We're hearing a lot of talk that the two major fly shows up here are going to fold for next year. They just aren't making money. Maybe there are too many shows here but now they're all talking about closing the doors next year??? That's very distressing. I find a lot of my more unusual materials at these shows. I noticed this year though that a lot of people were getting in the doors for free claiming they were tying with a club or manning a booth that they spent less than 1/2 hour at visiting. It's tough on these shows. When they raised the door charge there was a lot of grumbling also. I really hope they don't close the doors paying that $12 - $14 to get in doesn't look so bad now. It's a little shocking to me because New England is just packed with Fly Tyers! If they can't make money in a place like this???? I think the cost of keeping many of these fly shops in business is getting tough also. I've seen a few of them here disappear. This bird flu may kill a few more of our favorite things. Stock in some of these shops is already looking very sparse in the pickings. Just thinking out loud. Deb
www.uftri.org
