Tom Helgeson, founder of Midwest Fly Fishing and the Great Waters Expo, was raised in Redwood Falls, MN.  He attended St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN before serving three years in the Marine Corps.  Tom became a reporter for the Minneapolis Star in 1967 and rose to the ranks as deputy managing editor before leaving in 1979. Tom had two children with his wife of 40 years.  He became a grandfather of two boys whom he enjoyed immensely. 

Tom’s passion for Fly Fishing began to grow early in his life.  After he left the Star, Tom opened a Fly Fishing specialty shop called Bright Waters. There, Tom held classes on fly tying and led Fly Fishing clinics locally in Minnesota and Wisconsin as well as in Idaho, Montana and Alaska.  Soon he was also fishing Tarpon in the Florida Keys and has frequented many Midwestern states countless times to fish their rivers.

After Bright Waters closed, Tom worked as communications director at The City Inc., an agency devoted to serving gang affiliated and at risk youth by providing education and supportive services.  During this time Tom remained an avid Fly Fisher and continued to take Fly Fishing trips while remaining close to the sport and conservation efforts.

In 1994 Tom started Midwest Fly Fishing magazine and eventually it was circulated in 14 states.  Tom put hard work into collecting the best and most knowledgeable writers and teachers to provide the community with a one of a kind publication.  Tom’s passion for conservation and environmental protection was central to his being and he has been acknowledged as a leader in Midwestern conservation efforts. "There needs to be a new spirit in this country about conservation. It's bigger than trout streams. It involves how we live and how we treat each other,” Tom once said in a Star Tribune Article.

The Great Waters Expo Tom created several years ago, held in both the Twin Cites and Chicago, has been heralded as the best offering of Fly Fishing and Environmental education in the Midwest.  Tom put together an expo with overflowing information and inspiration, including programs for kids and youth and women in Fly Fishing. Tom also developed the Tom F. Waters Stewardship Award given annually at the expo to individuals and groups for their remarkable conservation efforts.