It was a cold day (0 degrees with the wind chill) as I made my way to the show. It was mid-February and the calendar reflected 36 days to the beginning of Spring, and thoughts of wading in frigid waters in search of trout was very vivid in my head. A warm feeling came over me as I entered the parking lot and saw the assortment of SUVs, pickup trucks, campers and trailers, all signals that I was not the only sportsman thinking about the arrival of Spring.

It was the last day of the show, and also Valentine’s Day, and I smiled as I saw the number of couples that paid the $12 admission price to spend part of the day visiting vendor booths and seminars, showcasing their latest products and services targeting the fishing and hunting enthusiasts. Exhibitions included, Bass Casting Competition, Fly Casting and Tying Demos, Archery Range, Hunting Dog Demonstrations. There were several contests to win kayaks and fishing trips to name a few.

The CT Department of Energy & Environmental Protection had a nice exhibition trailer featuring the freshwater fish, both native and introduced, that call the Connecticut freshwaters home.

There was also a casting pond for kids that was very popular. In addition to introducing youngsters to the joys of catching a fish, it also served to introduce the practice of catch and release.

I met a longtime fly fishing guide for the Farmington River, Marla Blair and as it turned out that we had a mutual friend from the Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum
We agreed that the three of us would schedule a date to fish the Farmington River this spring.

This is the time of year to start planning your outings.

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