While the term "conclave" is antiquated, and replaced by "fly fest", these events are pretty much the same as they were since their inception in 1964.
Since 1991, I've attended one or more national and/or regional conclaves every year. I've even been a presenter or demonstration tier at several. While education is a large part of these events, it's the comradery - the community aspect - that draws me to them like a moth to a light.
Which takes us to 2026. The 2026 FlyFest will be held September 24 - 26 at the Redding Civic Auditorium in Redding, California. As part of the promotion, FFI is asking members "Have you ever met someone at a FlyFest - or conclave - who changed your fly fishing journey?".
For me, the 1993 FFI conclave in Livingston, Montana was that event. Held at Park High School, it was probably the largest FFI event ever. That conclave featured over 60 programs, 100+ fly tiers, dozens of workshops, and over 40 exhibitors and vendors. The lineup of speakers, tiers, and instructors was a who's-who: Lefty Kreh, Joan Wulff, Mel Krieger, Mike Maxwell, Joe Humphreys, Maggie Merriman, Jack Dennis, Dave Whitlock, Trey Combs - just to name a few!
My experience began the year before in 1992. We were on family vacation in Yellowstone during the same time that the FFI Conclave was being held in West Yellowstone. Although I'd been to the regional conclaves for the Southern and Southeastern FFI Councils, the national event was like exploring a new planet. I decided then and there to attend the Livingston show the following year.
Two days before flying to Billings for the 93 fest, I came down with fever and a total lack of energy. My fever was still elevated when I arrived at the Murray Hotel late in the afternoon. I hit the bed and didn't wake up until 10am the next morning. But when I did, the fever was gone and I was full of energy.
I drove out to an access area on the Yellowstone and waded out to a promising area with a tandem dry rig of a Daves Hopper and Stimulator. Over the next 3 hours, I landed several nice trout, including an 18" rainbow and a 21" brown.
The next day was the first full day of the conclave and I had signed up for an afternoon tying class with Lefty Kreh. But prior to that, I perused the many exhibits and some of the featured tiers. There were so many tiers, some of them were tying in the gym bleachers.
Among the tiers in the bleachers was this older gentleman tying some very buggy trout nymphs. The tier's name was Polly Rosborough - and he was definitely a "conversationist", lol. There are folks who talk a lot, and not interesting to listen to, and those who you could listen to all day. Polly was the latter. He had some great fishing stories, and his philosophy of buggy patterns made so much sense.
I would later adopt his variation of the Hares Ear Nymph into an ever buggier version, which I call the Rosborough Hares Ear. It has been my all-time best submergent pattern for both trout and all species of sunfish.
The tying class with Lefty was also an eye-opener. He also did a seminar on 150 fly fishing tips which I attended. It was my first deep experience with the greatest fly angler of the 20th century and one which truly took my fishing to another level.
The next day included a casting workshop I took with Mel Krieger. It was an added course to the agenda, and it turned out to be the forerunner to his later video on "Fly Casting Faults and Fixes". Mel was a spirit legend in our club, his video on "Essence of Fly Casting" had been shown to members the first and third year of our existence. His demeanor was exactly like that in his videos... he made us laugh often. But his every teaching got absorbed.
After the class, I participated in an adhoc casting instruction by Bob Lay. Bob was a legend in the FFI - an accomplished and award-winning tier and casting instructor. And a great guy to boot!
It was from Bob that I learned a technique I employ to this day with my basic casting students. Bob had us sit in a chair to cast - which eliminates body motion and focuses the casting mechanics to the lower arm. The result is better control and accuracy. But as someone engaged in the early evolution of kayak fishing, this technique greatly reduced "rocking" when casting from a kayak - a gamechanger!
On the final day, I did a bit of fishing that afternoon but returned for the event barbecue. No sooner I went into line, three gentlemen approached me from behind - fellow members of the Red Stick Fly Fishers club! They had been out fishing the Madison that week and decided to take in the final day at the conclave. We sat under a clear sunset sky, enjoying some fine barbecue, and telling tales of fish caught and ones that got away.
I could go on about a few other things I learned from the 1993 Conclave. But this story is long enough. And the point has been made... FlyFest not only offers a unique learning experience, but a community experience that will provide memories for a lifetime.
