2022 Top Attractions

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"Teaching Fishing" is what this show was built around and what makes it unique from other events of this kind. The show facility - the Conference and Event Center Niagara Falls - provides a unique blend of being able to offer a spacious Exhibitor Event Center, as well as a multitude of seminar rooms all utilizing "State of the Art" technology. Utilizing these rooms plus the Hawg Trough provides the seating capacity to educate over 1,200 attendees across 20 different Fishing related classes, targeting different topics/levels of expertise. The classes are taught by local and regional experts very knowledgeable in fishing Lake Erie, Lake Ontario and local waterways. Each class is developed for a specific level of expertise including:

1. Beginner / Casual Level - The angler who is just starting out or who has limited knowledge on the topic. Attending these classes will dramatically shorten the learning curve required to have fishing success and provide the opportunity for attendees to save some "Tackle $$" by purchasing what they really need to get started.

2. Experienced Level - The angler with some experience on the topic who is looking to pick up additional knowledge from more experienced anglers that will enable them to make tweaks to their program to increase their success.

3. Expert / Tournament Angler - The "diehard" angler who is looking to increase their knowledge and skills on the topic by taking "advanced" classes taught by some of the best of the best anglers on the water.
Our previous show offered attendees the opportunity to attend over 200 free classes with the average attendee taking advantage of the opportunity to increase their fishing knowledge by attending over 7 classes during the duration of the Expo. The core belief of the show is that it is making a difference toward the effort to grow the sport of fishing by providing a vast amount of fishing education to our attendees. By providing this education, this show will recruit new anglers, including the next generation, to the sport as well as providing existing anglers the fishing knowledge to increase their enjoyment of the time they spend on the water by being more successful. The education also allows anglers to diversify to include other species and tactics if they so desire.

The Greater Niagara Fishing and Outdoor Expo is partnering with Clubs / Exhibitors at the show who are aligned with the show's goal of "Teaching Fishing" to the Beginner angler to help recruitment them into a particular component of the Fishery (i.e. Fly Fishing, Walleye Fishing, Kayak Fishing, etc.). The Beginner School will have a curriculum of a logical series of topics that will provide attendees with the basic knowledge they will need to be successful during the upcoming season. These topics will be taught at a beginner level by multiple instructors who provide their subject matter expertise during the 4+ hour School. These schools are for everyone, men, women and young adults 12 years and older. The number of attendees will be kept to a maximum of 40 to insure the best learning experience for all attendees.

The attendees will learn the basics from the "ground floor up" including:

1.The gear necessary including rods, reels, line, casting, boat set up, knots, baits, etc.
2.The fish and their behaviors
3.The techniques to use starting out
4.The "where" locations and "when" timing to be successful
5.Personal safety and conservation of the resource

We feel that these dedicated Schools will provide a much more effective learning experience and increase the overall quality of the show's education offerings. They also require much more work to put on so there will be a limited number of them. Pre-registration thru the Show web site will be required. There is a nominal fee ($40) that will include at least a full 4-day pass for the show a show and a voucher for use on food at the show, among other possible offerings including tackle for goodie bags, door prizes and discount vouchers all from our Exhibitors on the floor. For those just starting out, you will be very well satisfied with the return on you $40 investment.

The Schools currently scheduled to be offered at the 2022 Show are as follows:

As a way of sharing his knowledge, Roger is a featured speaker, a popular blogger, rod designer for Lamiglas and the successful author of many published magazine articles. Roger also has several instructional videos on his YouTube Channel, Steelhead Manifesto. Considered an authority on steelhead fishing, Roger loves to share his expertise with other anglers. He speaks to crowds of 60-400 people, at fishing clubs, retail events and consumer shows. He is also a pro staffer and industry consultant for many fishing companies

He does more seminars on salmon and steelhead fishing than any other angler in the country. He has had many requests over the years to come to do Steelhead Seminars in Western New York and we are happy to have him delivering Steelhead seminars throughout the 4 days of our show. He is a great Educator and his presentations promise to provide some great information for all skill levels for everyone to enjoy.

Roger now spends many days chasing and catching steelhead in Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Alaska, the Olympic Peninsula in Washington, and Michigan.

Roger's Facebook pages, of the same name, are very popular. His entertainment page-with memes and fish photos-draws around 300,000 visitors each month and has over 30,000 followers. His forum page-which is a place to discuss tips, tricks, and tactics, among other topics-has over 30,000 members. His newest Instagram account now has over 32,000 followers..

Roger likes to give back to the sport by volunteering his time to various river cleanups and conservation projects. He is a Michigan Salmon Ambassador for the Michigan Sea Grant Initiative, developed in coordination with the DNRs of Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Roger also serves on the Michigan Coldwater Resources Steering Committee, which provides input, advice, and recommendations to the Fisheries Division on issues related to the state's cold-water resources-as well as strategies and goals for managing those resources. Come Join us and meet Roger as he shares his knowledge and opinion and fishing for Great Lakes Steelhead."

The founder of TeachinFishin and creator of "The 8 Steps to Catching More Fish", Lance Valentine has turned a life-long passion for fishing and teaching into one of the foremost fishing education programs in the country. Started in 1998, TeachinFishin combines Lance's years of experience fishing national tournaments (PWT, RCL) and thousands of hours of guiding into seminars, programming, workshops, Fishing Education Weekends, DVDs, and Live events covering all aspects of walleye fishing and marine electronics. Lance and the TeachinFishin staff are experts at making the tough fishing questions easy to understand with information any angler can quickly use to catch more fish regardless of species or location. Recognized as an expert in marine electronics, Valentine's Sonar/GPS seminars and training DVDs are considered "must sees" by both beginner and professional anglers. Entering his third decade as a full time walleye guide and seminar speaker, Lance's friendly demeanor and high energy speaking style have made him a favorite of show goers throughout the Midwest.

FREE UPDATES ON HDS LOWRANCE UNITS

Lowrance Electronics Pro-Staffer Lance Valentine will be giving some expert instruction on the use of marine electronics. Bring your Lowrance Touch Screen unit to the show and swing by the TeachinFishin booth for FREE software updates and setup information! You are guaranteed to learn something new when you listen to Valentine on using this important fishing tool.

After over a year of virtual meetings and social distancing, new for 2022 will be a Fly-Fishing Social - a face-to-face casual event put on by Fly Fishermen for Fly Fishermen. Its purpose is to help draw a significant number of Fly Fishing anglers and Fly Fishing exhibitors to attend a unique gathering as part of the show's effort to create a regional Fly Fishing event. Within a couple of hour drive of the show, there are some of the best, most diversified Fly Fishing options anywhere in the country. There are many opportunities to catch both cold and warm water fish on a Fly from bodies of water ranging from two Great Lakes and their tributaries, the Niagara River, inland streams, as well as smaller lakes and ponds. It is truly a remarkable Fly Fishing resource and there isn't a regional Fly Fishing Show for these anglers to attend where they can become educated along with seeing and purchasing "Fly" products from a number of vendors.

The Social will take place from 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 18. The entire Cataract Room will be dedicated to this event. Education put on by well known "Fly Fishing" experts (including George Daniels, Rick Kustich, Scott Feltrinelli, and Nick Pionessa among others) presenting their expertise in the form of Seminars, Fly Tying demos, Casting demos and Fly Fishing movies throughout the event. "Fly Fishing" related exhibitors (both from the main Exhibitor Hall and just for this event) will be located throughout the room showing / selling their Fly Fishing products. Free Craft Beer and snacks will be available to add to the casual atmosphere among a room full of Fly Fishermen talking about their outdoor passion.

In addition to the Social, the Friday leading up to this event and the Saturday after the event will feature Fly Fishing Seminars and private Fly Tying classes that you would expect to see at the larger Fly Fishing shows around the country. Pre-registration for the Social is required for a nominal cost of $25, which includes a full 4 Day admission pass for the show (a $20 value). The number of tickets available will be limited to the capacity of the room at the time of the event.

If you have a passion for Fly Fishing, where else would you rather be on a Friday and Saturday in the middle of a WNY Winter than learning and talking Fly Fishing with a group of like-minded anglers that enjoy the same attitudes and values that you have. After the Social, check out our low-cost hotel rates and enjoy the Seneca Niagara Casino and fine restaurants within a short walk of the Conference and Event Center Niagara Falls. You won't be disappointed!

New for the 2022 Show will be Private Fly Tying Classes. These classes will be similar to those offered at the major Fly Fishing shows around the country. These will be taught by George Daniels or Nick Pionessa or Rick Kustich who are all well known expert Fly Tyers and Fly Fishermen. They will last two hours and are limited to a small number of Students to maximize the learning process for each student. All materials are provided to tie each fly. Attendees need to bring their own vises, tools and battery powered lamps. This class is targeted for students with basic to advanced Fly-Tying skills and is not for "Beginner" Fly Tyers. The cost is $40 to attend and pre-registration is required. NO tickets will be available at the door.

Each class is for the angler who wants to be a serious tyer. More than just learning the mechanics of tying a specific Fly, you will learn about the creatures we are imitating, why we imitate them and how to design the imitations.

Most importantly you will learn from the expert the "When", "Where", "How" and "Why" to catch the most fish with this Fly. These private fly tying session will significantly improve your tying and catching skills in just a short time frame.

**Picture Credit: Justin Ide

Born and raised in Western New York along the Niagara Escarpment, Joe Fonzi has spent most of his life in the outdoors: fishing, hunting, and trapping. Joe began his outdoor adventures as soon as he was old enough to keep up with his dad and grandfathers, who did it all from fly fishing to trapping. He still owes much of his success to the lessons and ethics that were set forth by these early mentors.

Joe is a graduate of both, New York State school of Environmental Science and Forestry (BSF); and SUNY Brockport, where all of his emphasis was placed on environmental studies. His graduate work was in fisheries management with importance placed on freshwater ecosystems; he participated in a 2 year fisheries inventory study of the New York canal system from Lake Erie to the Hudson River. For the past 16 years Joe has held a US Coast Guard license he's used turned his passion for fishing into a successful fishing charter business. Captain Joe, charters fishing trips on lakes Erie and Ontario, spending almost two hundred days a year in his Ranger boat, targeting smallmouth bass, perch, and walleyes.

When Joe isn't guiding, he tries to fit in as many fishing tournaments as possible. With finishes in the top 5 of both the National Bass and Walleye circuits Joe has accomplished something that most anglers don't even attempt. Other tournament accomplishments include: 3 top ten finishes in the FLW and qualifying for the FLW Costa championship both years he completed the circuit. Joe has also had success north of the border with several wins and top 10 finishes in both the Canadian Sport Fishing League (CSFL) and the Renegade Bass Circuits.

Joe holds pro-staff positions with several outdoor equipment companies including Mack's Lures, Warrior Lures, and most notably Ranger Boats (for the past 8 years.) Joe is entering his second year as a Cabela's pro staffer, he often participates in the Cabela's day's events at the Cheektowaga location. Joe also does several seminars each year for local sportsmen's clubs and outdoors shows in both the US and Canada, talking on a wide range of subjects from fishing ethics to tournament-winning strategies.
FREE UPDATES ON HDS LOWRANCE UNITS

Lowrance Electronics Pro-Staffer Lance Valentine will be giving some expert instruction on the use of marine electronics. And if you actually own a HDS Lowrance Unit, bring it to the show and receive a free update from Valentine at his booth. You are guaranteed to learn something new when you listen to Valentine on using this important fishing tool.

Capt. Frank Campbell of Niagara Falls with Niagara Region Charter Service is a full time guide with over .20 years of guiding experience on Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, and the Niagara River. Spending an average of 200 days a year on the water has enabled Capt. Frank to be one of the most knowledgeable skippers in Western New York. He has been featured on numerous television shows including In-Fisherman, Keith Warren Outdoors, O'Neil's Outside, Bob Redfern Outdoors, Mid-West Outdoors, and Angling the Great Lakes along with the CBS Morning Show. He has also been featured in media print for many magazines including In-Fisherman, Outdoor Life, Fishing Facts, Salmon Trout & Steelheader, Great Lakes Angler, New York Outdoor News, Lake Ontario Outdoors, as well as in ESPN Outdoors.com. Campbell also gets involved to give back, serving as the chairman of the Niagara County Fisheries Development Board for over 10 years and also served as chairman of the Board of Directors for Niagara Tourism and Convention Corporation. His seminars are extremely informative, whether you are someone just starting out or a long time veteran on the water.

Zak Jobes is a competitive walleye angler on the National Walleye Tour. He has a passion for chasing giant great lakes walleye and loves sharing his knowledge with fellow anglers. He calls Lake Erie his home water, where he spends much of his time during the open water season. Zak has been fishing since the age of five and fishing competitively the past 10 years. His sponsors include; Warrior Lures, Fishermans Central, Costa, Vics Sports Center, Mercury Marine, Lowrance, Offshore Tackle, and Cisco Fishing Systems.