LIVINGSTON MANOR., NY — Back on May 23, 2023, three notables in the world of fly fishing were inducted into the honor rolls of Catskill Fly Fishing Center & Museum’s (CFFCM) Catskill Legends of Fly Fishing: Dave Catizone, Tom Mason and Bruce Concors.

This year, on Saturday, February 3, Catizone and Mason—both founding members of the Catskill Fly Tyers Guild—were the center of attention at the center’s Wulff Gallery as they hosted the second in a series of mid-winter open fly-tying sessions.

The Catskill Fly Tyers Guild was established in 1993 to “preserve, promote and embrace the Catskill fly-tying heritage.” The guild was originally formed by Floyd Franke and William Vinciguerra, with the additional stated goals of “working cooperatively to promote the work of present Catskill fly tyers, providing various ways for members to share information, and promoting the future development of future generations of Catskill fly tyers.”

Catizone moved to Livingston Manor in the early 1970s after being introduced to the late world-renowned fly tyer and author Poul Jorgensen at a United Fly Tyers gathering in Massachusetts. Then he studied the patterns of some of the greatest fly-tiers of the day, and according to the CFFCM, “became expert at identifying, cataloging and appraising their work, in addition to becoming an exquisite fly-tyer of both trout and salmon flies.”

As of the opening day of trout season in New York State, Catizone is a member of the center’s “Dream Team.” It is composed of volunteer activists preparing online databases to showcase the vast collection of acquisitions collected over the decades for the center’s permanent collection.

Mason moved to the Empire State from the Bay State in 1991 to “further his passion of fishing the Beaverkill, and as an avid collector of rods, reels and books,” he said. He is recognized as an outstanding fly-tier, with a collection of rare fly-tying materials.

Also a member of the “Dream Team, he has helped the CFFCM and Catskill Fly Tyers Guild organize numerous Fly Tyers Rendezvous, Fly Fests and Fly Tyers Roundtables as well sharing his vast knowledge and expertise during the off-season open fly tying events at the Wulff Gallery.

As Ali Abate, executive director of the CFFCM, said of the organization’s mission, it was established to “preserve the heritage of fly fishing in the Catskills and educate the next generation of anglers and conservationists. Programs like ‘Open Tying’ are intended to share fly fishing with the community.”

Of Catskill Legends Catizone and Mason, “We are grateful for their time and ongoing support of our work,” Abate said.

The CFFCM is located at 1031 Old Rte. 17.

For more information, call 845/439-4810 or visit cffcm.com.

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