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2019 Shows

1/14/2019

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January 18-20th: The Fly Fishing Show in Marlborough, Mass.  Held at the Royal Plaza on Rt. 20, this event draws thousands of fly fishers.  We'll have our new custom bamboo rods to view and cast.  Friday, 10-6, Sat. 9-5:30, Sun. 9-4:30. 
More info is at: flyfishingshow.com

February 23rd: New Hampshire Fly Fishing Show. Held at the Best Western Plus Executive Court Inn on 13500 South Willow Street in Manchester.  This is a wonderful show with many quality vendors.  Plan to attend the best show in New Hampshire.

NOTE: We have decided to not attend this show as we have a very busy schedule.  Hopefully, we will be able to make it there next year. March 16th: Western Maine Fly Fishing Expo.  Held in Bethel, Maine at the Field House on campus, this show is really fun and our rods can be cast inside this field house.  More info is at:  
http://www.mollyockettu.org  The proceeds from this show are used for worthwhile local T.U. projects, including handicap fishing access platforms...

March 17th: Fly Tying and Bamboo Rod Show at the Historic Longfellow  Wayside Inn in Sudbury, Mass.  This wonderful event is held in a cozy, friendly place and attracts quite a crowd.  Youngsters are facinated by the display of live aquatic insects and can learn to tie flies to immitate those critters!  We'll have our new rods there, as well as some vintage ones, and will do appraisals of your vintage tackle too.  The show runs 10-4:00 and is free to all attendees.  Any donations are used to purchase trout to stock in Josephine Pond for children to learn how to catch.

March 30th:  Annual Eldredge Brother Fly Fishing Expo.  This all-day event is held rain, shine, snow, etc. so dress warmly and come to Cape Neddick, Maine for a great day.  We are outside, under the tent, and will have rods ready for you to cast.  Our local T. U. chapter provides free breakfast and lunch, so plan to spend the day.  It is always well attended and the fly shop is one of the best in New England.

April 20th: Discover Wild NH Day.  This is our first year at this free event.   It is located at the NH Fish and Game Headquarters on 11 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH.  The purpose is to raise funds for the Fish and Game department and to raise awareness of the awesome outdoor opportunities in the state.  It runs from 10 AM - 3:00 PM and more information can be found at: Discover WILD NH Day

June 22-23rd: Harriman Ranch Bamboo Gathering in Last Chance, Idaho.  We will be attending this important show for the first time this year.  This event is held on the banks of the Henry's Fork river and promises to draw very serious bamboo fly fishers .  We will have rods to cast and sell there.  More information will be released by the Harriman State Park staff in May.  

August 3- 6th: Annual League of N.H. Craftsmen Fair at Mount Sunapee, N.H.  We will again have a booth to display our rods and Fred will be demonstrating casting bamboo rods at the pond.  This juried show attracts many thousands of folks and features some of the best New Hampshire crafters.  You won't be disappointed, so plan to spend the day!!

August 9-11th:  Maine Boats, Homes, and Harbors Show on the Waterfront in Rockland, Maine.  This show is for anyone who loves boats, seacoast living, or just dreams about being on the seacoast.  We love the water-oriented theme of this show and the town of Rockland has so many nice shops and seafood eateries...!  More info is at: showinfo@maineboats.com

August 24th: Annual Portland Fine Craft Show on Congress Street, Portland, Maine.   For this show, they close down Congress streetto car traffic so shoppers can casually stroll down the street for several blocks.  It features some of the finest crafts people in Maine and is always a fun day.  Plus Portland is one of the most highly rated "foodie" cities in the country.  We'll have our bamboo rods on display so come on out and have an enjoyable day.  Held 9-4:00, you can get more info at: www.Mainecrafts.org
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Broken Bamboo Rod? Contact Me about Repairs Now

11/17/2018

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Regarding bamboo fly rod repairs; As the fishing season winds down, now is a good time to contact me about repairing your bamboo rods before next year’s fishing season opens. I would recommend contacting me now to get your project into my line-up sooner rather than later. Often, people wait until the Springtime to ask me to repair their bamboo rods, and I’m normally booked with a 4-5 month backlog of repair orders, so let me know now what rods you need worked on.
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The Best Autumn Fly Fishing

11/16/2018

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Autumn is a wonderful time of year. Not only do we get to enjoy the gorgeous foliage, but we also can enjoy memorable times fly fishing before the Winter snow sets in. This month, I had the pleasure of spending 2 days fishing in New Hampshire for landlocked salmon with friends of mine. The temps were chilly, water levels were perfect, and the male salmon had already started to enter the river. These were perfect conditions for fishing bamboo.  I chose my new model #P-206, which is a 9’ hollow built 3-piece rod that is patterned after a wonderful Payne model 206 from the 1930’s. The rod is so easy to cast and is perfectly suited for #5 lines. This particular river has been a favorite of mine for over 30 years, and it was nice to share it with my friends.  Both days, I managed to land 3 fish: two were in the 20” range which is normal for this river. However, the other 4 fish were in the 5-6 lb. + range. The largest was over 6 lbs. and was so long that I couldn’t fit it in my net, so I tailed it. All fish were carefully released which is easy with barbless hooks. The second day was windy- bringing down more pine needles and leaves on the water- just a reminder of the Wintery weather to come.  What a treat to celebrate the end of the fishing season with a super-casting bamboo fly rod.
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Ted Williams’ Personal Bamboo Fishing Rod

11/15/2018

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One of the Boston Red Sox’ most important players in the past was Ted Williams.  I now have his personal Fly Rod, a Paul Young Para-18, for sale. The owner was a close friend of Williams, and he bought this rod directly from Williams in 1994.  This rod was on display in Florida at the Ted Williams Museum and Hitters Hall of Fame in Hernando. It is also described in The American Fly Fisher (publication of the American Museum of Fly Fishing) in the Fall 2005 edition.  There is plenty of provenance to accompany this rod. In fact, Williams even had it refinished so he could use it in salt water. He won the Islamorada Tarpon Tournament one year using this rod. Out of all the rods Ted Williams owned, this was by far his favorite one.  Check out my Vintage Tackle page for more details.
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August 2018 Shows

8/1/2018

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 www.Starting Saturday, August 4th at 10:00, it's the 85th Annual League of New Hampshire Craftsmen's Fair at Mount Sunapee, NH.  We'll be there for the first 4 days of this 9-day Fair.  Look for Bonnie and I in booth #111 in tent #1.  In addition to showing my new custom Bamboo Fly Rods, I'll also be demonstrating how to cast a fly rod at the Pond, each day at 12:00 and 3:00.  This Fair draws tens of thousands of attendees each year and features only the finest craftsmen (and women) in the state.  It is nationally recognized for it's high standards and all members are juried in order to select only the best of the best in each field.  More information can be found at: www.nhcrafts.org.  

Friday, August 10th, starting at 10:00, we'll be at Rockland, Maine for the annual Maine Boats & Harbors Show.  This will be our first year there and we'll be located in the largest tent on the grounds (tent F).  This unique 3-day show is located in the Town Park on the waterfront and always brings a crowd who enjoy water and the seacoast.  We will feature 2 of our saltwater bamboo rods in our lineup.  You don't have to be a boat owner to enjoy this Show and seacoast town.  Spend a day or the weekend along the beautiful  mid- Maine seacoast and take in all the exhibits at this show, which is the largest boat-related show in Maine.  Delicious seafood is offered at this fair, so bring your appetites too.  More information can be found at:  showinfo@maineboats.com

Saturday, August 25th: The Portland Fine Craft Show.   This will be our 5th year at this juried show.  It is held on Congress Street in downtown Portland, Maine. Thousands of people attend this free show each year.  Congress street is closed to car traffic during this show and it makes for a relaxed atmosphere where you can visit with us and others showcasing some of the finest craftspeople in Maine.  This city has become a major tourist destination and we always enjoy visiting with friends and new folks at this show.  Combine a visit to this show along with dinning at any of the many high quality eateries located in this coastal city.   The show 'officially' starts at 9:00, but you can shop earlier if you want.  More information can be had at:  
www.mainecrafts.org
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Fly Fishing Shows for 2018

2/20/2018

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We will be attending a number of shows this year, so here is a list:
March 17th.- Western Maine Fly Fishing Expo in Bethel, Maine
March 18th- Wayside Inn in Weyland, Mass.
March 31st- Eldredge Brothers Fly Fishing Expo in Cape Neddick, Maine
April 20th- Discover Wild N.H. Day in Concord, NH.
June 16th- Kittery Block Party, downtown Kittery, Maine
August 4-7th- League of N.H. Craftsmen  Annual Fair at Mt. Sunapee, N.H.
August 10-12- Maine Boats, Homes, and Harbors Show on the waterfront in Rockland, Maine 
August 25th- Portland Fine Craft Show on Congress Street in downtown Portland, Maine
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February 2018

2/20/2018

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This Saturday, February 24th, we will be at this excellent show in central New Hampshire.  it has over 800 attendees each year and is a pleasant place to visit with folks.  I'll bring my new Striper Model rod, and another new model- my 9' 5-wt. rod.  Hope to see you there!
It's at the Executive Court Banquet, 1199 South Mammoth Rd, Manchester, NH.  Show hours are 9 AM to 4 PM.  Admission is only $7. 

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November News

11/27/2017

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Well, where did this Summer go?   We hope you all have enjoyed some Fall fishing and are starting to think about tackle needs for next year.  Something new for us this Fall is the development of a new model, called the P-206, which is a wonderful 9' Hollow Built 3-piece rod that is amazing to cast with a #5 line.  It was patterned after two original Paynes which I owned and fished.  Built in the 1930's, both rods were so smooth and easy to cast.  Since there are many of us who like to fish 5 weight lines and sometimes need the extra length to reach farther out, we decided to build out our version of this rare Payne model.  Early 1931 Payne catalogs listed this as a model 206 (not to be confused with later 8 1/2' Paynes labeled as model 206).  It was also decided to hollow build this model to reduce weight and make this rod more comfortable in the hand.  If you are considering a long, lightweight rod for #5 lines, contact us to discuss this new model.  
Also, if you're looking for gift ideas for that special fly fisher in your life, we have many vintage rods available, included a large assortment which are not yet listed on this site.  Contact us if you have any questions.   Thanks and Happy Holidays!
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Kretchman Fly Rods is featured in a new Book: "The Fly Fisher" "The Essence and Essentials of Fly Fishing" 

4/13/2017

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Just published by this German company, Gestalten,  I received my copy as a contributor and I am very impressed.  Loaded with fantastic photos, this is one book I cannot put down!  Photos of my rods are on pages 19 & 20.   The authors have done a nice job of covering the many aspects of our sport, and here are some of the chapters:  Equipment, Fly Tying, How to Cast, Fish Species, Portraits of famous companies, and On Location ( USA, Africa, Asia, Argentina, Chile, Russia).  You can order a copy from their web site: Gestalten.com.  I believe the price is $60.  For the money, it will give you many hours of reading pleasure.  
Now that most of the fly fishing Shows are over, let me say thank you to all the many 'old' friends who attended and stopped by our display look at our rods and chat a bit.  Several new orders resulted, which is always gratifying.  One rod that really peaked an interest is my striper model.  This 3-piece, 11 1/2' hollow-built rod was cast by many folks at the Eldredge Brothers Fly Expo, and when loaded with my Rio Shortbound shooting head, it was a rocket launcher.  One local striper guide was able to cast over 70' using only one hand!  Imagine what he could do if he used the lower handle with his second hand...  We were limited by the barn at the end of the parking lot, about 75+feet away, so this rod is a great first-attempt at making a saltwater model for stripers.  It is based on a Payne salmon rod taper.  
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2017  Fly Fish New Hampshire Show- Feb. 25th.

2/15/2017

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This is the second year the Merrimack TU Chapter will host this show at the Manchester location.  Last year, over 850 folks attended this one-day show, and we expect over 1000 attendees this year.  This Annual Fly Fish New Hampshire Show will take place again at the Executive Court Banquet Facility located at 1199 South Mammoth Rd. in Manchester, NH on   Saturday,  February 25, 2017.  The show opens at 9:00 AM and closes at 4:00.  I'll display my new bamboorods as well as some vintage rods for sale.  In additon, you may bring your vintage rods and tackle for a quick appraisal.  See you there!
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    Fred Kretchman

    An avid fly fisherman for over 50 years, and a craftsman of some of the finest split bamboo rods in the world for over 25 years. Working daily on the coast of Maine.

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Kretchman Fly Rods are hand crafted in Kittery, Maine.
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