Somerset Show recommendations

[C&R]

Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!

OK, so here I am looking at the list of events for the Somerset show and obviously realizing that I won't be able to see everything. The list is huge.

Its a good thing I have that Friday off from work. I can go on Friday all day and Saturday morning till mid-afternoon. Anyone going on Friday?

As I mentioned in another related thread, this is my first time going so it would probably be a good idea for me to come up with a game plan before I go so that I maximize my fly fishing intake.

Below is a list of things I want to definitely see.
I assume these are free of charge, unlike "classes with experts" which charge $75.

Any recommendations for/against any of these.
Any others you think are worth the time?

Seminars:
FFing the Delaware - Al Caucci
Tactics for Larger Trout - Barry Beck
Underwater World of Trout - Ozzie Ozefovich
Nymph Fishing - Ed Engle
Match the Naturals - A.K. Best
Ever-Evolving Fly Box - Dick Talleur
Northeast Season, Baits, and Flies

Demos:
Adding Yards to Your Cast - Scott
Casting Techniques Made Easy - St. Croix
Accuracy and Distance - G. Loomis
From First Cast to Double Haul - Sage

Theater (are these videos?)
Beaverkill for Beginners - George Simon
FFing the Delaware - John Dembeck
Delaware Rainbows, Hatches, and More
NJ Trout - 20 Fave Flies - Matt Grobert
Finding and Catching Larger Trout - Craig Hull
Upper Delaware Flows - Jim Serio
FFing for Steelhead/Browns in Great Lake Tribs - Paul Jacob
Fly Fishing Made Easy - Dell Kauss

 

[Fly Tier]

C&R,
The destination theatre presentations can be talk, slide or video. Most are slide shows.

If you are looking to save some time, the Ozzie underwater trout presentation, although excellent, you can buy the DVD there.

Pick a few, dont over do it. Spend time walinkg around. You need about a full day just to visit the booths on the floor.

 

[JeffK]

I would just wander around the place for a few hours to see who is there, then focus on what grabs me - there is plenty to see, but too much to go deep into.

Never took a course, but the instructors are all top notch and in this day and age $75 to learn a new skill is not all that expensive. The seminars are also great - have learned plenty from them (Koch and Holbrook give a great one on midge fishing). However, the rooms fill up quickly so go early and get a front row seat.

It is helpful to come up with a few things you really want to focus on and concentrate on them. It may be looking for a bamboo rod, getting oddball tying materials, looking for bargain hooks, figuring out soft hackle wets, looking for a summer vacation spot, learning about salt water, checking out antique tackle, learning to spey cast, etc, etc. If it relates to fly fishing - you can learn it there and it is a couple of day chance to see a lot of experts in almost any aspect of fishing in one place.