After a couple of fly fishing shows, I feel like the audience that Jackson Browne sings about in “The Load-Out.” For those of you missing out on a quintessential piece of music, I’ll bring you up to speed: Browne sings about the daily grind of the touring musician, while each city’s crowd experiences the spectacle for just one night. You might know it for the track that follows it, which is Browne’s cover of Maurice Williams’ “Stay.” Brilliant fishing music, that album.

If you’ve never been to the Somerset Fly Fishing Show in New Jersey, you ought to make plans to do so. I attended the Marlborough, Massachusetts show the week before, but this was different enough in so many ways to warrant the drive. It is enormous. Any one facet of exhibitors (vendors, tyers, lodges/expeditions, manufacturers) would be enough to satisfy a fly fisher for the better part of the day. Add them all up, and it is almost overwhelming. Looking at pictures and posts on social media this week, I keep thinking to myself: “I didn’t even know that booth was there!” or “How did I miss seeing (insert person)?”

But while I am left pondering conversations I didn’t have and money I couldn’t spend, most exhibitors are off to North Carolina. And then they’ll be on their way to Washington, and California, and back to Pennsylvania. Sure, they are either drumming up business or raising awareness for a cause. But it is still travel, and you have to hand it to them for that. I get to stick around home, and they’re “scheduled to appear / a thousand miles away from here.”

Consequently, I am more than happy to give credit where credit is due. The booths and exhibitors that really went the extra mile deserve recognition. Of course, I’m leaving out some phenomenal individuals and groups. I was there for nearly nine hours, and barely scratched the surface of who was present. Additionally, I mentioned a number of fine displays in my Marlborough Fly Fishing Show post that were also in Somerset. Every one of these exhibitors did a bang-up job once again. Keep your eye on Cheeky, Douglas Outdoors,  3-Tand, J:Son, Souplefly, and TenkaraBum.

The Angler’s Inn  After some small talk about the health of the Shenandoah and Potomac, I asked owner and head guide Bryan Kelly a question about smallmouth rods. Before I knew it, we were briskly walking across the hall. He started showing me some of his favorite TFO rods, and talking about the pros and cons of each. No commission, no catch – just a willingness to help me. That is the kind of enthusiasm and attitude that turns clients into regulars.

Beau Beasley  Beau is a genuinely good guy, and a fun person to be around. I caught up with him when he was signing copies of Fly Fishing the Mid-Atlantic. I’ve mentioned the value of that book before, and I’ll reiterate it. If you’re a new or an experienced fly fisher, Beasley’s book is a great resource for finding new waters between North Carolina and New Jersey. His style is approachable, his photos are beautiful, and he really does want to help you get into a situation where you’re catching fish.

Hardy / Fenwick / Pflueger (Pure Fishing) I talk a lot about how much I appreciate “the little guy” in this industry. By and large, that is true. But the surest way to lure me in is to tap into nostalgia. These three brands capitalize on that feeling, but with legitimacy. The new Pflueger Medalists are rock solid and are a perfect complement to a new or vintage glass rod. And if you have to start from scratch, the new Fenwick Fenglass rods would be a good choice.

Flycraft  I anticipate writing more about Flycraft in the near future, so I won’t go into too much depth. All you need to do is get on their website, watch some of their YouTube videos, and think about how your fishing would change if you owned a boat like this. These guys fish, and they know exactly what needs to go into a light, durable, and functional craft.

Flymen  With dozens of great tyers, it can be easy to blend in with the crowd. Flymen Fishing Company, of Brevard, NC, has made quite the impact with their fabricated Fish-Skulls and Nymph-Head materials. I’m not great tyer, but these both make my flies look and perform like professional-grade ties. Aside from being engaging in person, the Flymen can be found all over social media and through a list of tyers and guides.

River of Life Outfitters  Chatting with Wayne and Laurie Aldridge was a treat. Both are extremely pleasant, welcoming, and down-to-earth. I could tell that they didn’t want to brag, but they were very proud of the home, business, and river that they’ve been blessed with. If you’ve fished the West Branch of the Delaware north of Deposit, NY, you’ve fished in their backyard. Many lodges make a lot of promises that are all over the place, but River of Life has accommodations that are about as close to spectacular water as possible.

Super Fly, Pat Cohen  I had seen Cohen’s work on Instagram for a while, but seeing the birds, fish, and other critters that he ties in person was awesome. Through hair stacking (using his own “Fugly Stacker”), Cohen ties incredible flies for fishing or display. “But they’ll all catch fish,” he was quick to add. He doesn’t want to corner the market in stacked-hair bugs, he wants to show you how to do it. Super friendly, he encouraged everyone I saw him talking with to reach out to him personally if they had questions about flies, tying, or equipment.

TenkaraUSA  Daniel Galhardo is the face of Tenkara in the (you guessed it) USA. His company’s rods are available in numerous shops and catalogs. His podcast is on my short list. Years ago, a conversation with him sold me on at least giving the technique and tackle a try. I’ve enjoyed my Iwana ever since, and was happy to touch base with Daniel in person last week to let him know. I also picked up their “Keeper” and new rod ties to take for a test drive. Both look and feel great, and I’ll be sure to talk about how they impact my fishing.

Umpqua  I love a good sales pitch. Most folks at the show are very laid back and casual. The staff at Umpqua grabbed me and took me through every model, feature, and benefit of their pack lineup. The innovation and technology in these “feather merchants’” sling packs, chest packs, and waist packs is outstanding. Their Ambi-Sling is unique, allowing you to switch the shoulder that you wear your pack on according to your preference for the day – or moment.

Vedavoo  The fully customized, made-to-order model that Vedavoo utilizes has only one drawback: you can’t go “hands-on” with one of their products unless you are at one of their few dealers. Or, if you get to talk with Scott Hunter and his Torchbearers at a show. These packs are so solid. If you know anything about Vedavoo, you know that everything is American sourced and American made. I’m looking forward to working with Scott and Vedavoo on something in the near future, as this is a company and an owner that embodies so much of what fly fishing in the 21^st century needs.

West Branch Angler & Resort The award for the most luxurious booth goes to The West Branch Angler. I’ve stayed at their resort on the Upper Delaware, and I can attest to the comfort that you’ll experience in one of their cabins. Along with the overstuffed leather couch, they had their full array of services on display at Somerset. The shop, restaurants, and accommodations are all great. More importantly, every interaction I’ve had with employees have been nothing short of professional.

I can’t stress enough that there were so many other, first-rate exhibitors at the show. And hopefully I’ve made it evident that those who stood out brought something a little more than just a product. The people behind the things are why shows like this are so much fun. The internet is full of rods, reels, tying materials, and all the data and stats you’d ever need. But that personal contact is what makes something like a fly line or a shirt a little more meaningful. Catching up with old friends, getting face time with people I’ve only talked to via social media, and meeting new fly fishers for the first time is what it is all about.

So while the men and women who will be staffing booths in North Carolina are setting up for the next show, most of us are tying flies, planning trips, and considering what rod we want to buy next. If you have the chance, and there is a fly fishing show in your area, stop in to see the latest and greatest – and to meet some great people that love this wonderful sport.