Teaching Fishing

Teaching Fishing


"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.

With over 200 free classes included with the price of show admission (a great deal for the $10 show admission price) along with some more intense Clinics and Schools, every attendee should be able to find multiple classes to attend that will improve their fishing skills for this coming fishing season. The curriculum schedule can be viewed by selecting the Education menu item on this web site includes classes on the following:

1. Lake Ontario Trout & Salmon
2. Lake Erie & Inland Lake Walleye
3. Lake Erie, Ontario & Inland Lakes Bass
4. Lake Ontario & Erie Tributary Trout
5. Lake Erie & Inland Lakes Perch
6. Marine Electronics & Boat Rigging
7. Kayak Fishing
8. Fly Fishing
9. Casting Techniques
10. Youth Fishing
11. Women Fishing
12. Fisheries Management / General Fishing

Beginner Fishing Schools

Beginner Fishing Schools


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:

Beginner Fly Fishing School - Saturday February 19, 2022 from 8 am - 12:30 pm
Sponsored by the Lake Erie Chapter of Fly Fishers International (LEC-FFI)
Click here for more detail on the School
Signup Here

Beginner Salmon Fishing School - Saturday February 19, 2022 from 8 am - 12:30 pm OR Sunday February 20, 2022 from 9 am to 1:30 pm.
Sponsored by the Lake Ontario Trout & Salmon Association (LOTSA)
Click here for more detail on the School
Saturday Signup Here
Sunday Signup Here

Beginner Bass Fishing School - Saturday February 19, 2022 from 1 pm to 5:30 pm
Sponsored by the WNY Bassmasters
More detail on the School COMING SOON!
Signup Here

Beginner Walleye Fishing School - Saturday February 19, 2022 from 8 am - 12:30 pm OR Sunday February 20, 2022 from 9 am to 1:30 pm.
Sponsored by Southtowns Walleye Association (SWA)
More detail on the School COMING SOON!
Saturday Signup Here
Sunday Signup Here

Beginner Kayak Fishing School - Saturday February 19, 2022 from 1pm - 5:30 pm
Sponsored by New York Kayak Bass Fishing (NYKBF)
More detail on the School COMING SOON!
Signup Here

2021 Walleye School

Walleye, Walleye, Walleye


One of the most popular features of the Greater Niagara Fishing and Outdoor Expo are the Walleye education and Exhibitors. Eastern Lake Erie walleye anglers are experiencing once-in-a-generation fishing says Dr. Jason Robinson, Lake Erie Unit Leader for the DEC. These are the "good old days". Walleye fishing quality in New York waters has been at record levels for the past 4 years with many Walleye anglers experiencing unpresented success. In 2019, New York anglers harvested 174,000 walleyes, the highest recorded harvest in the 32-year history of the creel census.

With the population of age 2 and older Walleye in Lake Erie estimated at 150 million as a result of unprecedented level of lake wide spawning success, we are going to see incredible fishing for years to come. Many, many anglers want to get in on this incredible fishery thus the demand for quality Walleye Education is at an all-time high. Walleye are by far the most popular fish to target in Western New York. The combination of the Walleye Education and Exhibitors were put together by the Expo to help meet the needs of the Walleye angling community.

The Expo will offer four days of intense Walleye Information from the many Walleye Exhibitors and Education opportunities for Walleye Anglers who fish Eastern Lake Erie, Chautauqua Lake, Niagara River and other NYS waters.
New for this year will be a full Walleye School offering. This School consists of 7 hours of detailed "Walleye" instruction targeted for the "hard core" experienced weekend warrior / tournament Anglers.
A full lineup of Walleye related Seminars and Demos can be viewed by selecting "2022 Education" from the main menu and then select "Walleye Series".
If you are a Walleye angler just starting out, be sure to check out the separate Beginner Walleye Schools to "fast track" the learning process.

Well known national Walleye Educators Mark Romanack, Jake Romanack and Lance Valentine headline a very experienced group of instructors with a wide range of expertise in different Walleye fishing techniques along with Boat Rigging and Marine Electronics.

If your passion is Walleye Fishing, this is the Show for you!

2021 Walleye School

Watch Eastern Lake Erie Walleye Video

DEC Offerings

DEC Offerings

The DEC will again have a major presence at the 2022 Greater Niagara Fishing and Outdoor Expo based upon a very positive experience for both attendees and DEC staff at the previous show.

Anglers who fish in New York's Great Lakes and inland waters would like to have more interaction with the decision-makers and the biologists who manage these waterways. The same could be said for those same decision-makers and biologists. They would like to have more interaction with the stakeholders and users of the resources to help the public understand those management practices. They would also like to receive more input from the anglers themselves to help with their management decisions going forward.

The most largest offering by the DEC is their unique "Open House" where experts will be manning booths answering questions on at least 7 different aspects of the Bureau of Fisheries all at the same time in the same room for four hours on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Included in this will be stations focusing on Lake Ontario Open Lake and Lake Ontario Tributaries; Lake Erie (with Lake Erie Unit Leader Dr. Jason Robinson and Sr. Aquatic Biologist James Markham) Open Lake and Tributaries; Niagara River; Great Lakes Fish Production and Stocking; Finger Lakes; Inland Streams; DEC Law Enforcement; and Angling Opportunities for Women. This is a great way meet, ask your questions and have a discussion with the DEC decision makers including Steve Hurst, DEC's Chief of the Bureau of Fisheries, Chris Legard, the Lake Ontario Unit Leader and Jason Robinson, the Lake Erie Unit Leader. This event is open and free to all attendees at the show, no tickets are required, come when you want, ask your questions, voice your concerns and leave when you want. The DEC wants to hear from the Fishing Community, both the good and the bad, so that they can continue to provide a high quality Fishery in NYS.

Each winter and spring, DEC conducts State of the Lake meetings to initiate public outreach and give updates on what's happening with a particular body of water - Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, Salmon River, Finger Lakes. They are often at a time when many anglers cannot attend. To help bridge that gap the DEC will be participating in the Salmon School, Walleye School and Fly Fishing Socials, along with offering presentations on the Lake Ontario Stocking Strategy and Lake Erie Perch Management.

The Show will also be partnering with the DEC to put on the Super Kids Fishing Clinic which is so important for the future.

In addition, DEC will continue to operate its popular booth in the main exhibit hall throughout the duration of the Expo. We are proud to be partnering with DEC to continue to enhance the quality of the Fisheries available in NYS both now and in the future. Be sure to take advantage of these innovative educational opportunities.

Super Kids Fishing Clinic

Super Kids Fishing Clinic


The Greater Niagara Fishing and Outdoor Expo is partnering with the DEC and Clubs / Exhibitors at the show who are aligned with the show's goal to introduce future generations of anglers to the sport of fishing by providing a Clinic where upon completion the Adult and their Kid(s) will have enough knowledge to go out on the WNY waterways and safely catch some fish. We strongly believe in "Taking a Kid Fishing" and "Passing on the Knowledge" is critical to sustaining our great fishery for the future generations of anglers.

This Clinic will be a hands on interactive event for Kids ages 7 - 15 years old along with their "Adult Fishing Companion" (Dad, Mom, Friend, etc who will be taking the kid(s) fishing this year). It will have a Teaching Fishing to Kids Curriculum consists of a logical series of stations manned by fishing experts to properly educate each adult and their kids.
The attendees will learn the basics from the "ground floor up" including:

1.The gear necessary including rods, reels, line, casting, 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

The clinic is divided into 8 sessions of 15 minutes each to make the sessions short enough to keep the kids attention while still providing a quality learning experience for them. Most of the sessions will be "Hand On" learning. Up to 4 adult instructors will be teaching / helping out for each session to provide a 4:1 ratio of Kids to Instructors. Free tackle will also be given out to each of the Kids.
The Clinic will be offered twice in Room #3 on Sunday (2/20) at:

1. 9:30 am - 11:30 am Session #1 (up to 80 Kids).
2. 12:00 - 2 pm Session #2 (up to 80 Kids).

Pre-registration online is required in order to control the numbers to provide a quality learning environment for all. Seating is limited and registration will be closed when they are full. The adult that registers can sign up 1 or 2 kids to attend with them. The total registration cost is $10 for the adult only (kids are free) and which includes free admission to the show on Sunday.

Registrations will open in September.

Super Kids Fishing Clinic
1. Sunday 9:30 am - 11:30 am Session #1 (up to 80 Kids).
Morning Signup Here

Super Kids Fishing Clinic
2. Sunday 12:00 - 2 pm Session #2 (up to 80 Kids).
Afternoon Signup Here

Hawg Trough

The Hawg Trough - a Primary Learning Vehicle to "Teach Fishing"


The Hawg Trough based upon the many positive comments from our attendees will be back on the main Event Center floor. The Hawg Trough is a mobile 5,000-gallon fish tank loaded with Bass and equipped with a speaker platform.

The saying "A picture is worth 1000 words" is really true when it comes to the Hawg Trough. Being able to do seminars on it to show how different baits are worked in the water and how fish react to the different presentations will enhance the learning experience. The seminars are delivered by experts in these techniques or with the particular baits. Seminars are not just limited to Bass but cover other areas (Walleye, Lure Tuning, Float Fishing, etc.) where "seeing it" is an effective learning technique. This setting also allows the attendees to interact throughout with the seminar presenter to maximize the learning for each attendee making this an excellent alternative to the traditional education in the classroom. Some seminars actually combine both settings providing attendees with the opportunity to learn in the classroom setting and then go out to the main floor to reinforce the learning by seeing it demonstrated in a fishing environment in the Hawg Trough!

Teaching Fishing to our youth is a big goal of the show. The Hawg Trough plays a big part in this as we feel that using this combined with classroom instruction is the most effective way to deliver this education and furthers our show goal of introducing future generations of anglers to the sport of fishing.
To see the full list of Hawg Trough sessions planned select the "Education" tab on the main menu. During the show, the schedule for the day will be posted in the Hawg Trough area.

Carson Swierski - High School NYS Bass Tounament Angler

Carson Swierski - High School NYS Bass Tounament Angler "Teaching Fishing on the Hawg Trough

2022 Bassmaster Classic Door Prize

2022 Bassmaster Classic Door Prize

Attention Bass Fishing Fans: Enter To Win A VIP Experience at the 2022 Bassmaster Classic on Lake Hartwell

2022 Bassmaster Classic Draw Ticket Purchase



If you've never experienced the fun and excitement of attending the Bassmaster Classic, what are you waiting for?

The Greater Niagara Fishing and Outdoor Expo has teamed up with Visit Anderson (S.C.) to offer bass fishing fans an opportunity to have the ultimate fan experience at the 2022 Bassmaster Classic in Greenville, S.C.

One lucky person and a guest will get VIP treatment while witnessing the marquee event in professional bass fishing, which will take place at Lake Hartwell March 4-6, 2022.

The package includes:
> Hotel accommodations for two, including breakfast, at the Hilton Garden Inn of Anderson for four nights (check in March 3; check out March 8).
> Dinner for two at Anderson area restaurants each evening.
> VIP parking pass for Green Pond Landing and Events Center to watch the competitors blast off each morning of the tournament.
> VIP access to the Visit Anderson Hospitality Suite at Green Pond during the morning launch.
> VIP access to the Visit Anderson Hospitality Suite at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville each day during weigh-in.
> $500 Visa Card to use for expenses.
> Gift pack from South Carolina native and Bassmaster Elite Series angler Brandon Cobb.
> Visit Anderson gift basket with local favorites.
>Tickets for this Draw prize will be available to Bass anglers at the Show

Transportation is not included in this package. All transportation will be the responsibility of the winner.
Lodging will be paid for by Visit Anderson. Incidental charges will be the responsibility of the winner.


The total value of this package exceeds $2,000.


Charles Waldorf was the lucky Bass Angler who's name was drawn at the 2020 Greater Niagara Fishing & Outdoor Expo and won the trip to the 50th anniversary Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk March 6-8 at Lake Guntersville in Alabama. Based on the fact that Bass Anglers were truly excited to attend the Expo and have an opportunity to win this prize, we decided to put together a similar package to be given away again for this Expo.


Charles Waldorf of North Tonawanda (right) won the trip to the 50th Anniversary of the 2020 Outdoors Bassmaster Classic by attending the Greater Niagara Fishing Expo in January. He is pictured here with professional bass fisherman Austin Felix of Minnesota.


Here is some of what Charles had to say about winning the prize and attending the Classic:

"I've been attending the Greater Niagara Fishing & Outdoor Expo in Niagara Falls since its inception. It's wonderful being able to scratch the fishing itch in the dead of winter. The seminars are packed with information that is very useful to the outdoorsperson looking to get into and enjoy all the wonderful outdoor opportunities our area has to offer. Even seasoned veterans can pick up a tip or two from the excellent speakers who host the seminars. You also will have the opportunity to get some hands-on time with some products you might not otherwise find.

As a freelance photographer, I take the opportunity to attend the show to meet, and catch up with industry professionals. I also thoroughly enjoy the seminars, as I believe you can never really know too much on a topic.

This year, attending those seminars paid off in a way I had never imagined.

Full disclosure, I am a freelance photographer for Fishing League Worldwide (FLW). Over the course of the season, I cover 10-12 events for the fishing tournament organization. I photograph the tournament from start to finish, with the images being used on the website, social media and in FLW magazine. I've been a big fan, of both B.A.S.S. and FLW for as long as I can remember. I've even fished in a few events as a co-angler.

So, when I received an email from the Niagara Fishing Expo notifying me that I had won a trip to the 50th anniversary Bassmaster Classic, I was floored. I had attended about six seminars all pertaining to bass fishing, everything from catching trophy smallmouth on Lake Erie (Travis Manson), to largemouth bass on Cayuga Lake (Casey Smith). Both of those guys are excellent fishermen.

Attending the Classic was amazing. It was bass fishing heaven. Six rooms full of the newest and hottest bass fishing gear on the market. Almost everyone from the industry was there. We would spend about 3-4 hours each day checking out all of the new gear and then find seats in the arena to take in the weigh-in. The atmosphere was electric. We were surrounded by hundreds of other diehard fishing fanatics, and you could just tell something special was taking place. Having the opportunity to take this in was very special and rekindled my obsession with the sport.

We were able to sit in the front row of the family section. This, too, was also super special. I highly recommend taking the opportunity to experience a weigh-in. Dave Mercer, the emcee, brings a different kind of energy to the event. Mercer is the host of Facts of Fishing and often fishes Lake Erie on the show. The anglers' names are announced and then their intro music plays. Fans go wild when their favorite angler comes in; they ride in their boat while being pulled to the stage, a goal of any tournament angler. They then reach into their livewell to retrieve their day's catch. Every once in a while an angler will hoist a giant bass, and the crowd will cheer in excitement.

At the end of 3 days of competition, there was one angler left to weigh in, Hank Cherry. He needed 13 pounds, 3 ounces to win. He caught 19 pounds, 8 ounces to bring his three-day total to 65 pounds, 5 ounces, and be crowned the champion of the 50th Bassmaster Classic.

We drove more than 1,000 miles and made just about as many memories. Thank you to all of those involved in making this trip possible. It was truly an amazing experience!" "Photos courtesy of Charles Waldorf"



Professional Bass angler Hank Cherry was crowned the champion of the 50th Bassmaster Classic.
*Photos courtesy of Charles Waldorf

Roger Hinchcliff

Roger Hinchcliff

Roger Hinchcliff


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."

Lance Valentine

Lance Valentine

Lance Valentine

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.

Mark Romanack: Fishing 411

Mark Romanack: Fishing 411

Mark Romanack, "the Outdoors Guy" is a lifelong outdoorsman and one of the nation's most active members of the outdoor media. A graduate of Northern Michigan University with a B.S. Degree in Conservation, Romanack has spent his entire career working to help others better understand and appreciate the outdoors. Romanack's outdoor career started in 1981 as an Environmental Educator. While working as a naturalist, he began to write outdoor articles for hunting and fishing magazines to supplement his income. His first article was published by Michigan Out of Doors Magazine (the nation's largest independent conservation organization). This part time hobby quickly grew into a full-fledged career with to date more than 3,000 writing credits in over 60 different local, regional and national magazines. Currently Romanack writes frequently for host of magazines and also produces a weekly outdoor blog on Facebook and the https://www.fishing411.net/ site.

Romanack made the move to outdoor writing full time in 1986. Since that time, he has published 13 different printed books on fishing, including the widely popular Precision Trolling Troller's Bible series of depth guides. Romanack has also released a growing number of Kindle e-books including Spinner Fishing Secrets, Walleye Jigging Tactics and Walleye Crankbait Trolling Strategies. In addition to writing and photography, Romanack has become a sought-after public speaker on a variety of freshwater fishing topics. Considered one of the nation's leading authorities on walleye fishing and all things trolling, Romanack conducts more than 40 multimedia seminars annually on a variety of fishing topics. In 2007 Romanack plunged into the television world by hosting and field producing a new TV series called Fishing 411 broadcast nationwide on World Fishing Network. Currently filming season 10, Fishing 411 has grown rapidly both in distribution and popularity reaching millions of homes on Dish Network and a host of cable TV providers. The Romanack family is also very active on the popular social networking venues. In addition to maintaining two Facebook accounts with over 20,000 followers, the Fishing 411 team provides social networking content in the form of video, photography and written communications for all of their sponsors.

Jake Romanack: Fishing 411

Jake Romanack: Fishing 411

Jake Romanack: Fishing 411


Captain Jake Romanack is one of the rising stars on the Great Lakes fishing scene.

The son of outdoor writer and TV host Mark Romanack, Jake has been fishing since he was old enough to hold up a trolling combo. "Jake grew up on the Great Lakes mastering both the fundamentals and the finer points of walleye, trout and salmon trolling," says Mark Romanack. Jake spent three years acting as a first mate on a dozen different charter boats before he stepped up and got his own captains license.

These days Captain Jake specializes in educational efforts including seminars, producing YouTube videos and also co-hosting TV productions as part of the family business Fishing 411 Productions."

Captain Jake Romanack lives in Northern Michigan with his wife Paige and hunting dog Kash, but travels religiously to target trout, salmon, walleye and other species around the Great Lakes region.

Ultimate Walleye Clinic

Ultimate Walleye Clinic

Ultimate Walleye Clinic


The "Ultimate Walleye Clinic" is just that. This two hour long intensive seminar on walleye fishing covers all the bases. Mark and Jake Romanack of Fishing 411 TV use this "multi-media" presentation to hammer home important fishing skills that help anglers take their game up a notch.

Included in this seminar are discussions on getting the most from modern sonar, boat rigging tips, refinements for using in-line planer boards, mastering boat control, jigging tactics, fishing with bottom bouncers, trolling diving planers and even using downriggers and lead core line to catch more Great Lakes walleye.

After each video segment is played, Mark and Jake flesh out the topic and then open the conversation up to questions from the audience. This unique seminar format produces a ton of useful information in what will become the shortest two hours you ever spent in a classroom!

A voluntary donation is taken during the event to support one of Mark and Jake's favorite charities. At the end of the seminar, valuable door prizes will also be handed out including many of the products discussed during the event.

George Daniels

George Daniels

George Daniels


It all began at age 6 when George caught his first trout on a fly rod. Since that day, George has been addicted to fly fishing. George is a former competitive angler for Fly Fishing Team USA, former Coach for both USA Youth and Adult Fly Fishing Teams. He has written three books and has published countless articles for fly fishing magazines. Currently he is the director and lead instructor for the Pennsylvania State University's Angling Program-a positioned once held by George's fly fishing mentor, Joe Humphreys. George is also an on-stream instructor and runs clinics/presentations throughout the US.

Fly Fishing Social

Fly Fishing Social

Fly Fishing Social

For Something Different, Try Our Fly Fishing Social

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!

Private Fly Tying

Private Fly Tying Classes

Private Fly Tying Classes


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

Private Fly Tying Class - Friday February 18, 2022 from 2 PM to 4 PM
Taught by George Daniels
Click here for more detail on the Class
Signup Here

Private Fly Tying Class - Saturday February 19, 2022 from 11 AM to 1 PM
Taught by Nick Pionessa
Click here for more detail on the Class
Signup Here

Private Fly Tying Class - Saturday February 19, 2022 from 1 PM to 3 PM
Taught by George Daniels
Click here for more detail on the Class
Signup Here

Private Fly Tying Class - Saturday February 19, 2022 from 3:30 PM - 5:30 pm
Taught by Rick Kustich
Click here for more detail on the Class
Signup Here

Rick Kustich

Rick Kustich

Rick Kustich


Rick Kustich is a fly-fishing author, instructor and guide who began fly-fishing over forty years ago on the lakes and streams of upstate New York. Rick's work has appeared in numerous national and regional publications, including Fly Fisherman and American Angler. He is the author of Hunting Musky with a Fly and Advanced Fly Fishing for Great Lakes Steelhead as well as four other fly fishing titles and is featured in the DVDs Tube Flies for Steelhead and Spey Daze. He has also spent time as a fly-shop owner, travel host, and fly-fishing book publisher. He lives in Western New York.

Scott Feltrinelli

 Scott Feltrinelli

Scott Feltrinelli


Scott has over 28 years of fly fishing experience in both fresh and salt waters all over the world and is the Guide/Owner of Ontario Fly Outfitters. Scott is a licensed U.S. Coast Guard Captain and a N.Y.S. D.E.C. licensed fishing Guide and focuses his fishing efforts in all Upstate NY waters. Scott has a passion for connecting people with the sport of fly fishing and especially enjoys instructing, writing, public speaking and conservation work. As a Guide, Scott promotes "catch and release" and "fair chase" fishing tactics and is dedicated to protecting our marine resources. Scott is considered to be one of the best tactical streamer fisherman in the northeast. This guide brings his big water, big fly tactics from the saltwater beaches of Long Island and New Jersey where he spent 17 years fly fishing to the creeks and tributaries of Upstate NY where he spends most of his days now.

Scott's passion for conservation inspired him to solely create and deliver two "catch and release" fishing sections on Four Mile Creek and Mill Creek of Lake Ontario. Working closely with the Town Of Webster, Monroe County Parks Dept., N.Y.S. D. E.C. and other community organizations, these projects have been successfully completed to include kiosks and signage. As a result, wild Brown Trout, Steelhead and Salmon continue to naturally reproduce and imprint on both creeks.

Since 2015, Scott Feltrinelli has been featured quarterly as a writer/photographer for On The Fly Magazine and has appeared on ESPN Radio's Let's Catch Fish talk show regularly. Scott has also made appearances on Bill Hilts' (Buffalo News) hosted TV Show The Outdoor Beat. The Captain/Guide is also an active member with Trout Unlimited, Fly Fishers International and recently held a seat as the Vice President of Canandaigua Lake Trout Unlimited for four years. Most recently Scott was appointed as a select representative to the NYS DEC Lake Ontario Fisheries Management Focus Group.
Scott represents Cortland Line Company where he has field tested fly fishing lines and recently named a newly tested fly line he named "Omni Verse" currently offered by this company. He also represents LOOP Tackle and Simms fishing products. www.ontariofly.com
Scott graduated SUNY at Buffalo State College, played NCAA collegiate soccer and collegiate rugby football. He is also an accomplished 22-year pharmaceutical sales management professional.

Joe Fonzi

Joe Fonzi

Joe Fonzi


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.

Frank Campbell

Frank Campbell

Frank Campbell


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

Zak Jobes

Zak Jobes


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.

Win a Lifetime Fishing License

Win a Lifetime Fishing License!

Win a Lifetime Fishing License!

New York State has a long angling heritage when it comes to sportfishing. Its angling resources abound, especially right here in Western New York. In an effort to help pass this outdoor opportunity on to the next generation, the Greater Niagara Fishing and Outdoor Expo will be having a drawing at the end of the show that will give every youngster 16 years of age an younger the chance to win a lifetime fishing license! This only applies to kids who are New York State residents, but the best thing about a lifetime license is that it even applies if the holder moves out of the state later in life. The number of licenses given away will be determined at the end of the show. Simply fill out an entry form when you arrive and then keep your fingers crossed. It will also be a great time to take advantage of youth fishing education abailable throughout the show. Good luck!

*Attendees at the Greater Niagara Fishing and Outdoor Expo will be permitted to submit One Entry Per Day Per Person, into the Drawing Barrel which will be located in the Grand Foyer