The Catskill Fly Fishing Center & Museum 2023 Annual Dinner
Saturday, May 27th, 2023
Honoring Catskill Legends:
Dave Catizone, Bruce Concors, and Tom Mason
Rockland House - Roscoe, New York
2023 Catskills Legends of Fly Fishing Inductees
Dave Catizone - Dave Catizone's journey to the Catskills began when he met Poul Jorgensen at a United Fly Tyers event in Massachusetts. An immediate bond was formed and the two became fast friends. Recognizing Dave's passion and perfection at the vise, he urged him to move to the Catskills, and in the early 1970’s Dave made his way to Roscoe. Poul introduced Dave to all the great tyers of those days - Steenrod, Dette, Vinciguerra, Wright, and others. Dave became a student and mentee of these greats, studying their fly patterns and discussing all the minute details of them with his contemporaries. As a result, he is considered one of the expert authenticators of flies in the world.
Dave was a founding member of the Catskill Fly Tyers Guild and has been involved in CFFCM since its early days - where soon after its opening he was instrumental in cataloging and appraising the extensive permanent collection of fishing memorabilia that has been donated to the museum over the years. Two years ago he joined the “Dream Team” in preparing CFFCM’s online database, cataloging items in the permanent collection. He has also been a regular at our Saturday fly tying sessions over the years, teaching and sharing his thoughts on materials and techniques in fly-making. His exquisite salmon flies are highly coveted and paved the road to fishing for Atlantic salmon in Canada.
An incredible resource with an encyclopedic knowledge of the Catskills and those who walked along its riverbanks, Dave Catizone is a true Catskill legend.
Bruce Concors, raised in Walden, NY began fly fishing at the age of eight, first ponds and lakes, then streams. In time, Bruce came to be a fixture on our rivers, staring down endless seams of water, and learning its ways and seasons. Studying insect life and tying flies to emulate them, he began to develop patterns for several major commercial fly firms. It wasn't long before he was a top river guide, floating the Delaware with friends, and his dogs, Tippet and Darbee.
Over the years Bruce has sponsored many fishing groups. His work and support for the CFFCM, organizing and fundraising, while not evident to those who pass through its galleries, are well known to the people who are there on a daily basis.
While his family business was quite profitable, when Bruce and his brother Les took over the daily operation of the store, they built it into a multimillion dollar company. Bruce played a significant role in that success as he was usually off playing music, golfing, or fishing.
Many years on the water bring countless memories. Eventually, sitting stream side with his great friend Dave Brandt, the two decided that they had to tell the story of the Land of Little Rivers, a quintessential film of the places and people they loved, that once more put the Catskills in the limelight as a fly fishing destination.
One trip to the Beaverkill River in 1984 was all it took for Tom Mason and his wife Martha to begin thinking about leaving Massachusetts, and in 1991 they relocated to Bath, New York. It wasn’t long before Tom became a fixture on the river and around campfires telling fish tales that stretched the bounds of credulity. In addition to an amazing collection of books, bamboo rods, and reels, Tom also has an extensive collection of rare tying materials that enable him to reproduce flies tied by the old masters. Additionally, he helps lead the “Dream Team” of volunteer archivists that have spent several years preparing an online database showcasing all the items that the Catskill Fly Fishing Center & Museum has acquired for its permanent collection over the past several decades.
Tom is a founding member and past president of the Catskill Fly Tyers Guild and has been instrumental in organizing numerous fly tying events including the Fly Tyers Rendezvous, Fly Fest, and hugely successful Fly Tyers Roundtable.
While he is generally acknowledged as being one of the finest tyers in the traditional Catskill style, he has taken the art to a new level with lightly hackled, almost ethereal flies that would make Gordon, Darbee, and Dette proud.
Live Auction Items
$500 gift certificate for dinner at Patroon NYC
3-night stay / 2 days fishing at Restigouche Lodge in New Brunswick, CANADA
3-night stay /2 days of fishing w/ Riverside Anglers in West Yellowstone, MT
Joan Wulff's wading staff (No-Float Stix wading staff)
Pete Leitner shadowbox featuring 2022 Catskill Fly Tyers Roundtable
Takemoto bamboo rod
Hardy reel
Vintage Hardy fly box
Frame from Dave Catizone
Local wade trip with Joe Cauvel & $100 dinner gift certificate to The Junction
Book - The Art of Milton C. Weiler by John T. Ordeman & M.C. ‘Bud’ Weiler Jr. (signed)
Pete Leitner shadowbox commemorating 2023 Legends
Silent Auction Items
CFFCM themed gift basket (featuring items from the shop & gift memberships)
Patagonia Gear (rod case, sling bag)
Dave Catizone flies
Set of Jack Yelle prints
High Five Flower Farm - 2 bouquet subscriptions (5 weekly bouquets, sustainable flowers)
Tailwater Soap Co. gift basket
Paintings (2) donated by the Kochers
Set of spirits from Do Good Spirits (vodka & bourbon cream)
Bottle of Single Malt Whiskey Rock Valley Spirits
Framed whiskey watercolor painting of a dry fly, 8 x 10 " from Whiskey Painters of America
Staycation at Villa Roma Resort - 2 day / 1 night midweek for 2 including dinner & breakfast
3-class pack for Just Breathe Yoga (choose from yoga or low-impact cardio)