The Billings Magic City Fly Fishers Expo 2010 opens in the Holiday Inn Convention Center on Saturday, February 20 at 9:00 a.m. The 2010 Expo features Kelly Galloup, nationally known author, tier and fly fishing instructor. Mr. Galloup, sponsored by Stockton Oil Company, presents a free fly fishing seminar at 10:00am and a fly tying seminar at 2pm. Galloup will also be speaking at the evening banquet.

Kelly Galloup is a world-renowned fly tier and author known for large streamers with outlandish names such as Sex Dungeon, Butt Monkey and Zoo Cougar. His books are Modern Streamers for Trophy Trout (co-authored with Bob Linsenman) and Cripples and Spinners. Galloup is editor-at-large for Fly Fisherman magazine and host of Fly Fish TV on the Outdoor Life Network.

Special free programs for beginning and intermediate fly fishers start at 9:00am, such as Todd Rose’s presentation on "How to Fly Fish," which includes an introduction to fly fishing entomology. Bighorn River and Wyoming guide, Bob Krumm, presents his new "Tips and Tricks" for experts and Kevin Croff is back with two workshops, one on "Nymphing Techniques" the other on "Fishing Dries." Matt Wilhelm introduces his "Faults and Fixes" while his partner Molly Semenick puts on a special seminar aimed at "Women and Fly Fishing." New this year is a presentation by Dave Brown on fly-fishing in the Canadian Rockies.

Several tiers are setting up tables for both beginners and experienced tyers to try out patterns with the tiers’ guidance. In addition, MCFF club casting experts are demonstrating how-to techniques of several casting styles, both in the morning and in the afternoon.

Young people get their chance starting with the free kids beginning fly tying workshop from 9am to 11am. Then they can enter the kid’s fly tying contest running from 1:00pm to 3:00pm. Kids may also enter the fly casting contest between 2pm and 4pm.

The evening’s banquet and auction start at 5:30pm. Kelly Galloup will be recounting his favorite adventures in fly-fishing at 7:15pm. Highlighting the auction are three Glenn West collections of original fly drawings that appeared in the Billings Gazette. Each collection consists of three drawings.

This year’s Expo also features a grand prize raffle for an MCFF Montana custom built Rivtech Driftboat, painted in club colors. Raffle tickets are available one for $15 or five for $60. Individual banquet tickets are $30.

Of course the club is offering gold, silver, and bronze ticket packages (see page 4 of the February Hackle Bender for more details) that bundle banquet tickets, raffle tickets and bucket raffle tickets. There is even a discount option for the bottomless mug of Dancing Trout beer. Tickets are available from Expo Chair Roger Lee (671-3818) or Gary Duszkiewicz, (garyd@mcffonline.org or 696-2510).

Remember that the Expo is how we fund our foundation and educational outreach. We were able to acquire new tying and casting equipment for our educational classes because of the Expo. We are able to offer beginning and intermediate fly tying classes. The club sponsored adult and youth rod building classes. Kids are able to attend the Rocky Mountain College fly fishing camp and Trout University on MCFF scholarships. We are planning more skill classes, including casting and fishing. Your support of the Expo goes a long way. See you in February!