It’s often hard to predict fishing, but the Southern Tier’s 2012 fly fishing scene is already shaping up to be quite interesting. In addition to several local fly fishing events and the ritual of opening day, there are a host of news-worthy stories developing as of this writing.
The year ahead will feature a number of annual conservation activities, fly fishing symposiums, and shows. These will include the following:
- The Fly Fishing Show in Somerset, NJ. This national show comes to the Garden State Convention Center, January 27 – 29 and features hundreds of fly fishing and fly tying retailers and exhibitors.
- The Al Hazzard Chapter of TU Annual Banquet. This event, typically held towards the end of March, should once again prove to be a great harbinger of the opening of trout season.
- Ithaca Fishing Days. Hosted by the Leon Chandler Chapter of TU, this annual event is held to promote fly fishing and cold water conservation in the community. Tentative date is March 17.
- Opening Day of Trout Season. Although the weather and water conditions can play cruel tricks every April 1, there’s something about Opening Day that beckons the fly angler…
- The Fly Tying & Fly Fishing Symposium. This Utica-based event caters to “kids” of all ages and is sponsored by JP Ross Fly Rods – a Utica fly rod builder. It’s typically held in March.
Additionally, the following newsworthy events remain on the 2012 horizon:
- Will New York go the way of 4 states that have banned felt on wading boots, or the way of 7 additional states that have bans waiting approval? New York City is considering a ban for City owned waters, including NYC-owned Catskill reservoirs.
- Will 2012 be the year that gas drilling begins in New York?
- What impact will cutbacks at the DEC and New York’s financial woes have on fishing license fees, state hatcheries, and other fishing-related services?
- How will the flailing economy impact fly fishing retailers in the local area?
And finally, will the season prove to be another wet one? Global warming is an intensely debated topic. Whether it is causing what appears to be highly variable weather or the variation is just natural, only time will tell...
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