2025 Headline Presenter

Jason Randall has been an outdoor writer for over 20 years and has had feature articles appearing regularly in American Angler, as well as Fly Fisherman, Eastern Fly Fishing, Northwest Fly Fishing and many other outdoor magazines. His trout fishing book trilogy: ‘Moving Water: A Fly Fisher’s Guide to Currents’; ‘Feeding Time: A Fly Fisher’s Guide to What, Where and When Trout Eat’; and ‘Trout Sense: A Fly Fisher’s Guide to What Trout See, Hear and Smell’ reveal the depth of his passion and knowledge of the subject. His most recent book is, ‘Nymph Masters; Fly Fishing Secrets from Expert Anglers’. He appears at shows and fly fishing events throughout North America. Jason is a veterinarian certified in fish health and medicine. He is also a member of the World Aquatic Veterinary Medical Association and the Society for Freshwater Science. A native Midwesterner, Jason and Jo, his wife, live on a small farm in Northern Illinois.

Jeff resides in Hayward, Wisconsin where he bases his globe-trotting career in fly fishing. Jeff is an active member of the R.L. Winston Rod Co, Simms Fishing Products, Scientific Anglers, Bauer Reels, Yeti, Costa Sunglasses, Kate’s Real Foods, Fly Fishers International and Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures Professional Advisory Team as well as a fly fishing lecturer and well-known fish artist. Jeff’s articles, photographs and artwork have graced the pages of magazines, catalogs, brochures and books. He is constantly traveling and developing techniques for catching the most exotic fish imaginable in places where even the most avid adventurer refuses to go. This “Catch & Release” IGFA World Record holder and National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame Record holder has fished in over sixty countries and caught over 444 species of fish on the fly!

George Daniel has been chasing anything that swims with his fly rod since age 6 and still has the same passion 37 years later. George has competed at a high level for Fly Fishing Team USA, earning individual back to back US National Fly Fishing Championship titles and ranked as high as 5th in the World. George has also served as captain for Fly Fishing Team USA and Coach for the US Youth Fly Fishing Team. At age 30, George decided to give up competitive fly fishing and focus on what he enjoys most: teaching. George Daniel considers himself a teacher first and a fly fisher second. He has authored three best selling fly fishing books and has authored dozens of articles for national fly fishing publications, including Fly Fisherman Magazine.

Grant Anderson, originally from Minnesota, has been a resident of Alaska since 1999. He started guiding in 2001 in the Bristol Bay area and then started “Alaska Fly Fishing Tours - Sport Fishing Guide Service.” In 2009, Grant opened “The Fly Box” Fly/Tackle Shop in Anchor River, AK, where he ties local flies. Grant's guiding experience ranges from local riverbank fly fishing to remote hike-in fly fishing and fly-out fishing trips. Grant's greatest passion is guiding drift boat trips on the famous Kenai River and 7-10 day float trips out in the bush in the Bristol Bay area. Before guiding in Alaska, Grant was the athletic director at the Boys and Girls Club in Homer, AK, and a professional racquetball player, teacher and coach in Minnesota. Grant has been a private pilot since 1988 and loves to fly.

Evan is the owner and head guide of Fishing For All LLC. He has been fishing locally his whole life and guiding for over a decade. He has guided and fished everywhere from Minnehaha Creek to Montana, and back again. Whether it’s trout, bass, pike, muskies, sunnies or carp- he loves targeting all species of fish and helping others catch them. He is also a passionate educator and community builder, and has a long career of teaching people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. At the end of the day, Evan wants you to be as excited about fishing, fish, and their ecosystems as he is.

In spring of 2021 Stu became the owner of the Hayward Fly Fishing Company, after eight seasons guiding. He happily gives back to the rivers by serving on the board of directors at the Wild Rivers Conservancy of the St. Croix and Namekagon, and makes his home on the banks of the Namekagon River in Hayward. Stu believes that a healthy river starts with a healthy watershed and an engaged, caring river community.

Carl Haensel is a fishing guide, biologist, photographer, writer, author and educator. He has guided and taught fly fishing since 1996 and has authored dozens of articles on fly fishing techniques, tips, flies and locations. His guide service, Namebini, operates out of Duluth, MN and covers both the North and South Shore of Lake Superior. Currently, he serves as the Northern Minnesota Vice Chair for Trout Unlimited and as the manager for the Great Waters Fly Fishing Expo. His book “Fly Fishing Minnesota” was released in 2022.

Scott Struif grew up fishing for bass, muskies, and steelhead in Minnesota and Wisconsin. He guided fly fishermen for over a decade at Bristol Bay Lodge in Alaska, as well as guiding Taimen for Sweetwater Travel in Mongolia. Scott spent most of his adult life managing The Fly Angler in Blaine, MN, and fly fishing for smallmouth bass on the Mississippi River. He loves fishing surface flies! Scott is currently starting his new guiding and online business, Mad Fish Fly Company.

The owner of the Driftless Angler, Mat has been fly fishing and working in shops since he was 14. Born and raised in Michigan, he has fished and guided all over North America with time spent in Michigan, British Columbia, and Northern New Mexico. A self described small stream junkie, Mat is always willing to share tips and techniques for fishing the Driftless and beyond.

Kyle currently resides in the rural bluffs of Black Earth, WI and in 2013, he created Black Earth Angling Co., a fly fishing guide outfit focused providing clients with one-of-a-kind fishing experiences. Kyle guides full time for Driftless trout and the diverse warm water opportunities of the Wisconsin River. Kyle has become well known for his guide work on the Wisconsin River, specifically “The Crash,” and his work with a camera in the field as a fly fishing photographer. His photo work has appeared in notable publications such as, The Flyfish Journal, Eastern Fly Fishing, The Drake, Fly Fisherman, Midcurrent.com, and Hatch.com. Kyle has been lucky enough to fish in Mexico, Bahamas, Colombia, Argentina, Chile, and extensively throughout the United States.

McKenna Hulslander is owner of Outcast Adventures, where she guides groups of women into the backcountry of Montana. McKenna was born and raised in Montana where her love of fly fishing took place. When she isn't on the river she has spent her time playing professional hockey overseas as well as helping coach the next generation of hockey players. She believes in the power and perspective the backcountry brings to anyone who ventures through it, and started Outcast to help others share in the love for wild places.

Hans owns Dakota Angler & Outfitter, located in Rapid City, SD. He grew up fishing the small streams of the Black Hills and started working at the local fly shop during high school. Hans has continued to work at the fly shop ever since, and in 2006, he purchased the business. He feels lucky to have fished in destinations worldwide. Hans also enjoys sharing his love of fly tying by creating tutorials on YouTube.

Brent's photographs and articles about exploring the Northwoods with a fly rod have appeared in the Boundary Waters Journal and other publications. He is co-author with Carl Haensel of a forthcoming guidebook about fly fishing the BWCA and Quetico. Brent has directed numerous films and videos, including a few about fly fishing, and currently serves as the Chair of the Board of Directors for Minnesota Trout Unlimited. A Professor of Film and Video at University of Wisconsin-Superior, Brent lives in Duluth with his fishing, canoeing, and life partner Cheri Henderson.

Kristen Poppleton joined MNTU as Assistant Director in January 2024. She develops and implements strategic communications for MNTU advocacy and development efforts, and engages with staff, chapters and members in advocacy, habitat and education programs. Kristen has spent her professional career working for the environment, at organizations including Climate Generation, the Science Museum of Minnesota, and the International Wolf Center.

Luke has been targeting carp for over ten years, and 2023 will be his fourth season as owner and head guide of Freshwater Flats Guide Service, LLC in southern Wisconsin. What initially attracted Luke to carp was their notorious power, but their enduring appeal for him has been their particular behavior and the places they take him. Luke is passionate about helping customers appreciate Wisconsin's incredible wetland resources and the unique fishing opportunities presented by carp.

Born porteño, Patagonian by choice, Matias made his first experiences in Graphic Design and Online Marketing for several years before leaving for New Zealand for a year. Without much hesitation, once he was back in Argentina, he moved south to Patagonia where the paths of life lead him to the fly fishing universe and SET fly fishing. During the fishing season he will be the face behind the curtain, guiding your way and assisting you in every travel related matter before, during and after your trip.

Mel Hayner is the owner of the Driftless Fly Fishing Company in Preston, MN. He grew up fishing the Au Sable in Michigan, and Oregon and Washington coastal streams. He has fished around the country and has been published in various fly fishing magazines. He has been fly fishing and tying flies for over forty years. Mel has been fishing in Southeast MN for over twenty years and guiding others for over a decade. His passion is showing others the joy of trout on a fly and the beauty of the Driftless Area.

Catherine Smith is a board member of Fly Fishing International Women Connect and an award-winning fly caster. A native of South Dakota, Catherine has fly fished throughout North America in fresh water and salt. She is a photographer and filmmaker, and a strong advocate for women in the sport of fly fishing. She and her partner John van Vliet have spent nearly two decades traveling, fishing and documenting their journeys.

Paul lives and works in Waconia, Minnesota, the unofficial fly fishing capital in Carver County. He likes to say he was a productive member of society until he discovered fly fishing. When he is not at his desk at the bank, he might just be at home behind his fly tying desk. Paul started tying flies over twelve years ago with a basic fly tying kit from Cabela’s. He was able to take what he started to learn from some books and an old Jack Dennis fly tying tape and expand on that with fly tying classes taught by John Mowery and Andy Roth at Bentley’s Fly Shop. Paul shares his passion for tying and continues to learn new patterns and techniques as part of the Laughing Trout Fly Fishing Club. Much of his tying output is donated to local Trout Unlimited chapters to support their fundraising efforts.

Paul owns PVS Angling, a guiding service, and has over forty years of angling experience on Lake Superior tributaries. He specializes in spey casting for trout and salmon on the Minnesota North Shore and Wisconsin's Brule River. Paul had a long career with the Natural Resources Conservation Service and has always strove to improve the health of our streams and rivers. He has an intimate knowledge of the area rivers, watersheds, flow patterns, hydrologic characteristics and factors this information into his angling strategies.

Mike Corrigan spent 35 years working as a Geophysicist in Alberta, Canada and guided for 10 summers; he currently lives in Winnipeg and fishes 120-150 days per year for anything with fins. Mike has travelled to many parts of the world to fly fish, including New Zealand 8 times. All of these trips are “self guided”.

John van Vliet is the author of more than a dozen books, including Trout Fishing in Northeast Iowa, The Art of Fly Tying, Fly Fishing Equipment & Skills, 365 Flies, Trout Fishing in Southeast Minnesota, and his latest, Trout Fishing in Southwest Wisconsin. An avid fly angler, certified fly-casting instructor, writer, publisher, speaker and filmmaker, John has fly fished around the world. His writing has appeared in the New York Times, World Traveler magazine, Big River magazine and, most recently, Fly Fisherman magazine, where he serves as Midwest Field Editor. The trout streams of the Driftless Area are John’s home waters.

David was born and raised in the Midwest along the St. Croix River and has been chasing fish for as long as he can remember. He now guides on the Upper Mississippi and St. Croix rivers, but spends plenty of time on other bodies of water across the Midwest. David’s passion is targeting trophy musky and smallmouth bass, and showing people the incredible fishing opportunities that the many rivers in our area have to offer.

Mike grew up in Kansas City, KS and learned to fly fish on the Ozark streams in Southern Missouri. After a few trips to NE Iowa, though, he decided to move there in 2020 to pursue his passion and love for fly fishing in the Driftless region. Mike guides year-round in Decorah, IA for Bear Creek Anglers and is current President of the Iowa Driftless Chapter of Trout Unlimited.

Monta is a teacher and guide at Orvis Endorser Driftless Fly Fishing Company in Preston, Mn. She grew up trout fishing in Michigan and Oregon. She took up fly fishing 25 years ago after discovering the trout streams of the Driftless area. Member of Trout Unlimited. Member and past Chair of Fly Fishing Women of Minnesota. Current President of Lew Jewett Fly Fishers, a Fly Fishers International Club, and current Upper Midwest Council Women Connect Liaison for Fly Fisher’s International.

To his mother’s great dismay, Peter became severely afflicted with OCFD (Obsessive Compulsive Fishing Disorder) at a very early age. He terminated his career in corporate finance to become a fly fishing guide five years ago. He started FlyDog Fly Fishing and guides on the upper St. Croix River in pursuit of smallmouth bass. The rest of the year he enjoys the privilege of fly fishing many extraordinary venues in the USA and around the world.

Rob Kimm is a writer, editor, speaker and multi-species angler who began fly fishing and fly tying at age 12. A former instructor at the In-Fisherman's Camp Fish and former Alaskan guide, his pursuit of trout and salmon has led him to numerous locations across the western US, Canada, and New Zealand. A native Minnesota, Rob now currently lives in St Paul Minnesota.

Scott's love for fly tying began as a child over 40 years ago. However, he feels he's still learning new things every day. Scott enjoys instructing others to perfect their skills and especially helping others overcome their tying problems. Minnesota having so many lakes has given Scott an outstanding opportunity to create panfish and bass flies that really work. The vast array of rivers and creeks has made Minnesota trout a great target as well. Scott loves realistic fly tying and now, over the last decade, tying with foam has become a passion.

Chris O'Brien serves on the board of Twin Cities Trout Unlimited and volunteers with the Kinni Corridor Collaborative to support dam removal on this wild river where he has spent countless hours fishing, exploring and guiding. An experienced conservation communicator, Chris works for the nonprofit Freshwater and has also held positions with the Minnesota DNR, Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District, and Emmons & Olivier Resources. He lives in Saint Paul with his wife and two boys.

Gary spent his most memorable times outdoors with his father wading wet as they fished the Jump, Yellow and Fischer Rivers near his grandmother’s farm in Taylor County Wisconsin. Gary currently lives in River Falls and has been active with the Kiap TU Wish Chapter of Trout Unlimited since 1989 serving in all officer positions including 5 years as President. During the Kinni Corridor Project Committee he served as Kiap TU Wish’s representative to the Kinni Corridor Project Committee which ultimately recommended Dam removals on the Kinnickinnic River.

I am a custom and commercial fly tyer living outside the Twin Cities. Originally hailing from New Jersey it wasn't till I moved to Minnesota that I discovered fly fishing and tying. I am heavily inspired and influenced by east coast salt water tying. My biggest initial influences were Bob Popovics and Gunnar Brammer. After a while I discovered Jason Taylor and David Nelson who changed my thinking and opened me up to tying in the Squimpish Style. I opened a shop a few years ago and I am so blessed to now call all those people I referred to as mentors as friends. My take on a mix of Bob's BEAST and Gunnars brush techniques have led me to a pattern that I tie exclusively for the Muskyfool fly shop that has landed multiple trophy class muskies for anglers all over the US. My custom orders have landed everything from a 350lb 10ft long Arapaima in South America to 70lb Murray cod in Australia and many others in between. I am a Squimpish Pro Team Member and I look forward to showing people how to construct some cool flies.

Seth Waters is a guide and the owner of Dark Waters Fly Shop and Guide Service in Iron River, Michigan. He specializes in fly fishing the western Michigan UP Lake Superior tributaries and western UP inland coldwater river systems.

Scott Harness, owner of Feather Thief Fly Fishing Guiding & Instruction, has been pursuing his passion for fly fishing both locally and around the world for over 40 years. As a former IGFA world recorder holder – from Brook Trout to Billfish, Scott has caught them all. Scott provides personalized fly tying instruction, casting instruction, and customized guided trips. He is passionate about teaching people of all ages and backgrounds how to tie it, cast it and catch it. His hope is that others will learn to love the experience of fly fishing and all that it has to offer.