Our ‘09 expos will be even more interactive than ‘08 and we’ll invite celebrity anglers and fly tiers who can teach as well as entertain, and they’ll be true ambassadors of our sport.

To those of you who were with us in Chicago and Minneapolis, our sincerest thanks. Here’s a recap of our expos. We’re very proud of what was accomplished by our presenters and by the many volunteers who brought their experience and experience to our shows:

• More than 4,000 anglers and would-be anglers atteneded 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 2006 expressed 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