The Great Southern Fishing Show

If you have ever dreamed about learning how to fish or need guidance on how to catch the one that got away, you need to attend the Great Southern Fishing Show.

Attend the Great Southern Fishing Show for Fly, Shallow Water and Light Tackle enthusiasts at The North Atlanta Trade Center in northeast Atlanta, and get an education in one of the most fun and relaxing hobbies in America.

Expert Advice for Bass Fishing!
This Show is Not Just for the Fly Fisherman!
We will have products and seminars by featured guests on how to catch the PERFECT BASS on conventional tackle.

We are very lucky to live in metro Atlanta, where we are surrounded by world renowned fishing destinations. Georgia has thousands of miles of waters from pristine trout streams to bass fishing and redfish on the coast.

The Great Southern Fishing Show features everything you need to advance in the sport or learn how to fish for the first time. Men, women, and young people will be entertained and educated on the art of fishing. The experts will be on hand to answer your questions and share their experience with you.

Andy Mill

A lifelong fisherman, Andy mastered the art of tarpon fishing and went on to become only the second angler to win 5 Gold Cup Tarpon tournaments and be a triple crown winner in tarpon fishing (Gold Cup, Hawley, and Golden Fly). He has won 11 tarpon tournaments, the most ever for one fly fisherman. He wrote the book A Passion for Tarpon where he shares his experiences on catching this challenging fish.

Andy Mill will be signing autographs all weekend in the Hardy & Cohutta Fishing Company booth 212.
If you are interested in placing an order for his book, A Passion for Tarpon, make sure to stop by. He will also be providing Casting Demos and seminars on his techniques and methodology for catching Tarpon on a fly like an expert.

Andy Mill Casting Instruction
Andy will go through the theories on casting long and short, as well as demonstrate how to catch big fish quickly and effectively to help ensure you not only catch them, but also release them alive and healthy.

Andy's Fish Fighting Technique
Andy will present in depth PowerPoints on the techniques and tactics he uses to catch trophy tarpon, and will discuss in detail how and why he does what he does, as well as what equipment you need. Andy will mount a pulley on a table to demonstrate a special technique showing you how to turn your fly rod from a casting tool into a fish fighting weapon.

Andy Mill Bio
A Passion for Tarpon

O'Neill Williams

O'Neill Williams of O'Neill Outside: Sat & Sun 11-3

Meet O'Neill Williams & Learn About the Best Springtime Fishing in Local Waters with Conventional Tackle:
O'Neill will be onsite all weekend giving seminars on Springtime fishing for bass and stripers in local waters and answering your questions about tackle and techniques.

Gear Giveaway:
O'Neill will be giving away thousands of dollars in outdoor gear during his appearance.

Autograph Signings
Hundreds of free autographed fishing and hunting caps and photos while they last.

O'Neill Williams Bio
O'Neill Outside

Two Presentations From Nationally Renowned
Fly & Light Tackle Fishing Guide Henry Cowen

• Match the Hatch for Success: Fly & Light tackle fishing for striped bass, hybrids & spotted bass on both Lanier & Allatoona.

• Carp 101: How to Find Them & Feed Them

Henry Cowen Fly Fishing
Henry Cowen Bio

River Through Atlanta Owner Chris Scalley

Unlock the Secrets of the Chattahoochee
& Cumberland Tail Waters

Chris has been guiding these rivers since 1994 and is an Orvis endorsed guide service since 1994. Chris will talk in detail about his elaborate aquatic collection. Fly and spinning tackle tactics will be discussed as well as the nuances of McKenzie drift boat fishing.

Chris Scalley Bio
River Through Atlanta Guide Service

Bill Vanderford

National Freshwater Hall of Fame Legendary Guide, Bill Vanderford will be available during the show. Bill will be giving seminars on The Proper Use of Spinning Tackle and Lures for Both Rivers and Lakes.

Bill Vanderford, who owns and operates Lake Lanier's First Guide Service and the Oldest Fishing Guide Service in Georgia, will pass along secrets he has learned in his more than 40 years on Lake Lanier and the Chattahoochee River about the use of Spinning Tackle and Unique Fishing Lures. These revelations will certainly make you a better angler during 2012 and the future!

Bill Vanderford Bio
Fishing Lanier
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THIS SHOW WILL SHOWCASE:

• Seminars by the experts for all types of fishing
• Casting demonstrations for the expert or novice
• Demo the latest graphite or custom bamboo rods
• Reels for all types of fresh and saltwater fishing
• Destinations from Wyoming to the Florida Keys
• Casting lessons for fly & spinning tackle
• Expert Guides to enhance your fishing experience
• Fly Tying equipment & experts will be in the show
• Fly Tying Classes - Tie the flies the pros use
• Your local & distant outfitters will be on hand all weekend

Andy Bowen

Cohutta Fishing Company owner Andy Bowen will be giving a seminar on fishing the rivers of Northwest Georgia.

Andy Bowen Bio

Ryan Coleman

Catching Lanier's Magnum Spotted Bass on Light Tackle
From light weight rods to light line and small lures. You don't need heavy equipment to tackle Lanier's world class spotted bass. Get the scoop from a professional fisherman who has won over $100,000 on Lake Lanier fishing with light tackle

Ryan Coleman Bio
LanierSpots

Jake Darling

How to Catch More & Bigger Trout on Georgia's Public Streams
Jake will focus on the nature of big trout and how to connect with them. Where you find them and how you present your fly in a manner that will give you the best odds of getting a strike.

Jake's success with big fish has become well known around north Georgia and he will share his ideas and techniques that will help you become a better angler and begin to develop the strategies for hunting trophy size trout on public waters.

Jake Darling Bio
Unicoi Outfitters

David Edens Bio
Fly Cast Charters

Proper Fly & Light Tackle Rigging, Proper Fly & Lure Selection and When & Where to Catch Fish in the Marshes of Glynn

As a licensed Coast Guard Captain, Capt. Dave will present a program on fishing for red fish with fly and light tackle in the salt marshes of Coastal Georgia. This year's seminar will focus more closely on fly and light tackle rigging needed to fish successfully in the Marshes of Glynn. What equipment, leaders and lures to use as well as how to tie some of Capt. Dave's most effective original red fish fly patterns will be covered in the seminar.

Once you are rigged and ready to catch these fish, Capt. Dave will cover when and where to find the fish. Then he will discuss handling and releasing one of the sportiest game fish on the Georgia Coast, the Red Drum.

The objective of the presentation is for you to leave with enough knowledge for you to begin learning how to find, catch and land Red Fish on either fly or light tackle.

Kent Edmonds

A Different Look at Fly Casting
Confused by all the different casting methods and advice out there? Have a hard time overcoming old (bad) habits and muscle memory? Tailing loops? Or just trying to get started? Come take a look at the fly cast from a different perspective.

Kent is a guide and FFF-Certified Casting Instructor with over 15 years experience, preceded by a couple of more decades of fishing from the Northwest to New England to Hawaii and the Caribbean.

Kent Edmonds Bio
Fly Fish GA

Jimmy is a lifetime member of Trout Unlimited and one of the founding members of the Georgia Foothills Chapter, as well as a partner in Unicoi Outfitters for 13 years. He has fished all across the United States, as well as Argentina, Costa Rica, and the Bahamas, and has appeared on more than two dozen fishing shows.

Jimmy Harris Bio

Jimmy Jacobs

Jimmy Jacobs is the editor of Alabama Game & Fish, Florida Game & Fish, Georgia Sportsman, Kentucky Game & Fish, Mississippi/Louisiana Game & Fish, Tennessee Sportsman and West Virginia Game & Fish Magazines. He is also the Outdoor Columnist for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution newspaper, and online Outdoor Travel Writer for Examiner.com.

Jacobs has authored four guidebooks to fishing in the southeastern United States. His writing and photography have earned Excellence In Craft Awards from the Florida Outdoor Writers Association, Georgia Outdoor Writers Association and the Southeastern Outdoor Press Association.

Jimmy Jacobs Bio
Jimmy Jacobs Southern Outdoor Adventures

Al Keller

Catching Louisiana Redfish on a fly

As a South Florida native, Captain Al Keller has become one of the most respected names in the fishing industry as a professional guide and manufactures consultant, and has been featured in regional and national publications and television. Captain Al Keller's guide business is split between many location along the Gulf Coast from New Orleans, LA to Naples, FL; this ensures the best possible fishing for a particular species of fish.

Al Keller Bio

Captain Dane Law

Fly Fishing Chilean Patagonia's Aysen Region
Discusses the quest for large brown trout on primarily dry fly patterns on some of the most beautiful and undiscovered rivers on the planet. Covers travel, fishing techniques and types, water types, lodging and accommodations, culture and photo opportunities.

Dane Law Bio
Southeastern Anglers

Jimbo Mathley

Clear Water Techniques to Catch Spotted Bass Around North GA Lakes
• Dropshot
• Shaky Head
• Jerkbait
• Topwater

Jimbo Mathley Bio
Jimbo on Lanier

Captain David Newlin

Catching Small to Trophy Size Redfish on Natural or Artificial Bait

David will cover fishing a cork rig with live bait, which is the most productive method of catching average size Redfish. He will discuss how to spot and stalk redfish with artifical lures, which produces a lot of fish up to 36 inches. David will also cover trophy redfishing; every year he catches a lot of 30 to 50 pound redfish, using some very simple techniques. He will also discuss methods to catch redfish during all seasons of the year.

David Newlin Bio
Captain David Newlin Fishing Charters

Randy Ratliff

Browns, Bows, Brookies and Bronzebacks:
It Doesn't Get Any Better Than East Tennessee

Come learn the techniques to make you successful when fishing the tailwaters, rivers and streams of East Tennessee with Randy Ratliff of Troutfishers Guide Service.

Randy Ratliff Bio
Troutfishers Guide Service

Rob Stroupe

Stream Entomology "AKA Bugs"

Rob Stroupe has spent over 40 years fly fishing across North America. He will host a presentation for families and those new to the sport of fishing. His program is an introduction to the insects fly fishers imitate to catch fish.

Rob Stroupe Bio

• Latest Lures and Tackle for Bass Fishing: Professional angler Ken Sturdivant will show some of the new lures, rods, and reels all anglers can use for their spring and summer bass fishing trips.

• Finding Fish with Modern Technology: See how pros find structure and fish with modern technology. Ken Sturdivant of the Lowrance Professional Fishing Staff will show anglers the latest in Lowrance Sonar, Structure Scan, and Down Scan technology.

Ken Sturdivant Bio
Ken Sturdivant's Website, HaveFunFishing.com

The name Ken Sturdivant is familiar to many anglers around the Southeast. You may have heard his fishing tips on local, regional, or national radio and television shows. Or maybe you've read one of his books, or checked out his columns in The Atlanta Journal and Constitution, in Georgia Outdoor News, and in many other regional newspapers and publications. Or perhaps you've been instructed at one of Ken's several Southern Fishing Schools and Seminars, or met him though the Bass Anglers Sportsman's Society, the Metro Bass Masters, or at his many personal appearances promoting local anglers. However you've encountered Ken, you know that he KNOWS freshwater fishin'.

The Simms Product RV will be on site all weekend with the latest merchandise from waders to footwear and packs. Private fittings available as well.

FFF Master Certified Casting Instructor and Unicoi Outfitters guide Rex Gudgel (dubbed by Lefty Kreh as one of the top 5 casters in the USA) will be teaching the kids how to cast a fly rod on our casting pond. Always one of the top highlights at any fishing show!

Get the young ones started early! Sign them up for a free casting lesson with Rex at the Rex Gudgel Fly Fishing booth #123 across from the Fly Tier Feature!

Casting lessons will be Saturday at 10:15 & Sunday at 10:45 on the casting pond, and then throughout the day along the back wall.

Rex Gudgel Bio
Rex Gudgel Fly Fishing

If tangling with rainbow and brown trout in the 3 lb. to 12 lb. class appeals to you, you'll love the action at Blackhawk Fly Fishing in Batesville, Georgia. Blackhawk Trophy Trout Stream provides private fly fishing along approximately two miles of the spring creek fed waters of the Soque River.

Representatives from Blackhawk will be on hand all weekend.

Sat 11:15 and Sun 12:15: Deb Bowen will be demonstrating the techniques you need to catch trophy trout on a fly at Blackhawk Fly Fishing on the Soque River.

Topics Deb Bowen will Cover on the Casting Pond:

1). Essential Casts
• Roll Cast
• Off Shoulder Roll Cast
• Changing Direction Without a Backcast
• High Sticking in Fast Water

2). Where to Place Your Fly & Why - (Foam is Home)

3). You're Hooked Up - Now What Do You Do?
• How to Play and Land Trophy Trout
• Why You Should Get Your Fish on Your Reel

Deb Bowen Bio

Blackhawk Fly Fishing Guide John Rice will be discussing the various methods to catch trophy trout. The presentation covers streamer fishing, nymphing, big dry flies with dropper, and swinging wet flies.

John has run inshore charters in Florida for several years, and helped anglers catch big fish off shore for over a decade. Now he instructs and helps people catch big trophy rainbows and browns as a guide at Blackhawk Fly Fishing.

John Rice Bio

Blackhawk Fly Fishing owner Abby Jackson will be on hand at the Great Southern Fishing Show giving out samples of Abby J's Blackhawk "Farm to Table" Bean & Jalapeño Salsa between 3pm-4pm. As a fly fisher with a love for cooking, Abby wanted to create something that her anglers could enjoy after a day of catching huge trophy fish at Blackhawk Fly Fishing. Stop by the Blackhawk booth and give it a try to add a little spice to your life!

Abby Jackson Bio

Let Us Bring The Fishing Guide to You!

Visit the show to learn about the dozens of fishing lakes less than an hour from downtown Atlanta. The Great Southern Fishing Show is sure to entertain and educate the fishing enthusiast.

Bring the entire family and see how much fun fishing can be for everyone.

Grasshopper Outdoors will be onsite with a line up of great new products like:
The monoMASTER: Helping anglers manage all their waste monofilament while on the the water.
The seatMASTER: An innovative and lightweight seat that attaches to an angler's wading staff!
The Fishn'Clips: Specially designed clips to eliminate line tangles and damage to rods during portage.