TIM HOLSCHLAG is an acclaimed small mouth bass angler in the Midwest. His passion for bass has taken him all over the world and he recently became one of the first known Americans to fish for trout in South Africa. Holschlag is also an accomplished author and instructional video personality.
KELLY GALLOUP is one of the most enthusiastic, adventurous and innovative anglers in fly fishing today. He is renown for what many consider his unorthodox and very successful style. He uses huge flies (he’s a very innovative tier, too), fast-sinking lines in rivers and his jerk-strip technique. Kelly is a lot of fun, a great instructor and his enthusiasm is infectious. He is a television personality and owns Slide Inn Fly Fishing Lodge on the Madison River.
BOB WHITE is a world-renowned artist, author and fly fishing guide. He was inducted into the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame as a Legendary Artist in 2009. He was Fly Rod & Reel magazine’s Guide of the Year in 1988. Bob has been featured as a guide and artist on ESPN’s “Fly Fishing the World” and “Fly Fishing America.”
RYAN BARBA is an owner of Sunrise Fly Shop, a fantastic fly shop in Melrose, Mont.. He has spent ten years as a fly fishing guide in Montana and Colorado. Ryan is friendly and easy-going. Oh yeah, and he’s immensely knowledgeable about the Big Hole and Beaverhead rivers and trout of the Rocky Mountains.
BRAD BEFUS has been fly fishing and fly tying for 35 years. He is an accomplished freshwater and saltwater angler who holds several I.G.F.A. fly rod world records and has fished worldwide. Brad is an innovative fly tier with many of his patterns being produced and sold by Umpqua Feather Merchants. Brad co-authored “Carp on the Fly,” a fly anglers guide to carp, and “Basic Techniques for Successful Fly Tying” and has also released three fly tying videos.
TYLER BEFUS is 14 years old and has been fly fishing since he was in a child backpack. He is the youngest member of the Ross Reels, Scientific Anglers, Simms Fishing Products, and Whiting Farms pro staff teams. He is also a Signature Fly designer for Umpqua Feather Merchants. He is honored to be a member of the 2012 USA Youth Fly Fishing Team.
JON STIEHL is an owner of Trout Hunter, an amazing fly fishing shop, lodge and guide service on the Henry's Fork in Last Chance, Idaho. Stiehl has been a leader in the effort to restore the Henry's Fork as a premier fishery. In an interview in the Drake, he talked about the challenges of starting a new business in the legendary area. “We were up against the establishment, as it were, and the establishment was unhelpful, serious and boring.” If you get a chance, ask him about his harrowing bear attack. Incredible stuff.
KIP VIETH is an owner of Wildwood Float Trips, a full-service guide and outfitting service in Monticello, Minn. Kip has been exploring the rivers and streams of the Upper Midwest for more than 30 years, specializing in small-mouth and musky fishing. He has also fished in Hawaii, the Caribbean and the Smokey Mountains.
ANDY ROTH is a renowned fly fishing guide, fly tier, teacher, conservationist and lover of streams of western Wisconsin. He is a regional ambassador for the sport and has become one of the most relied upon instructors in the region.
WENDY WILLIAMSON and her husband, Larry Mann, own Hayward Fly Fishing Co. She has been guiding and teaching fly fishing in Wisconsin since 1998. Wendy is widely known as an exceptional guide and instructor, having guided in Colorado before moving to Wisconsin.
SCOTT THORPE is a steelhead fly fishing guide who strives to provide a unique and memorable outdoor experience. He’s a friendly and passionate guide and has a deep love for the places were trout live. He specializes in helping new anglers with a desire to learn the sport. He guides in Alaska and holds the Minnesota state record for steelhead.
CARL HAENSEL is an owner of Namebini, a guest house and guide service on the Sucker River north of Duluth. Carl is an educator, biologist, photographer, writer, and fishing guide. Carl’s a committed conservationist and tireless supporter of fly fishing organizations. Lately, Carl and his wife have started to dabble in sustainable agriculture.
The Lew Jewett Chapter of the Federation of Fly Fishers
Join members of the Lew Jewett Chapter of the Federation of Fly Fishers for an adult/child introduction to fly fishing that will allow children to achieve success and catch fish in no time. Young anglers new to fly fishing will learn all of the basics. This new course to the Expo utilizes a hands-on approach to teach parents and children how to fly-fish together. Our program places emphasis on fun, safety, and simplicity. All participants will receive a DVD containing all of the course materials and instructional information, and all children in attendance will receive a “passport” to be completed at learning stations to be eligible for a drawing for fly fishing prizes.
DEAN HANSEN is an award-winning photographer, author and entomologist. He will bring his Living River exhibit to the expo, which allow guests to see an amazing living river system up close. Dean has a tireless enthusiasm and boundless knowledge, so bring a lot of questions.
Chicago blues great (and avid fly angler) Keith Scott will be playing all weekend at the Great Waters Fly Fishing Expo.
Robert Thompson is an avid fly angler and Emmy award-winning film
producer from Chicago. He released the DVD, Night of the Hex, in 2010,
a year later, Musky Country: Zero to Hero, which was named the best
fly fishing DVD at the 2011 International Fly Tackle Dealers show in New Orleans. Early this month, he released Heart of the Driftless, which
is now touring the country as part of the Fly Fishing Film Tour 2012.
"Fishing the Backyard; Family-Friendly Adventures"
Presenter: Gordon Dietzman, NPS-Mississippi River National Recreation Area
9:00-9:45 am Conference Suite #3
Gordon Dietzman is an avid angler that has fished for muskies in Canada, grayling in the Arctic, salmon in Alaska, bass in Arkansas, and has backpacked and llama-trekked to great trout fishing in the American West. Despite traveling widely, Gordon believes some of our greatest fishing waters are easily available to casual and beginning anglers right here in the Twin Cities. He is a national park ranger at the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, a 72 mile stretch of the Mississippi River that runs through the heart of the Twin Cities. Besides being a published nature photographer and instructor, he manages fishing programs for the park.
Presenter: Dan Brown, FFF
10:00-10:45 am Conference Suite #3
"Family Outdoor Adventures with Wilderness Inquiry”
Learn how you can enjoy the wilderness right here in the Midwest!
Lee Friedman
11:00-11:45 am Conference Suite #3
As Wilderness Inquiry's Business and Outreach Director, Lee Friedman leads WI’s day-to-day operations and business development activities. For operations, Lee directs the organization's financial management, human resources, risk management, and facility management. Lee was a partner in the law firm of Briggs and Morgan before coming on board with WI and earlier in his career he was a staff member for the 1991 International Special Olympics Games.
Wilderness Inquiry, known as WI, is a non-profit organization dedicated to sharing the outdoors with people of all backgrounds, ages, and abilities. WI offers canoe, kayak, hiking, horse pack, and dogsled trips throughout North America and the world. Each year, WI conducts over 300 events serving more than 10,000 people. WI staff is specially trained to include everyone in the experience in ways that make trips more meaningful and enriching for all.
Fly-Fishing Success for Kids and Adults: Making the Most of Your First Adventures on the Water!
Presenter: Carl Haensel, Namebini Inc.
12:00-12:45 pm Conference Suite #3
Carl is an educator, biologist, photographer, writer, and fishing guide. He has guided and taught fly-fishing since 1996 and has authored dozens of articles on fly-fishing techniques, tips, flies, and locations, as well as children's educational literature. From 1996 until 2003, he owned and operated Around the Bend Fly-fishing, based in Eden Prairie, MN, and Hershey, PA. From 2001 until 2007 he served as a regional manager for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Fish and Boat Commission. There he managed education, programming, and aquatic resource issues for an area encompassing over five million people, including the City of Philadelphia. He has fished extensively throughout North America, and his outdoor photographs have been widely published. He has served as an educational consultant and enjoys secondary and post-secondary teaching.
Exploring the Outdoors through Hands-On Nature!
(For ages 3-100!)
Presenter: Janine Kohn, Pheasants Forever/Leopold Education Project
1:00- 1:45pm Conference Suite #3
Janine is the National Education Specialist for Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever. Her 20-year career in education has led her to work for two environmental education companies in south Florida: Science Eye & director of school programs for Build a Field Trip. She was assistant director for an international summer travel camp focused on outdoor-adventure education. She designed a gifted science program for elementary students in Florida which lead to teaching middle school science in Colorado. Since her time in Colorado, she has developed conservation curricula and outdoor programs for various education facilities and currently serves as PF’s National Coordinator for The Leopold Education Project.
Janine assisted with the development of PF’s NO CHILD LEFT INDOORS® initiative to connect kids to the outdoors, as well as serving as head writer of the award winning outdoor curriculum: LEP-Exploring the Outdoors with Aldo Leopold Activities Guide. In addition, she created and developed the first T.U.N.E. camp (The Ultimate Nature Experience) geared to connecting youth to habitat and outdoor skills. Janine is a writer for the PF Journal, QF Journal and Upland Tales magazines, creates the teachers guide to our Upland Tales youth magazine and serves as editor to LEP’s Strides Newsletter. Her passion is working with youth and sharing her educational experiences with others especially her two-year old twins who share the same love of the outdoors with their mom. Habitat is next in line and she welcomes the opportunity creating schoolyard habitat projects around the country!
Fly Fishing-“A Path to Adventure”
Presenter Andy Roth, Gray Goat Fly Fishing Inc.
2:00-2:45 pm Conference Suite #3
Andy arises from the fresh waters of the Midwest. Born in Milwaukee, his childhood was spent in and around the Great Lakes and their smaller cousins to the North in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Attending college at the University of Wisconsin in River Falls he was immersed in the spring creeks of the Driftless area and found the flowing waters and limestone terrain compelling. Completing a degree in Biology laid the groundwork for understanding the complexities of Mother Nature and the need to teach others about the importance of conservation. Throughout his life there has been a common thread to discovery, it is the fish, the flowing waters, and the beauty that surrounds them. Luck, love, and opportunity has enabled him to follow a dream through Fly Fishing. He has spent years mentoring students through the fine arts of Fly Fishing. His tying and casting classes have continued to fill year after year. A busy guide schedule allows him to teach in the best classroom possible. Andy, his wife Martha, their goats, horses, and dog live just to the east of the confluence of the St. Croix and Mississippi rivers on a small trout stream.
Habitat Hideout – Where to Find Fish!
Learn to identify preferred fish habitats to help you locate fish hideouts when you go fishing! Come play the game!
Presenter: Nadine Meyer, MN DNR-MinnAqua
3:00-3:45 pm Conference Suite #3
Nadine Meyer, Aquatic Education Specialist for the MN DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife MinnAqua Program, Nadine has worked with the DNR MinnAqua Program for over 7 years teaching youth, families, and other educators about fishing, water stewardship, fisheries management, and aquatic habitats. She also assists with curriculum development, professional development for teachers, and mentors seasonal aquatic education interns.
Presenter: Tyler Befus
4:00-4:45 Conference Suite # 3
Tyler is 14 years old and has been fly fishing since he was in a child backpack. He is the youngest member of the Ross Reels, Scientific Anglers, Simms Fishing Products, and Whiting Farms pro staff teams. He is also a Signature Fly designer for Umpqua Feather Merchants. He is honored to be a member of the 2012 USA Youth Fly Fishing Team.
BUGS of the Underworld-Why we Fly-Fish!
Presenter: Don Eckenrode, Twin Cities Trout Unlimited
5:00-5:45pm Conference Suite #3
Don is an expert angler and has conducted various youth fishing programs and has spent many years teaching young individuals the art of fly-fishing in the beautiful Rocky Mountains. Come explore the life cycle of several of the thousands of aquatic insects. Ask the questions and lean fly-fishing 101 without fly rods!
MARIA MANION is a native of northern Minnesota, and an enthusiastic fly angler and avid reader. Although she spends the weekdays at a desk in downtown Minneapolis, she spends her weekends on the water. Maria started fly fishing about 10 years ago and has managed to combine her love of British literature with her ever-evolving passion for fly angling.
When she’s not fishing the Brule, she can be found swinging soft hackles on the Kinnikinnick or Rush Rivers with her darling Labrador, The Cricket.