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December Speaker Meeting – Todd Schotts
December 6, 2023 @ 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
MFFC’s own Todd Schotts will be talking about about fly tying, it’s past, present and future.
“I will be bringing my newest PowerPoint Presentation of “FLY TYING THEN-NOW-FOREVER. ” The presentation will go over the beginnings of fly tying with materials they used, to different categories of flies, to when these categories actually appeared in our crazy world of fly tying along with certain materials. Then we will go over materials, tools, and the unique vises that is out there today. We will talk about stepping outside of the box creating flies showing examples of flies I created or learned from other tyers. We will wrap up with discussing the future and what we could or maybe looking at.”
Todd A. Schotts is production/custom tier from Wyandotte, Michigan. He proudly works (his big boy job) for Stylecraft Printing Company a division of Ennis Inc where he handles Production, Scheduling, and Estimating for the Cut Sheet Division along with Order Entry for both divisions (Business Forms & Cut Sheet); for the last 34 years.
He grew up on the west side Michigan (Twin Lake area), not far from the Muskegon River, Pere Marquette River, and the White River. His first memory of fly fishing was with his dad, his mentor, for panfish with a black foam spider and Trout Fishing on the upper White River (in Michigan). Plus fishing with his grandfather on the upper Muskegon River and various inland lakes.
He is an active member of the Huron River Fishing Association and the Michigan Fly Fishing Club.
During his tenure at the Michigan Fly Fishing Club he has contributed “Fly of the Month” articles for over 7 years, and is still a contributing author since 2005. He currently chairs the “Guest Tiers” for the Midwest Fly Fishing Expo, volunteers for various club outings/schools, and runs the Monthly Featured/Spotlight Tiers for the activity meetings. Back in 2007, he resurrected the Smallmouth Outing in the Michigan Fly Fishing Club, where it started at 7 attendees to averaging 53 attendees for the last 5 years before he stepped down 10 years later. Plus he organized and ran the Muskegon River Outing for 2 years with huge success, but unfortunately due to lodging issues it was halted. He has served on the Board of Directors in various positions. In 2015 he was honored by the Michigan Fly Fishing Club, with “Volunteer of the Year”. Todd credits his tying knowledge with learning from some of the industries biggest names from tying with them during the Michigan Fly Fishing Club’s day classes with the various Banquet speakers that are brought in (a list way to long to mention who) and tying classes he traveled and attended.
With the Huron River Fishing Association, he is on his 2nd term as President and has served as Recording Secretary in the past. Besides being on the board, he volunteers to help out with the clubs activities, outings, and organizes the monthly speakers for the meetings.
Besides the various club activities, Todd owns and operates a production fly tying company “Grizzly Flies by Schottsie” that he started more than 18 years ago and is the founder of “Michigan Bobbin Slingers (fly tyers)” page on Facebook that is dedicated to the art and craft of Fly Tying. Some of his 55 plus original patterns have appeared in various publications. In 2015, two of his patterns were featured in articles in “Eastern Fly Fishing Magazine” and in 2017 a box of his original trout flies appeared in “Fly Fusion Magazine” in the segment “End of the Line.” When not tying or fishing, you can catch him throughout the Midwest doing his various PowerPoint or Tying Presentations; at various Fly Fishing or Tying shows and various club meetings; or doing “Live Fly Tying” on the internet. His passion though, is creating amazing new flies, being a Bass Bum, chasing Panfish in ponds & lakes, and chasing trout in spring creeks or headwaters of amazing waterways. Besides being on the Pro Staff with Anadromous Fly Company; he is a Team Member (Pro Team) for Nor-vise, Pro Team with TFO Rods, and Ambassador for UV Craft.
Besides all of the tying and fishing; he also is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps where is proudly served in “Desert Storm.“
All of this has made such great memories, meeting such wonderful people, amazing friends, and leading to such great life, I am truly blessed!!