The fly-fishing community gathered together at the Catskill Fly Fishing Center this past weekend for its annual Summerfest celebration. It was a gala two-day event, from 10 am to 5 pm on both days, and vendors began setting up tents and tables on Friday afternoon and evening to be ready for Saturday morning’s opener.

Summerfest provided terrific and unique opportunities to meet the luminaries in fly-fishing today, all free of charge - and many asked to have their pictures taken with Catskill Legends and Hall of Fame members.

Under the Pavilion the Catskill Fly Tyers Guild offered the opportunity to learn and observe how to tie flies with the experts, and meet Catskill Legends such as Tom Mason and Dave Catizone. CFFC Hall of Fame member Ed Van Put, vendor of Beaverkill Books, signed books, answered questions, and talked about the history of fly-fishing in the Catskills with those who stopped by. 

Out on the lawn in between the pavilion and vendor tents, some tried their hand at casting fly rods. Vendor of Antique Tackle and member of the CFFC Hall Of Fame, Hoagy Carmichael, was casting rods on the lawn in between chatting with visitors. Hoagy is a film/TV/theater producer and director, and is the eldest son of “America’s favorite songwriter.” 

Hoagy is an author and is considered “The Master” as a result of chronicling the work of his friend, Edmund Everett Garrison, and his craft of bamboo rod making in his book, A Master’s Guide to Building a Bamboo Fly Rod, and is himself greatly respected for his efforts in rejuvenating the art of bamboo rod making.

Attendees were able to visit the Museum and Wulff Gallery free of charge, and vendors offered a wide variety of treasures - from antique tackle, herbal soaps and books; to rods and reels and hooks; fly-tying, fly casting and fishing gear. 

Many organizations were present such as the Catskill Fly Tyers Guild, Friends of the Upper Delaware, Mid Hudson Trout Unlimited, Theodore Gordon Fly Fishers and a Veteran’s information table, that handed out veteran crisis materials and veteran’s benefit information.

There were kids’ activities ongoing - with practice casting, lawn trout and scavenger hunts.

The Livingston Manor Class of 2025 provided breakfast offerings and lunch - even taking orders from vendor’s tables and delivering food and beverages. And on Saturday afternoon, attendees were treated to live music courtesy of the talented musicians, fiddler Sara Milonovich and guitarist Greg Anderson. 

Peter Kaminsky, well-known writer for the New York Times Outdoors, gave a presentation on his new book, The Catch of a Lifetime on Saturday afternoon. On Sunday morning, Ed Ostapczuk presented “The Quest for Ed Sens: The Forgotten Catskill Fly Tyer” from his book The Wanderings of a Mountain Fly Fisher.

The Hardy Cup Bamboo Rod Casting Competition was held on Saturday. This much-anticipated event was free of charge, and offered great prizes to the winners. Competitors cast bamboo fly rods with 5-weight lines and were judged on distance and accuracy, casting into hoops. 

Derek Eberly, who has been a competitor for the past ten years, was declared the winner of this year’s Hardy Cup, winning a Hardy Rod and Reel outfit of his choice. Isakson Kulalic took second prize, his choice of a Hardy Reel, and Bob Moase won third prize, a Hardy Rod of his choice. 

On Sunday afternoon, dozens of well-wishers came up to the Wulff Gallery to celebrate Catskill Legend Agnes Van Put’s 108th birthday! After singing Happy Birthday, everyone enjoyed the delicious birthday cake and the opportunity to chat with Agnes and wish her a happy birthday. 

It was a perfect ending to a great weekend that provided smiles, treasures and happy memories to bring home.