When 64 of the region’s finest fly-tyers gather Saturday at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds for the annual West Denver Trout Unlimited fly-tying clinic, fur and feathers will fly in a dazzling amalgam of art and function.
Showgoers by the hundreds will marvel at the latest in technique and materials, at the skill involved in creating patterns that might make angels weep.
Then, when the ice melts in a month or so, they’ll rush out to actually fish with something else.
At least that’s the indication from a recent survey conducted among the other west suburb brethren, those from the Evergreen TU chapter.
Asked to choose the most indispensable dozen patterns, the ones without which their boxes would seem bare, the Evergreen faithful voted the Parachute Adams as No. 1.
Parachute Adams? In the dizzying context of the upcoming show, that’s like entering a donkey in the Kentucky Derby, a mutt at Westminster.
But when it comes to selecting the flies to put in the water for those everyday situations we encounter in our neck of the woods, here’s what came out, in order of popularity: Parachute Adams, Copper John, Elk Hair Caddis, Pheasant Tail, Wooly Bugger, Blue-wing Olive, RS-2, Stimulator, Mercury Midge, Black Beauty, ant, San Juan Worm and, to make it a baker’s dozen, Prince Nymph.
So much for the basics. Now for the show. The mere fact that the West Denver affair has been around for 33 years is evidence enough that fly-tying ranks as the most popular outdoor-related activity when this piece of the calendar rolls around.
A homegrown affair with origins in the back room of a local restaurant now very likely is the best of its kind in the country, a place to learn not only new patterns, but new skills.
This year’s show, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m., will feature sessions in a fly-tying theater with Rick Takashi, John Betts, Charlie Vestal, Larry Kingrey and Charlie Craven.
It also will welcome war veterans as part of the Healing Waters Project. Organizers also will collect materials and flies to be sent to troops in Iraq. Those who contribute materials will receive a $2 discount from the $10 admission. Children age 12 and under may attend free. Proceeds benefit the chapter’s Golden Mile stream improvement project on Clear Creek.
The event is at the main fairground pavilion, located at the southwest corner of the West Sixth Avenue and Indiana Street intersection.
The lineup
Bob Shaw, Carl Pennington, Marty Bartholomew, Jim Neiberger, Joe Brenton, Shawn Bratt, Thomas Schneider, Herman deGala, Brian Yamauchi, Dennis Martin, Vincent Su, Eric Ishiwata, Jason Goodale, Mark McMillan, Mark Tracy, Pat Dorsey, Jonathan Keisling, Eric Atha, Bob Dye, Mac Packer and Curt Barton.
Also, Kyle Murphy, Rob Brozovich, Dan Pass, Dave Leinweber, John Gordon, Juan Ramirez, Curtis Andrews, Thad Strom, Vinny Pachelli, Boomer Stout, Greg Garcia, Dennis Collier, Tony Spano, Dave Ziegman, Russell Ellis, Chuck Prather, Deward Yocum, Scott Stisser, Bill Searles.
Plus, Marvin Nolte, Frank Whispell, Kevin Evans, Jeffrey Sirbu, Ed Berg, Al Makkai, Mahlon Ozmun, Tom Juracek, Ryan Jones, Frank Prekel, Harold Phebis, Nancy Cloos, Dawn Blom, Connie Rogers, Doug Borer, Chuck Goldone, Kurt Pflock, Al Ritt, Ken Walrath.
Charlie Meyers: 303-954-1609 or cmeyers@denverpost.com
