Sunday March 22nd, 11-4. Free Admmission, kid friendly, open bar, food all day.
The D.S. Smith Memorial: Central New York Fly Tying Symposium
The largest fly tying event of New York
FREE ADMISSION
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The Central New York (CNY) Fly Tying Symposium, now named the D.S. Smith Memorial CNY Fly Tying Symposium, is a premier annual gathering for anglers and conservationists. Sponsored by JP Ross Fly Rods and Steet Toyota Group, it serves as both a community celebration and a fundraiser for local cold-water conservation.
Event Logistics
Date & Time: Sunday, March 22, 2026, from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Location: Harts Hill Inn, 135 Clinton St, Whitesboro, NY.
Admission: Free and open to the public.
What to Expect
Live Tying: Over 30 expert fly tyers from across the Northeast will demonstrate their techniques and share local patterns for trout and other species.
Exhibitors & Vendors: Meet local favorites like JP Ross Fly Rods, Meandering Martins, Nash Fly Works, and conservation groups like Trout Unlimited.
Activities: The day includes speakers, a swap meet, and multiple bucket raffles featuring outdoor gear like fly rods and guided float trips.
Atmosphere: This is a kid-friendly event. Food from Harts Hill Inn is available throughout the day, and a cash bar opens at noon.
Mission & Fundraising
The symposium raises funds for two key initiatives led by the Mohawk Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited:
Trout In The Classroom (TIC): Supporting over 25 regional school programs that teach students to raise trout from eggs.
Mohawk Valley TU River Keepers (MVTURK): Funding water-sampling equipment for critical local stream monitoring.
Are you interested in reserving a tying bench for the event, or would you like to see a list of the featured speakers? Contact JP. jpross@jprossflyrods.com
looking for a seat?
Here is our ongoing list of Fly Tyers that will be at the event.
| 1 Alvin Montana, ADK Trout Bum YouTube Channel |
| 2 Ryan McNamara |
| 3 Brian McNamara |
| 4 Rob Streeter |
| 5 Brian Harrnacker |
| 6 Jim Millson |
| 7 Aaron Hardy |
| 8 Jeff Kimball |
| 9 Bryan Kimball |
| 10 Rich Lamonte |
| 11 Tyler Rychener |
| 12 Halcyon Fly Fishing |
| 13 Steve Szeliga |
| 14 Dom Gerico |
| 15 Kirk Klingensmith |
| 16 Jill Beattie |
| 17 Jesse Vadala |
| 18 Gary Morin |
| 19 Steve Szeliga |
| 20 Mike D'Accurzio |
| 21 Mikey M'Dccurzio |
| 22 Lucas SMith |
| 23 Kiley Watson |
| 24 Bill Foote |
| 25 Chris Cucharale |
| 26 Pat Schaaf |
| 27 Caleb Schaaf |
| 28 Jonah Schaaf |
| 29 Harold Thomas |
| 30 Rich Lamonte |
| 31 Bart Lombardo |
| 32 Fritz Miller |
| 33 Eric Mastroberti |
| 34 Chris Steed |
| 35 Rich Andrews |
| 36 Gavin Rueda |
Table Displays.
| JP Ross Fly Rods |
| Mark Usyk Fly Monkey Studio |
| Nash Fly Works |
| Heartwood Homestead farm |
| Mohawk Valley TU |
| Misguided rods, Mitch |
| Meandering Martins |
| Mountain Man Outdoors |
| Rmaki Designs |
| Lanza Woodworks |
| Tug Hill TU |
| Dr Beattie, Freedom Launcher |
| Project Healing Waters |
Thank you to our sponsors.
We lost Doug Smith too soon, In spring of 2025. Doug was a huge supporter of the JP Ross brand and was like a brother to JP. Doug and his family were at the first fly tying symposium at the Hotel Utica back in early 2000's. This event is dedicated in his memory.
Proceeds from this event go to Mohawk Valley Trout Unlimited.