Winter weather good reason to stay inside

Even though I know that many of our anglers are pretty impervious to weather — perhaps with the exception of high winds, they too can sometimes be enticed inside by fishing or animal art events. So I’ve got two to present temptation.

That’s even though I’m sure that many anglers are still happily busy scouting for blackfish, black sea bass and bluefish.

And yes, even for those still plentiful porgies.

So just for a change, bear with me while I describe two events being held next weekend.

The annual Arts of the Angler, organized by the Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum, is set for Nov. 5 and 6 at the Ethan Allen Hotel in Danbury, Conn.

This is a two-day event that combines quality contemporary and collectible fly fishing tackle and accessories — some for show, some for sale.

Other displays include fly tying materials and so-called display flies, as well as books, gift items, destination ideas and instruction guiding and services.

Saturday also features a silent auction and a 35th anniversary dinner with speaker Ted Rowowski, who is an environmental attorney, cinematographer and dedicated fisherman.

Joan Wulff, renowned local champion fly caster and authored The Art of Fly for Casting, is sure to be applauded for her hour-long lectures, which will be presented on both afternoons.

Destination topics will run the gamut from fly casting on the Upper Delaware River to Montauk, with, say, fishing the Indian Ocean in between.

Then there’s coverage of more precision subjects like fly tying and bamboo rod making. Presentations are on Saturday starting at 10 a.m. and ending at 4 p.m., and on Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Daily admission is $12 or $20 for the weekend. Kids ages 12 and under are free. Directions to the hotel are easy. Take the Danbury Lake Avenue, exit 4 off I-84.

The other show is actually a kickoff celebration of a traveling wildlife watercolor series entitled “Rare Wildlife Revealed,” presented by the Conserve Wildlife of New Jersey Foundation.

It features 25 original works about the state’s most vulnerable species.

The series will be launched with a dinner on Nov. 4, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Studio 7 Fine Art Gallery, 5 Morristown Rd., in Bernardsville. ee the following site for showing schedules of this series that moves among seven participating galleries. Six are in NJ and one is in the city: ww.conservewildlifenj.org/ getinvolved/wildlifeart.

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