The recent polar vortex had its grip on the Upper Delaware River and the entire region. Most of our rivers are now iced in, and fly fishing is out of the question without distant travel. It will be a long time before we wade again and scan the Delaware’s pools for rising trout.

Winter is a tough time for fly anglers who live in the mountains; time passes so slowly. There are, however, some things that can keep our passion relevant.

As we start the New Year it is a good idea to give our gear a good inspection. Rods, reels and lines are a good place to start. It is also a good time to check out fly boxes and see which of our favorite fly patterns are running low.

January is also a great time to start thinking about new gear we may want to add to our personal arsenals.

This month is the kick-off time for the yearly sportsmen shows and expositions. A yearly tradition for many is The Fly Fishing Show in New Jersey. This year this long-running show will be moving to the convention center in Edison, NJ after a long run in Somerset. Show dates are January 26, 27 and 28.

If you are a fly fishermen and you have not yet attended this show you need to save the dates. This is a major happening in the fly fishing world. Attendees can get their hands on just about every rod, reel and piece of fly fishing equipment made. I know of no other place where you can demo every manufacturer’s fly rods in one place.

The Fly Fishing Show is also heavy in seminars and presentations. There is a nonstop schedule of speakers representing equipment manufacturers, lodges and guide services from around the world.

There are also a few other big-time events each winter that are worth noting. These are the Garden State Outdoor Sports Show on January 11 to 14, also in Edison, NJ; the New York Sportsman’s Expo from January 26 to 28 in Syracuse, NY; The World Fishing and Outdoor Exposition from March 1 through 4 in Suffern, NY and the Fly Fishing and Wing Shooting Expo on February 24 and 25 in Lake Harmony, PA. The Lake Harmony show is a new show, but it is set to be packed with great speakers and guests from the outdoor world.

All of these great events are a great remedy for cabin fever and an opportunity to spend a cold day with likeminded folks.

If you do get out to the shows, keep an eye out for our local representation. The Sullivan County Visitors Association has booths at the major shows along with both Roscoe and Livingston Manor chambers of commerce. The Baxter House Outfitters guides will also be in attendance, ready to talk trout fishing.