ROSCOE, NY — What could be more fitting for Roscoe, a little town situated near some world-renowned fish-filled waters known as “Trout Town USA,” than to host the Catskill Fly Tyers Guild Fly Fest 2025 on Saturday, February 22 at the Rockland House?

The event was sponsored by the Catskill Fly Fishing Center & Museum.

These gatherings are like rites of passage of sorts, as fisherfolks demonstrate the art and craft of creating tiny life-like replicas of insects to lure native trout—and in some cases other species of pristine distant waterways to the hook. They share stories of their adventures, perhaps tales of the “big ones that got away,” talk about their love of the outdoors, and pass on their knowledge to the next generation.

Such was the case when this sports scribbler had the chance to chat briefly with Mark Sturtevant, secretary of the Catskill Fly Tyers Guild (CFTG). He’s a noted angler, fly tier and outdoor writer, who for 22 years penned a weekly outdoors column.

As we talked, Sturtevant related how he once “stole” a pattern from the legendary fisherman and tier Theodore Gordon, and went on to explain in detail the process of fashioning a dry fly to replicate a mayfly—from their life cycles to the creation of a lure to attract a fish to the line.

In an article he penned for Public Opinion back in 2016, titled “Thoughts of great rivers stir the soul,” he wrote in part, “Rivers wind through my thoughts and memories at any time of year. Whether tiny mountain brooks or great flowing ribbons cut deep though mountains, each has its own special magic; each pulses through me as I wade its currents and speaks to my soul.”

A bit further on in the feature, the author wrote about being called to the waters flowing through the Catskill Mountains—notably the Beaverkill, Willowemoc and Neversink—waterways deeply steeped in fly fishing history.

“They are among the most beautiful waters I have known,” he penned. “Further exploration led me to the East and West Branches of the Delaware, and the wide mainstream itself. It was here that my wandering soul found a home.”

These days, Sturtevant’s introspective thoughts and fascinating ramblings on the local outdoors can be seen on his blog: brightwatercatskill.art.blog.

The CFTG was founded in 1993 by Floyd Franke and Matthew Vinciguerra. Its vision is to “preserve, protect, promote and enhance the Catskill fly-tying heritage.”

For information about the Catskill Fly Tyers Guild, visit www.catskillflytyers

guild.org, and to learn about the Catskill Fly Fishing Center & Museum, visit www.cffcm.com.