Joe Thomas
For full information www.joethomasfishing.com/resume.html 

Robert Mead

Bob Mead has been tying realistic style flies for over 40 years. The Praying Mantis, Walking Stick, and Water Scorpion are just three of the art fly patterns he originated. Bob has written for and appeared in books, magazines and newspapers around the world
 

Tom Baltz

A New Mexico native, Tom Baltz has been a fly tier for over 40 years, the last 30 spent among the legendary tiers and anglers of the limestone valleys of south-central Pennsylvania, near Carlisle. Tom is the only four time Pennsylvania State Fly Tying Champion and his flies have appeared in Field & Stream, Fly Fisherman Magazine, Art of Angling Journal, Eastern Fly Fishing, and American Angler magazines, the Orvis catalog (I.C.S.I Midge, MuddBugger, Hatching Nymph and Beetlenat) and the recently published book “Guide Flies”. He is a regular contributor to the Mid-Atlantic Fly Fishing Guide and appears at fly fishing shows around the country.

Tom ties for several fly shops and discriminating anglers coast to coast. His flies are in the collections of the Pennsylvania State Museum (Jack Eschenmann collection), the Pennsylvania Fly Fishing Museum, Vice-President Dick Cheney, and private collectors across the country.

A full time fly fishing professional since 1974 and one of Pennsylvania’s first licensed fishing guides, Tom is an Orvis Endorsed Fly Fishing Guide who was named North East Trout Guide of the Year (2001) by Orvis. Tom is a member of the Regal Engineering (Regal Vise) Pro Staff. He and his wife Eileen live outside Boiling Springs, PA, very near Mountain Creek, the Letort, and the lovely Yellow Breeches Creek.
 

Captain Pat “T-Man” Renna owner of T-Man Custom Tackle, LLC.

Popular Connecticut charter boat captain and striper fishing enthusiast, he is well know for his innovative striper trolling systems. Creator of T-Man Striper Tubes, Tube Tail Trolling Spoons and Quick Change Weighted Keels, Captain Pat has many years of Tube & Worm fishing experience on the waters of Long Island Sound.

A member of the Team Daiwa Prostaff, Captain Pat has several magazine articles and television appearances to his credits and is a sought after speaker for his light tackle Tube & Worm Trolling Instructional Seminars.

Mike Laptew

Underwater videographer Mike Laptew’s large screen, hi-def video presentation will make you feel like you’re swimming right next to the fish you love to catch. See stripers, bluefish, tautog, flounder and the prey items they feed on in stunning clarity. Watch massive schools of marauding bluefish massacring menhaden; witness the fall run of striped bass as if you were part of the school. Learn how to effectively read the water and find fish anywhere in the world while taking an underwater tour of game fish habitat that will astonish you. Mike will also focus on the techniques used by some of the countries top captains and most accomplished anglers. This presentation is sure to give you an edge in your quest for trophy fish.  

Captain Jim White

Capt. Jim White will present a program on “Monster Shallow Water Stripers” which will be a preview of his new book on the same topic. The book, to be published by Stackpole will be available in late 2008.

In 2007, Jim’s guide service put the first 60-pound plus striper taken in Narragansett Bay in almost forty years, as well as four fish in the 50-pound range. Learn the techniques used to accomplish this feat and what it takes to put monster stripers in the boat.

Capt Jim is a Pro-Staff member for Quantum/Fin-Nor Fishing Tackle, Lowrance Electronics, Evinrude Outboards, Yo-Zuri Lures, and many other fine companies. He has authored over 2000 articles on saltwater sport fishing, as well as two previous books, including his most recent title, Fishing Soft Plastics in Saltwater.

Jim’s seminar on this topic is sure to enlighten, educate, and inform those who attend by one of New England’s top striped bass anglers and successful charter boat operator. Jim has also been featured on eight nationally televised fishing programs and has appeared in many national magazines.

Capt. Blaine Anderson

Captain Blaine Anderson, a Connecticut Charter Captain, guide, outdoor writer and TV personality, is at the top of his game these days. Blaine spends an average of over 200 days a year on New England Waters and abroad. When not on the water, Blaine attracts large crowds at his seminars throughout New England. Whether it’s northern pike and stripers on the Connecticut River or bluefish, stripers and false albacore on Long Island Sound, Captain Anderson has developed the reputation for getting his clients onto fish and lots of them. Over just the last 3 years, Blaine’s clients are able to boast of "18 stripers over 50 inches" as well as several pike over 40 inches. Blaine has been fishing all of his life. Growing up with a rod and reel in hand, his love for fishing has only intensified over the years, causing him to walk away from the corporate cubical life. Blaine is one of the few year round guides in CT, and fishes in all conditions on saltwater, freshwater as well as on the ice during the winter months. He is a member of Skeeter’s Saltwater Team and is sponsored by Yamaha, Hummingbird, Minn Kota, Daiwa, Pradco, Navionics, Aqua-Vu, Power Pro and Mustad. When not guiding or working the winter outdoor shows, he manages Connecticut Outfitters, one of the premier tackle shops in Connecticut.

Marla Blair

Transplant from Southern California Lives in Ludlow, MA., with husband Tony Sarlan Substitute Teacher, Ludlow School District

Since 1993 has owned and operated Marla Blair’s Fly Fishing Guide Service & Instruction Top female, freshwater, Fly-Fishing Guide/Instructor for Western Mass. and North Western, CT. Author of “Positive Fly Fishing” published by Lyons Press FFF Certified Casting Instructor Endorsed by Albright Tackle Company, Simms Pro-Staff, Folstaf Endorsed, Chota Endorsed, Loon Products Endorsed Now hosting trips to Labrador, Alaska, and Patagonia, Chile Gives lectures, slide programs, casting demos at trade shows Presentations to fishing clubs, on east coast. Writes for Internet newspaper, MassLive.com, Woods & Waters USA, and more Member of: FFF (Federation of Fly Fishers), IWFF (International Women Fly Fishers) - Board Member Pioneer Valley Chapter TU - Program Director, Farmington River Angler’s Association, Quabbin Fishermen’s Association

Capt. John Planeta

Captain John Planeta has been fishing area waters for over 35 years - trout fishing the streams, bass fishing the lakes, and now as a charter captain, light tackle fishing the waters of the Connecticut River and Long Island Sound for fluke, stripers and blue fish.

This year's seminar - Fluke Fishing in the Sound will touch on presentation, location, tackle and baits, including his own "Frank's Fluke Rig".

In addition to his charter service, Captain John is the owner of Frank's Live Bait in Marlborough, Connecticut, a tackle shop started by his parents in the 1950's.

Bruce Marino

With over 35 years fly-fishing and tying experience, I have travelled to many destinations to fish for fresh and saltwater species. In my travels some of my flies have become widely used and are often go-to patterns for the guides in the areas that they guide in. A few of these places include Cooper's Minipi Camps in Labrador where they use my BMAR Norway Rat, Hex and Stonefly patterns. Guides at Crocodile Bay Lodge in Costa Rica use several of my BMAR Wounded Baitfish patterns. They are used there to catch offshore and inshore species. Guiding on the crown jewel of Connecticut, the Farmington River and shore guiding the coastline of Connecticut are my passions now. Currently, I'm the fly-tying editor for Fly Fishing New England and Fly Fishing the Mid Atlantic States magazines. I am also March Brown travel fly rods endorsed pro. Some of the projects that I have recently completed are tying circle fly hooks for a study being conducted by Left Kreh along with many working captains in the Northeast. In the past, I was on the research and development team for D.H. Thompson Cobra Vise. I am one of the lead designers for Pacific Fly Group. They have mass produced many of my innovative patterns and they are sold around the world. Currently I am promoting my DVD "Fly Fishing for Mako Sharks" and completing a second DVD on "Fly Fishing the Farmington River"

Dave Brandt

Dave Brandt grew up fishing in the Susquehanna River and over the years became interested in fly-fishing. He has taught at Joan Wulff’s Fly Fishing School for the last 21 years, has spent 30 years teaching with local Upper Susquehanna Chapter of Trout Unlimited and is a founding member of the Catskill Fly Tyers Guild and the Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum in Livingston Manor, New York. Fly fishing for trout and tying flies has taken him to places like Labrador, Argentina, England, Montana and many other states in the U. S., but he really enjoys being near the streams of the Catskills, where the birth of fly fishing began in this country in the mid 1800’s. Teaching the sport and tying flies has become his greatest joy and he is a nationally known and respected sportsman and advocate for fishing with a fly rod. Dave says, “Fly fishing is a multi-faceted sport and one you’ll never get to the end of”.

Peter Fiduccia aka

The Deer Doctor - is recognized throughout North America as one of the nation's leading whitetail authorities. Peter is also the host to the highly popular Woods N' Water Television Series seen on the Outdoor Channel Saturday's at 4 pm EST.

As a journalist, Pete has penned articles in Field & Stream, Outdoor Life, Sports Afield, and other publications. He has also written several books including Whitetail Strategies: The Ultimate Guide, The Quotable Hunter, North America’s Greatest Whitetail Hunting Lodges and Outfitters, 25 Woodworking Projects for Outdoorsmen & others.
 

His seminar is filled with practical, useful information you can successfully on your next deer hunt. It is not only informative it is also filled with just the right amount of humor too!

Dr. Nick Curcione

In addition to his former 35-year career as a university professor, Nick is an internationally recognized outdoor writer, instructor, and lecturer and tackle consultant with more than 40 years of angling experience.

Though extremely well versed in all phases of the sport, Nick is especially noted for his casting expertise and instructional clinics. He is one of the country’s leading authorities on sinking lines and shooting heads and his knowledge of knots and rigging are held in high regard. His casting demonstrations with specialty lines utilizing both single and double-handed rods and the knots and rigging programs have been very popular with fly fishing audiences.

Nick has been on the sport fishing show circuit for over 30-years where he has been a featured attraction for productions like the International Sportsmen Expositions, The Great Western Fishing and Hunting Shows, Marriott’s Fly Fishing Fairs, and the Shallow Water Expositions.

His fishing travels have taken him to a variety of locales and include all the coastal waters of the continental US, Alaska, Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico, Central and South America, New Guinea and the South Pacific.

His writing credits have been extensive with numerous articles in local, national and international publications. Since its inception, he has been on the editorial staff of Fly Fishing Saltwater magazine and has authored three fly fishing books, The Orvis Guide to Saltwater Fly Fishing, Baja On The Fly, and Tug-O-War, A Fly Fishers Game. Over the years Nick has served as a consultant for a number of major tackle manufacturers and has recently joined Temple Fork Outfitters advisory staff.

Captain Rich Tenreiro

Captain Rich Tenreiro, host of the hit Fishing TV Show Northeast Angling, is an accomplished Charter Captain and Seminar Speaker. Captain Rich has been featured in Saltwater Sportsman, The Fisherman, and several other regional and national magazines. He owns and operates R&G Charters based in Huntington, NY. He is sponsored by Triton, Mercury, Shimano, Berkley, Yo-Zuri, Mustad, Frabill, Old Harbor Outfitters, Aquaskinz, and several other major marine manufacturers.

Captain Bill Brown

Captain Bill Brown holds a 100 Ton Masters License and has fished from the Gulf of Maine down into the Caribbean - including Cuba. His customers aboard the "BILLFISH" have won or placed in numerous big game fishing tournaments throughout the Northeast (one thresher is featured in the International Game Fish Association's Hall of Fame). His clients presently have held or presently hold six State Gamefish Records, including the 506 pound Thresher Shark that won the 2003 Oak Bluffs (MV) Monster Shark Tournament and set a new MA State Record for that species. Bill is an acknowledged expert for both inshore and, especially, offshore angling where his ability to capture big sharks is legendary.

Bill is also a well known, award winning outdoor writer, and seminar speaker whose presentations and demonstrations provide an overview of 'How To' in regards to tackle and techniques for both the inshore and offshore species of gamefish found swimming in Southern New England's regional waters. .He will be the only Northeast angler angler featured in the upcoming ESPN "Mad Fin" shark fishing series that will be filmed in the Florida Keys in mid-March 2008.

Captain Lynn Smith

Captain Lynn Smith is a fishing guide and fly-casting instructor who hails from the town of Charlestown, Rhode Island. Considered by many to be a rising star in the saltwater fly fishing industry, Lynn has been featured in the Newport Daily News, as well as appearing on the covers of Nor’ east Saltwater and Rhode Island Fishing magazine. She also appeared on the television show “One More Cast” with Shaw Grigsby and was featured in an article “Women in Fishing” in The Fisherman Magazine. An active outdoor woman, Lynn is a member in good standing with The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) and the Rhode Island Party and Charter Boat Association. She is also a Pro Staff member of Triton Boats and St Croix Rods.

Lynn and her husband Kelly co-own and operate the Lil’ Devil II guide service – a 24-foot Triton center console focusing on inshore game fish using light spinning, and conventional gear and fly tackle -- and the C-Devil II Sportfishing charters – a 32-foot Topaz Sportfisherman specializing in both inshore and offshore sport fishing. The C-Devil II is where Lynn first began her career in the recreational fishing industry serving as first mate. Lynn and Kelly have been in the charter business together since 1993.

In 1999 Lynn earned her US Coast Guard captain’s license and has never looked back. When not guiding clients, Lynn remains active by instructing fly-casting classes and speaking at seminars for regional fishing shows and outdoor events. Lynn is proud to be considered a catalyst for other aspiring women in the world of recreational fly fishing, and also enjoys instructing men and children of all ages and skill levels.