2010 Fff Southern Council Conclave Report

[Terry Beeson]

For those of you who were unable to attend the Southern Council FFF Fly Fishing Festival and Conclave, you missed a great one!!!

Some of the highlights:

I headed out Thursday morning and stopped to get gas. When I got back in the truck, the battery was done for... So had to get a jump. Decided to take the other truck, but THAT battery was out. SO... Made the trip in the first truck and bought a new battery in Mountain Home...

Dave and Emily Whitlock were THE BOMB!!!! They are such a great couple and gems in the fly fishing world. Dave's classes were well attended and he had a constant audience watching him draw at his booth. If you don't know these two folks, you are missing something in your life...

We changed up a few things that were big hits! The registration is much faster and I saw no lines waiting to get in. Thanks to the two banks and the CofC who sent us a few folks to help out with this.

The book that you get is no longer the big 8 1/2" X 11" monster! Chris Jackson came up with a small pocket sized booklet that everyone was talking about!!!

Phillip Taylor's artwork adorned the conclave pin and another one adorned the front of the booklet. I had lots of comments on these two...

The fly tiers were moved to the center of the big room and this made space for a couple more vendor booths. The tiers seemed to like it and the vendors say the traffic was much better!!!

I'll brag a bit and say that Hendrix Outdoors was a big hit! We had a lot of guys casting our rods and looking at some new stuff! I even had a couple of fly shops tell me to come see them... WOO HOO!!!

Mark Sedotti was great! I didn't get to see his casting demo, but I kept hearing "MAN that guy can cast a fly!!!"

Without a Facilities Chair, a lot of good people stepped up to the plate and did a great job!!

The auction numbers were down, but we still had a good time and raised some money.

Thursday night welcome party... What can I say... the boys from Texas put together a GREAT meal!!! You should come down just for that!!!!

Only had three videos submitted for the video contest, but it was a good bunch of video. I challenge you all to submit next year! It's going to be a good addition to the event!

ANOTHER addition was the X-Stream X-Games... The Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. the SOCFFF Board of Directors... and the BOD WON!!! So we challenge all clubs, guides, and just fishermen in general to put together a team for next year and see if you can bring us down!!!

Great fun, good food, and lot of friends, old and new!!!! Always a great time!

Oh... and some guy we know got the award for the "Tall Tale Teller of the Year..."

[jdmidwest]

Oh... and some guy we know got the award for the "Tall Tale Teller of the Year..."

Yeah, I heard Ron White showed up this year and stole your glory.....