• More than 4,000 anglers and would-be anglers attended the Great Waters Expos in Chicago and Minneapolis.

•  FFF instructors taught taught more than 450 individuals how to fly cast. during both weekends.

• More than 145  women attended Women in Fly Fishing reception/workshops on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

• Sarah Sanford, who has organized four annual volunteer clean ups of  west-central Wisconsin’s Rush River received the Dr. Thomas F. Waters Stewardship Award at the Minneapolis expo.

• 40 young persons and family members attended Camp Fly Fish for Kids on Saturday at the Minneapolis expo.

• Many of the best fly tiers in the Midwest (and vicinity) tied flies and entertained passers-by with their talents. 

• Hundreds of other attendees attended fly fishing classes and seminars and fly casting demonstrations by a host of national and local fly fishing and fly tying celebrities and teachers.

It pleases me to say now that the Great Waters Expos were entertaining and upbeat fly fishing experiences, with the traditional mix of vendors — powerhouse manufacturers of fly fishing products, lodge owners, travel venues, artists,  outfitters who guide and sell flies and trips — but it occurs to me now that Great Waters 2008expressed much more about our sport.

For two and a half days we saw the best of fly fishing and fly fishing people at their best — a community of sport-loving people gathered to express the joy they find in this fine recreation, united by an affection for one another and concern about the protection of the rivers, streams and lakes where our sport and our adventures occur. Nothing could be better.

We’ll do it again and more next year, and we’ll be in touch.

Tom Helgeson
The Great Waters Fly Fishing Expo

"We have had vendor booths at the Great Waters Expo in Minneapolis for four years and both years in Chicago. We count the Expos as 'can’t miss events’. From education to networking, the Great Waters Expos bring out the best in Midwest fly fishing. Whether you’re interested in cold water fishing or warm water fishing, the Great Waters Expos will have something for you. We use the Expos as a large portion of our annual marketing. We book trips, plan the year and spread the word about the abundant fishing opportunities in the Midwest. This is best venue for our sport that we have ever experienced — not just for the Midwest, but anywhere." Wendy Williamson and Larry Mann Hayward (Wis.) Fly Fishing Co. Wendy and Larry and Muskie