A CELEBRATION
You’re invited to a program honoring the 2010 recipient of the Thomas F. Waters Steward Award Saturday March 27 at 6:30 p.m. Award ceremony, music by blues guitarist Keith Scott, “Top Ten Fly Fishing Destinations in the World,” Jim Klug of Yellow Dog Fly Fishing. Location to be announced. Cash bar and hors d’oeuvres.

We’re back home after our show in Chicago and looking forward to seeing you at the Great Waters Minnesota Expo. I think you’ll agree that there’s never been a show anywhere with as prestigious a list of presenters and presentations. Whatever you want to know about the sport of fly fishing, we’ve got it covered — the species we fish for, the flies we tie and use, tactics and techniques,  fly fishing destinations … and the  stewardship we practice to keep our stream, rivers and lakes pristine.

As always, the Great Waters Expo will feature education, adventure and conservation. There will be more than two dozen national and regional fly fishing and fly tying celebrities and over 40 free seminars and demonstrations.

We hope you’ll spend the weekend with us. For information on special room rates at the always comfortable Sheraton Bloomington, go our this site’s Accommodation page, or call (866) 857.4278 and be sure to mention you’ll be staying with the Great Waters contingent. 

YOUR GREAT WATERS EXPO
           
            FREE FLY CASTING LESSONS:  Continuous one-on-one fly-casting instruction with expert casters and teachers from the Federation of Fly Fishers. Experience fly casters can refine their double-haul and spey casting techniques.

            FLY TYING LESSONS FOR BEGINNERS: One on one and free, taught by the St. Paul Fly Tiers. 

             VERMILLION RIVER FIELD TRIP: The bus leaves at 7:30 a.m. Saturday March 27 for an on-site tour of the Vermilion River with DNR trout biologist Brian Nerbonne and Twin Cities TU members. Organized by the Fly Fishing Women of Minnesota. Call 952.920.9028 for reservations.

            SPECIALTY TYERS: Dennis Potter and Jeff “Bear” Andrews lead a core of specialty tiers at the Fly Tying Theater and Fly Tiers Row.  Don’t miss Dennis’ mini-fly tying classes at his station on the exhibit floor.

            PRESENTATIONS:  A legend in the Midwest and around the world and a columnist for Midwest Fly Fishing magazine, Gary Borger is back to anchor a list of celebrity anglers that’s truly impressive. On Expo weekend you’ll find adventure with  Bill Sherer on muskies; Tim Holschlag on smallmouth fly techniques; Nate Sipple on Lake Michigan’s incredible brown trout fishery; Tim Landwehr on Wisconsin smallmouth rivers; Larry Gavin on carp in small streams; Andy Roth, Bill Sherck and Kip Veith together on close-to-home fly fishing destinations; Michigan’s Kevin Feenstra on Swinging Flies to Steelhead; Jeffery Skeate on Iowa trout streams; Jerry Darkes on Switch and Two-handed Rods; TU/Dare’s Jeff Hastings on the State of the Driftless Region; Scott Thorpe on Lake Superior Steelhead; Carl Haensel on North Shore streams and lakes.

            DRESS TO FISH: Questions about layering for cold weather, or appropriate clothing for bright sunlight and hot days!  Don’t miss our Fly Fishing Fashion show on Saturday, time to be announced. We’ll show you the latest in outdoor wear for fly fishing and help you decide what to wear on the water, including the latest info on environment-friendly wading boots.

            ONE FLY ANGLER’S BLUES:  Chicago blues guitarist Keith Scott will be on hand all weekend to lend his particular brand of blues to Great Waters festivities.

            CONSERVATION FOR A SONG.   Michael Osterholm reflects  on lessons learned and the good work  of restoring the stretch of Iowa’s Waterloo Creek on his Prairie Song Farm near Dorchester, Iowa, with that state’s DNR, TU and several other conservation partners. Fascinating.

            ORGANIC COOKING demonstration by Joseph Meyer of Chicago’s One More Cast fly shop. Recipes and tasting.
           
            FOR BEGINNERS; if you’re just getting started, this is a not-to-be-missed class on the fundamentals of fly fishing for all species with Jim Kojis and Mike Alwin.

            SHOP AND GET THE SKINNY on 2010 fly fishing rods, reels, fly lines, flies, outdoors wear and watercraft. Fly tying materials and tools. Wildlife and sporting art and artists.

            BOOK A TRIP Lodges and outfitters from the Midwest, Alaska, Canada, the West and saltwater destinations. Travel presentations scheduled throughout the weekend.

            STEWARDSHIP AND CONSERVATION: Programs on pressing environmental threats to our fly fishing waters, updates on the Great Lakes basin and Driftless Area fisheries. Stewardship discussion led by the Rev. Don Wisner.

            LIVING RIVER BUG EXHIBIT. Entomologist and award-winning photographer Dean Hansen teaches why knowledge of aquatic entomology will make you a better angler.

            WOMEN IN FLY FISHING.  Reception. workshop and casting for women anglers.

            CAMP FLY FISH FOR KIDS: Presented by MinnAQUA from the Minnesota DNR.

            WRITERS WORKSHOP. An opportunity to pick the writing brains of several practicing outdoor novelists, magazine writers and poets. Bring your stories and poems to read.  

            ANGLING’S HISTORY.  A special display of antique tackle and artifacts.

Gary Borger		Scott Thorpe	"Bear" Andrews
Larry Gavin		Dennis Potter	Tim Landwehr (w/ Dave Whitlock)
Kevin Feenstra		Tim Holschlag	Bill Sherer