I don’t know what it is about trade shows or conferences, but they always seem to turn people into zombies scouring the convention center floor for freebies like vultures circling over road kill. I’m no exception. And at this year’s Tenkara Summit, I managed to snag a few gems.
The first was a Summit poster designed by Anthony Naples of Casting Around. I’ll have to find a place to hang this in my fishing room (though with all the recent tenkara art I’ve been acquiring lately, it’ll be a challenge to find the wall space–plus, where’s the sticky tack?).
Next was a commemorative Summit beer glass. Not sure I’ll actually drink out of it–seems almost disrespectful to pour my cheap beer into such an elegant and unique vessel. Thanks Daniel!
And then there was the surprise gift. While filming part of the Summit, Chris Cline of Tenkara Hero slipped me an Altoids box with some parrot feathers and a few flies he tied with them. I expressed some interest in parrot feathers on social media and he came through in person. Though I haven’t tied it yet, I already know what I’m going to make with them and have a name picked out (you’ll see). Thanks Chris!
I didn’t participate in any of the silent auctions or contests like I did at the last Summit I attended but I still came away with some cool swag that will be physical reminders of how special this event was.
there goes my special revenge material… you know how you see a really neat fly only to discover it has some oddball material you don’t have? well if i ever published my sacred tenkara polar bear and red hackle fly…. everybody in tenkaraville would be looking for red parrot feathers which i’ve found only in key west fl. – sorry – no pictures….
Okay, Jason, let me try to read your mind. The name of the parrot fly pattern will be the Polly-Poly Kebari.
Make dubbing from scrap of polyethylene polar fleece — like a worn-out sock. Dub the hook with the poly fleece and add red parrot breast feather as a reverse-hackle tied Sakasa Kebari style. Add bead-head as needed or fish dry.
How’m I doin’?
~Paul
Hey Paul, pretty close! I was thinking “Polly’s Cracker” but I might steal your idea instead, LOL.
Iwana Cracker?
Good one Steve! You guys are way more creative than I am.
HA! Steve, that’s funny…sure caught me off guard…nearly blew half a cup across my keyboard!
I am always interested in the differences in language between the US and Australia. A swag is an aussie-derived vernacular for a sleeping kit, which was a canvas cover/sack with blanket inside, rolled up and carried on the shoulder or on back of saddle by aussie bushmen. much like the sleeping roll of western cowboys. same era (now superseded by breathable plastics called bivy’s with sleeping bags inserted). what you called a “swag” of gifts we’d call a collection of “freebies” and handouts.
Craig, interesting. We also use the terms “freebies” and “handouts” but especially for conferences or trade shows we use the word “swag”.
and yes, swag means “booty” in the US
The link below might interest some South Easterners. Ky has a federal fisheries facility for supplying trout to the regional streams. They are cutom building a trout stream it’s locatiion near Lake Cumberland in SE KY. This YouTube vid is from the Ky Afield program this week. Also, if you go to the YouTube Ky Afield page there is a story on a fly tier and author of Fly Fishing Ky. I picked up his book today. Real good resource for fishers in this area.
(Hope the link works for you)
BTW, love the Altoid can for fly storage.
Hey! The link didn’t “print” with my comment?? Oh, well just go to Kentucky Afield on YouTube and you’ll access the info easy enough.