Uncle Jake's

06/05/2026

Friends - if you don’t know Matt Zudweg you needs to connect with him on Instagram. He is an amazing artist and fly innovator.
Give him a follow right now and tell him Uncle Jake sent you !!

05/29/2026

I think we happened upon the right folks to keep Smittys going.

05/23/2026

Hey all ! Soon, I will update everyone about some fun future plans but for now, just a quick note to say that I will be at the shop tomorrow (5/23) to do some rod repairs and to hang out to be available to our customers and friends. I’ll be around between 10:00 - 1:00. There might be room at the table if anyone wants to tie flies for a couple hours. Hope to see ya.

Smitty's Sport Shop

~ Jake

04/20/2026

04/15/2026

This Thursday, April 16, I will be joining my friends and fellow fly crafters at The Kalamazoo Valley Trout Unlimited Fly Tying and Angling Expo at the Fountains in Parchment.

I plan to demonstrate a bit about fishing rod building and repair and will bring an assortment of vintage fiberglass fly rod blanks to sell.
These blanks were made by companies such as Fenwick, Phillipson, Fisher and even include some rare Sage fiberglass blanks that were only made during their first year in business. All were produced in the 1970s and early 1980s.

I also plan to bring some rare fly fishing memorabilia. If you believe you know everything there is to know about Don Gapen‘s original Muddler Minnow you will be surprised to see there is a missing piece to its history.

Doors open at 5:00 - Hope to see you there

Smitty's Sport Shop
Kalamazoo Valley Trout Unlimited

04/13/2026

KVCTU Fly Tying and Fishing Expo Featured tier – Tim Scott

Tim Scott is a co-founder of the Tie-a-thon program which has gently nudged fly tyers from all over the world to donate over 400,000 flies, and counting, to various good causes over the past 20 years.

Tim is a member of St. Josep River Fly Fishers (SJRVFF), Kalamazoo Valley Chapter of TU and FlyGirls of Michigan. He has been tying and teaching this passion for over 25 years.

With a degree in Photojournalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia, he has contributed articles and photographs in “Catch”, “The Drake” and “Michigan Streamside Journal” magazines.

Tim chases trout, smallies and steelhead about 80 days of the year in Indiana, Michigan, Missouri and Colorado; he and his wife Karen live in South Bend Indiana.

Join us April 16th!
IGN UP HERE: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4BAEAB2EA6F8CE9-63354422-kvctu

04/13/2026

KVCTU Fly Tying and Fishing Expo Featured Vendor:

Prime Michigan Deer Tail

Prime Michigan Deer Tail is owned and operated by ex-chemistry teacher John Corcoran. Dying deer tails to meet your tying needs.

John fishes all over and is well versed in the fly fishermans needs when it comes to deer tails.

Check out his premium product at the show!

SIGN UP HERE: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4BAEAB2EA6F8CE9-63354422-kvctu

03/23/2026

Mark your calendar

Mark your calendars and save the date for the KVCTU Expo, happening April 16!

This is shaping up to be a can’t-miss event with something for everyone, whether you’re new to fishing or a seasoned angler. Doors open at 5pm. Lure making starts right away and fly tying starts at 6pm and ends at 8pm.

Entry is 20$ per adult and 10$ per child under 16. All lures and flies made will be yours to keep! Entry cost also will include appetizers, door prizes, vendor access to shop for great deals, and a one year membership to KVCTU for new folks.

We’re excited to welcome a dozen featured fly tiers from around Michigan, giving
you the chance to sit down and tie alongside them. Learn new techniques, ask
questions, and see firsthand how different patterns are fished from some of Michigan’s best.

Beyond fly tying, the Expo will also feature:
 Lure painting
 Spinner making
 Bobber painting

And don’t miss the swim tank, where you can test out your own flies. Curious how your streamer really swims? Bring it along and see it in action—a fun and useful way to fine- tune new patterns before the season kicks into gear.

We’ll also be hosting Michigan-based vendors, including taxidermists, lodges,
fishing guides, fly shops, artists, and more, making this a great opportunity to
connect with local businesses and creators.

Keep an eye on our social media or the **events calendar at **www.kvctu.org

03/20/2026

I received an award yesterday from our friends at Trout Unlimited. It was a “Lifetime Achievement Award”. I certainly didn’t expect it and I was overwhelmed at their generous words that spoke of my fly tying career of over 50 years, a successful shop and countess fly tying and rod building classes.

What was missing, was that for over 45 years of that time, I have had an accomplice. For all of the shows, the classes, the shop… Catherine either played a part or was the reason things got done. She is why we have one of the better selections of fly tying materials in the state. Uncle Jake’s @ Smittys Sport Shop may never have succeeded if not for all of the behind the scenes work that Cat does.

I once heard our friend Greg Potter tell a customer who was standing between us… “You want to special order that? Don’t talk to Paul… talk to Cat. She’s the one who makes it happen”… And that’s true. She keeps us on track, keeps me grounded and makes us cookies.

Doing all of that and choosing to be life partners with me through thick and thin deserves a lifetime achievement award all by itself.

Thank you Catherine for all you do and all you are.