It’s not the upcoming mega hatch of cicadas or the full eclipse that has fishermen checking the calendar. The Fly Fishing Expo is returning to the Benson Center in Clinton.
For those people who are interested in flyfishing or fly tying, or wanting to learn about either, it’s a stellar event.
The Expo is the offspring of the Tri-Lakes Fly Fishers, an organization that holds monthly meetings through the year as well as club trips and works with youth groups to promote the sport.
This year’s Expo is on April 13th from 9am to 4pm and will be in the big exhibition hall at the Benson Center in Clinton at 1008 E. Sedalia Avenue.
Admission is free.
Unlike the double hatch of cicada, which will not reoccur until 2037, the Expo is an annual event and will be in the Benson Center for at least two more years. What makes the Expo special is that there will be fly tyers demonstrating their skills at the tying vise as well as 38 vendors offering a large selection of flies and fishing-related items.
But wait! There’s more as the infomercials say: There will be 50 people from at least six states tying flies, waiting for folks to observe their techniques and flies. They are there to answer questions and to show people how to tie.
Have a problem tying a whip finish (used to finish the head of the fly so the thread won’t unravel), and you’ll find people there you how to do it with a tool or by hand.
Need lessons on tying in hackle? Or how to make and use a dubbing loop? Want to learn how to tie a crappie jig? Interested in the best flies for trout? Want to learn about tying poppers—used for bass and panfish—you’ll find someone to talk to about how to secure the foam (or cork) body to the hook.
It’s a great place t ask questions about technique, flies and the materials used in fly tying.
And for folks who haven’t tied a fly before, there is a solution. The 2024 Expo has open vises with tools, materials and club members ready to assist anyone who wants to take that first step in learning to tie flies. It’s a new feature of the Expo.
It’s not just the fly tyers or vendors who are the draw. Noted guide and flyfishing instructor, Jeff Trigg of Ozark Sweetwater, will be the featured speaker covering flyfishing for smallmouth and the gear needed to be successful.
A returning feature is the silent auction. Club members and supporting businesses offer a wide range of items for bidding. And this year one offering is a trip to Flaming Gorge’s Green River that includes both a guide and lodging. Past years have included a wide variety of items that weren’t solely about fly fishing.
The auction provides the funds for the club’s contribution of $1000 to outfitting foster children as part of the Mayfly project. The club also has a flyfishing education program at the Good Samaritan Boys Ranch.
Another attraction at the Expo is the food. There are breakfast burritos and sausage gravy and biscuits for the breakfast crowd. Lunch offerings include pulled pork sandwiches, meatball grinders and hamburgers and hot dogs along with sides. Desserts and treats also are on the menu. The homemade food is not a revenue source for the club, so prices are reasonable.
Last year’s Expo saw 350 attendees and was “packed”, according to club member Nick Halteman. There were 28 vendors last year, and an additional 10 will be displaying products this year.
Corporate sponsors of this year’s events are well known to Clinton-- Hawthorn Bank, Mike Keith Insurance, and a new one: Cover & Hilton Law Group.
The Tri-Lakes Fly Fishers started in 1996. Its first Expo was held in 1998. The last location before it came to Clinton was in Bolivar. The three lakes referred to in the club’s name are Truman, Pomme d’Terre and Stockton.
