Presenter at The Arlington Common Performing Arts Center
Tom Rosenbauer
Tom Rosenbauer is the chief fly-fishing enthusiast for Orvis, where he has worked for 45 years. He is the author of more than 30 books on fly fishing and fly tying, and he has hosted the world’s most popular fly-fishing podcast, the Orvis Fly Fishing Guide, since 2008.
"The Battenkill has been a part of my life since before I ever saw it. As a teenage fly tier, I fell in love with John Atherton's descriptions of it in The Fly and the Fish, and first fished the river in the early 1970s. I've been blessed to live on or near the Battenkill for almost 50 years, and it never seems to both delight and frustrate me. Its trout are never easy, but the river is always easy on the eyes."
Michael E Valla
Retired, Glens Falls Hospital public health pediatric dentist. Fly Fishing/Tying book author: "Tying Catskill-Style Dry Flies," "The Founding Flies," "Tying the Founding Flies," "Tying and Fishing Streamers and Bucktails," "Favorite Flies for he Catskills," "Classic Wet-Fly Box," "Classic Streamer Fly Box," "Classic Dry Fly Box"---and "Fly Fishing Guide to New York State"
Bob Mallard
Bob Mallard has fly fished for over forty-five years. He is a former fly shop owner and a Registered Maine Fishing Guide. Bob is a blogger, writer, author, and fly designer. His writing, photographs, and flies have been featured at the local, regional, and national level. Bob is also a founding member and Executive Director for Native Fish Coalition. Look for his books 50 Best Places Fly Fishing the Northeast, 25 Best Towns Fly Fishing for Trout, Squaretail: The Definitive Guide to Brook Trout and Where to Find Them, Favorite Flies for Maine: 50 Essential Patterns From Local Experts and Fly Fishing Maine: Local Experts on the State’s Best Waters.
Doug Lyons
Doug has been fishing the Battenkill since 1977. A past President of the Southwestern Vermont Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Doug is on the Board of the Battenkill Watershed Alliance. Doug is passionate about conservation work and passing on a better Battenkill to the next generation. Doug has written "A Fly Fishing Guide to the Battenkill" published by Stackpole Books, due out on September 1st and currently available for pre-order.
Matt Hart
The Forged Fly by Matt Hart is commemorating the craftsmanship in the art of fly tying through large sculptures made of various metals. Stainless steel, steel, brass, copper, and aluminum come together to imitate the materials of the fly tying world.
Neville Crabbe
Neville Crabbe is executive director of communications with the Atlantic Salmon Federation. He grew up in a fly-fishing New Brunswick family and has lived and worked throughout Eastern Canada and the Arctic. When he’s not navigating conservation challenges, Neville enjoys time on the water with family, friends, and especially his three young boys.
Pat Ford
Pat is a Founding member of the Bonefish Tarpon Trust and has held over 25 International Game Fish Association World Records. Pat has published numerous articles and has authored 2 hardback books – “The Best Fly-Fishing Trips Money Can Buy” (Stackpole, 2006), and “Fly Fishing Day Dreams” (Skyhorse Publishing, 2011). Pat’s photography and writing skills are displayed in Andy Mill’s classic “A Passion for Tarpon” (Wild River Press, 2010).
Pat specializes in writing and photography of remote, challenging and exciting fishing and diving locations. His articles and photos have been published in four continents and several languages and have graced close to 300 book and magazine covers over the years.
FLY TYERS
Adriano Manocchia
Born in New York City, Adriano Manocchia received a Bachelors degree from Pace University in New York. After graduating, he spent 12 years as a photojournalist. In 1984, Adriano turned his attention to fine art and quickly received the attention of critics worldwide. A number of awards and special projects marked his recognition in the art field. Adriano’s work is in major private collections. "My paintings are my emotions; I paint what attracts me. It is that incessant search for the visually stimulating that makes this voyage exciting. While painting places I observe, I enhance my images through compositional means, bringing them closer to ideals upheld in a bygone age of painting.” www.adriano-art.com
Chris Del Plato
Chris has spent over 25 years researching streamer and bucktail history with a particular focus on the unique patterns and tying styles of Carrie Stevens and the 'exact imitation' or 'match the minnow' approaches of Lew Oatman and Keith Fulsher. Chris has demonstrated streamer tying at various events, including the International Fly Tying Symposium. He has also been featured in numerous sporting publications. He also runs the StreamerList.com, a large online community of streamer & bucktail aficionados. Website: streamertyer.com , Instagram: @streamertyer
Jim Clune
Fly tying gives a wonderful "gift of absorption"*. Sitting at the bench is always my "pocket of contentedness"*. It's just a fascinating, enjoyable, lifetime hobby. *M. Obama "The Light We Carry"
Gavin Rueda
Hi, my name is Gavin Rueda. I am a youth fly tyer and fisherman from Saratoga county, NY with a passion for conservation and youth conservation education. I am also a part of Clearwater Trout Unlimited and the TU National Youth Leadership Council; and I really enjoy sharing my passion for the environment with others.
Peter Simonson
Peter Simonson has been fly-tying for 25 years, initially just creating flies needed for fishing. He enjoys tying historic streamers from the Rangeley region of Maine and especially the unnamed and other lesser-known streamer patterns of Carrie G. Stevens. Peter has tied at numerous fly-fishing shows and museum events over the past dozen years, and was recently featured in the Autumn 2022 issue of Fly Tyer magazine. Learn more at www.petersimonsonflydresser.com.
Mike Stewart
Mike is a custom fly tyer who has been tying flies since 1982. He ties and teaches how to tie all types of flies, but especially enjoys wet flys, flymphs, and soft hackles. Mike started fishing on the Missisquoi River in Richford, VT in the late 1950's where he caught his first trout on a fly rod. He has demonstrated fly tying at various fishing shows across the US. Currently, Mike lives in North Granby, CT.
FLY FISHING INSTRUCTOR
Brew Moscarello
Orvis Endorsed Fly Fishing Guide and Instructor Brew Moscarello has been fishing the Battenkill river for nearly 4 decades. As the founder of Trico Unlimited, Fly Fishing Adventures in Southern Vermont, Brew specializes in helping Fly Fisherman of all abilities advance their skills while having fun. Learn more at www.tricounlimited.com
Peter Basta
Peter's first fish to the fly was on the BattenKill near Shushan! Peter has fished this area of Vermont and nearby NY since those early years except while at college in Nova Scotia. Peter is a guide in this area and has been practicing his craft for many years. He has also guided in Michigan and NY for Steelhead but is retired from that part of his guiding. Peter specializes in taking out beginners as an "On Stream Instruction" course all done stream side. He guides on 5 major watersheds and fishes both stocked and wild trout and all fished are released.
Conservation Partners
Jacob Fetterman
Jacob works for Trout Unlimited as the NY Project Coordinator. The focus of his work remains the Battenkill Watershed (in NY & VT), through the Battenkill Home Rivers Initiative - now entering its 4th year of operation. He has a Master of Science in Fisheries and Aquaculture Management and Bachelor of Science in Environmental Biology.
Warren Coleman
Warren co-founded the TU Trout Camp to provide young teens the opportunity to learn about fly fishing, coldwater conservation and to inspire our next generation to step up and protect our natural resources. He's proud to be part of the TU Trout Camp, an exceptional opportunity for novice to advanced campers with a top notch faculty dedicated to passing on their knowledge and enthusiasm. He enjoys chasing stripers in the salt around Nantucket and trout fishing the upper CT River in the summer, but come fall he's in the Northwoods of New England or out west on the prairies with his English Setters sourcing feathers for next year's soft hackle flies.
Jim Henderson
Jim Henderson grew up on Cape Cod fishing for striped bass. He works at the Bennington County Regional Commission where he manages their environmental program, is a founding member of the Batten Kill Watershed Alliance and serves on the Board of Directors of the Bennington County Conservation District. Jim lives in Sandgate, Vermont where he raised three sons with his wife Nancy. He enjoys fishing hunting and bluegrass music.
Andrew MacArthur
Andrew grew up on Long Island where he developed a passion for targeting fluke, bluefish, and stripers with his surf rods. Now a resident of Arlington, VT, Andrew serves as Chapter President for TU Southwestern Vermont, owns Cedar Bear Carpentry LLC., and is a passionate outdoor educator. Since moving to the area in 2012, Andrew has fallen in love with fly fishing for anything with fins, is an avid fly tier, and especially loves the Battenkill watershed!
VENDORS
Julie Jones
Rablogan Castle of Scotland is a comprehensive Scottish products shop set on the outskirts of Arlington, VT. Our Kitchen and Pantry area includes everything from imported UK groceries and candy, Scottish seafood and cheese to authentic locally made UK staples. We offer a broad range of authentic Family wear and Accessories, an Extensive Highland wear selection, Wool and Cashmere Sweaters, Home goods, Jewelry and Gifts. Additionally, we are the US home of the Rablogan of Scotland range of Tartan and Tweed garments that includes Lambswool shirts, Tweed Jackets and Vests, Capes and Ponchos, Scarves and Throws and much more. www.rablogan.com
Lopstick Outfitters
Lopstick Outfitters is an Orvis Endorsed Fly Fishing Outfitter & Fly Shop in Pittsburg, New Hampshire. We offer Pro Gear, Orvis Endorsed Fly Fishing Guides, and Professional Upland Bird Hunting Guides! Visit us at our shop or on the web at lopstickoutfitters.com to start your adventure in the Great North Woods!
Steve Woit
Steve Woit is the author of the book “Fly Fishing Treasures”, a colorful review of the world of fly fishers and collecting with 800 color photos of vintage and antique rods, reels, flies. He will be signing books and displaying and selling antique fly fishing tackle, including vintage and antique reels, flies and collectibles. More information at: www.flyfishingtreasures.com and on social media on Instagram @flyfishingtreasures and Twitter @TreasuresFly
William J Hickey Jr
W. Jude Fly Rod Company Custom Built Carbon Fiber and Fiberglass Fly Rods Home of the Ondawa Series of Carbon and Fiberglass Fly Rods https://www.wjudeflyrodcompany.com/ Instagram wjudeflyrodco
Jim Becker
It was during a fishing excursion in the late 70’s through NH, Maine and Vermont that I stopped at the Orvis store in Manchester. I picked up a kit for a 7 ½ foot fiberglass rod and my rod making journey began. Going out fully on my own in 1998, I have enjoyed the development of JHBecker Rodworks and am proud of the quality and integrity of what I have offered my customers through the years. As 2023 begins, I enter my 25th year of JHBecker Rodworks. I look forward to continuing to offer personalized customer service with each rod, and continuing the tradition of hand made natural fiber rods to last the generations.