Featured Speakers

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Gary Parsons

Gary Parsons, of Glidden, WI, is a professional walleye fisherman, specializing in tournament fishing and walleye fishing promotions. Gary is a “Legendary Angler” inductee into the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame and one of the co-hosts of the popular The Next Bite TV show, airing on VERSUS network. Following are a few of his impressive tournament accomplishments:

  • 2007 PWT Angler of the Year - Only Angler to have won this award 3 Times
  • 2007 PWT Regional Series Angler of the Year
  • 1st Place 2007 In-Fisherman PWT Winneconne, WI Pro-Am
  • 1st Place 2003 In-Fisherman PWT Mobridge, SD Pro-Am
  • 1st Place 1998 NAWA “Quest” Pro-Am, Green Bay, Wisconsin
  • 1st Place 1998 In-Fisherman PWT Pierre, SD Pro-Am
  • 1st Place 1994 In-Fisherman PWT Mobridge, SD Pro-Am
  • The only person to have won “Angler of the Year” titles in all three professional walleye circuits, NAWA-1995, PWT-1994 & 1993 (unprecedented back-to-back titles) and 2007, and MWC-1988
  • Masters Walleye Circuit (MWC) “World Champion” in 1988
  • Sixteen time In-Fisherman PWT Championship Qualifier
  • Three time NAWA Championship Qualifier
  • Eight-time Masters Walleye Circuit (MWC) Championship Qualifier

Parsons has been featured in publications including In-Fisherman, North American Fisherman, Walleye Insider, Fishing Facts, Outdoor Life, Field and Stream, Sports Afield, The Next Bite/Esox Angler, and Bass & Walleye Boats to name a few. He is a book author and is featured on several walleye videos. Gary is a top ranked pro and product consultant for Tracker Boats, Mercury Outboards, MotorGuide Electric Motors, Berkley Fishing Lines, Berkley Frenzy Crankbaits, Berkley Gulp!, Bass Pro Shops, Lowrance Electronics, Berkley Power Baits, Off Shore Tackle, Mustad Hooks, Frabill, Smooth Move Seat Mounts, Fin-Tech Tackle and Coot's Lures.
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Keith Kavajecz 

Keith Kavajecz, of Kaukauna WI, is a professional walleye fisherman, specializing in tournament fishing and walleye fishing promotions. Keith is a “Legendary Angler” inductee into the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame and one of the co-hosts of the popular The Next Bite TV show, airing on VERSUS network. Since 1986 Keith has the following tournament highlights:
 
  • -2003 In-Fisherman PWT  Top Gun  Award Winner
  • -2002 In-Fisherman PWT CHAMPION!
  • -2002 In-Fisherman PWT  Top Gun  Award Winner
  • -1998 North American Walleye Anglers Angler Of the Year
  • -1998 North American Walleye Anglers Team Of the Year with his son Tommy.
  • -1st Place 1998 NAWA “Quest” Pro-Am, Lake Sakakawea, North Dakota
  • -1994 North American Walleye Anglers Angler Of the Year
  • -1st Place 1994 In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail (PWT) Mideast Pro-Am
  • -1st Place 1994 NAWA Lake Sharpe Pro-Am
  • -1994 In-Fisherman PWT Top Gun
  • -Eighteen time In-Fisherman PWT Championship Qualifier (1 of 3 PWT anglers to qualify for 18 of 19 Championships)
  • -Two time NAWA Championship Qualifier
  • -1988 Masters Walleye Circuit (MWC) Team of the Year
  • -1988 Masters Walleye Circuit (MWC) World Champion
  • -Seven time MWC Championship Qualifier
Kavajecz has been featured in publications including In-Fisherman, North American Fisherman, Walleye Insider, Fishing Facts, Outdoor Life, Field and Stream, Sports Afield, The Next Bite/Esox Angler, and Bass & Walleye Boats to name a few. He is a book author and is featured on several walleye videos. Keith is a top ranked pro and product consultant for Tracker Boats, Mercury Outboards, MotorGuide Electric Motors, Berkley Fishing Lines, Berkley Frenzy Crankbaits, Berkley Gulp!, Bass Pro Shops, Lowrance Electronics, Berkley Power Baits, Off Shore Tackle, Mustad Hooks, Frabill, Smooth Moves Seat Mounts, Fin-Tech Tackle and Coot's Lures.


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Capt. Lee Haasch

Capt. Lee Haasch started fishing Lake Michigan professionally in 1972 and has been a licensed captain since 1985. He is the owner of Haasch Guide Service since 1985 and the owned Pier 42 Marina in Algoma from 1998-2004. He has served on various committees and boards in the Algoma area is on the pro staff for Lowrance, Walker Downriggers, R&R Tackle, Shakespeare, Pflueger, Automatic Ice Fisherman, Artic Fisherman and Coasta Del Mar. He has been seen on Discover Wisconsin, Gillespie's Woods & Waters, and Friendly Algoma. Capt. Lee co-directed and co-wrote "Algoma-Kewaunee: Fishing the Source" for the Algoma-Kewaunee Area Great Lakes Sport Fishermen promotional video. He is a professional speaker and has been performing educational seminars on Lake Michigan sport fishing for more than 20 years.


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Tasmin "Tas" Kaliska and Riley Kaliska

From Northwestern Ontario, Canada. Tasmin Kaliska is a pro angler, master marksmen, professional hunting and fishing guide, and a sportsmen destination specialist: leading many anglers and hunter to the catch of their dreams. Born and raised, hunting and fishing the remote regions of Northwestern Ontario, she has been guiding for over 14 years.
 
She is an inspiring and enthusiastic speaker, with a wealth of knowledge to share with all ages and experience levels of outdoor enthusiasts. Tasmin holds over 40 Ontario trophy awards. Now coming up in the ranks is her 11-year-old daughter Riley, who holds more than a dozen trophy awards herself. While guiding her first year this past summer, this young junior guide boated a whopping 46 inch, 30lb. Northern Pike.

 
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Terry Tuma

Recognized as one of the top educational multi-species anglers in the U.S. and Canada, Terry Tuma, is affectionately known in some parts of the country as “Tackle Terry” and in others, as “The Fishing Professor”. No matter what they call him, he inspires anglers through a dynamic blend of education, folklore and entertainment. Tuma’s writings appeared in articles in Outdoor News, Minnesota Sportsman, Wisconsin Outdoor News, Michigan Outdoor News, North American Fishermen and other notable publications and websites. Tuma travels across the country every year and reaches hundreds of millions in person, on radio an TV. With the advent of IPOD worldwide coverage through the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Website, he reaches a multitude of radio stations throughout the U.S. including KFAN Outdoors, KARP and KDHL Radio, and numerous TV channels including Channel 12 and Channel 5 to name a few. He is also a resident angling advisor for “Outdoor News” publications. With decades of fishing and tournament experience, Tuma’s appeal attracts all age groups. He keeps the joy of fishing alive in our hearts and serves the industry with his expertise. As a staff member for Lindner’s Angling Edge, he spends at least 150 days on open water and ice in multi-species professional fishing experiences.
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Steve Nelson

Steve Nelson has been a canoeing enthusiast since his first trip into the BWCA/Quetico parks. A onetime high school teacher and pharmaceutical market manager, Nelson co-owns Spirit of the Wilderness Canoe Outfitters in Ely, MN with his wife, Kathy. A longtime traveler in the boundary waters, he can offer expert wilderness fishing, camping, and canoeing tips for novices and veterans alike.

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Mark Gibson

Mark Gibson will be presenting a seminar on Humminbird Sonar Technology at the Northwest Sportshow.

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Bob Mehsikomer

Bob was introduced to the world of fishing many years ago as a child and was drawn to the sport like metal to a magnet. He began fishing seriously as a competitor in bass tournaments over 20 years ago. His curiosity, quest for knowledge, attention to detail, and determination to be successful earned him many first place wins. Always thinking, Bob developed fishing methods to match the fish behavior patterns he recognized. Bob continually ranked among the leaders and in turn was offered speaking engagements among clubs and sport groups in the area.

 
Being a sportsman in the truest sense of the word, Bob was willing to share his fishing knowledge to help others gain more success in the sport of fishing. Even today his seminars are always packed with honest, quality information that one can really put to use on the water. His seminars carry the sportsman's message of good conservation practices. Let's catch fish, but also use catch and release principles so that the fishing resources are protected for other generations to enjoy.

 

Tom Neustrom
 

Tom Neustrom began his 28 year career as a fishing guide on Lake Geneva in southern Wisconsin. Since that time he has focused his attention on walleye fishing in Minnesota.  Tom guides frequently and successfully for all species of fish throughout northern Minnesota from the many lakes around Grand Rapids and Deer River to Lake Winnibigoshish, Leech Lake. Cass Lake  and Red Lake.
 
Recognized by In-Fisherman Magazine, North American Fishing Club Magazine and Fishing Facts Magazine as one of the top walleye fishing guides in the country, Tom spends the majority of his time during open water season on the lake doing guided trips. Off the water, much of his time is spent doing seminars in an effort to pass his knowledge and expertise on to others.
 
Tom has made a career of the sport he loves through dedication to learning new techniques, his willingness to share his knowledge and his commitment to conservation. He believes that by giving his time and his expertise back to the sport which has given him so much he can impact the future of angling in Minnesota for generations to come.

In June of 2009 Tom Neustrom will be inducted as a Legendary Angler to the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame.

 

Sean Bloomfield and Colton Witte

Friends since first grade, 19-year old Sean and Colton have always enjoyed the outdoors and especially annual trips to the Boundary Waters with their families.  Since reading Eric Sevareid's book, Canoeing with the Cree, in seventh grade, the pair dreamed of retracing the 2,250 mile canoe trip to the Hudson Bay.  Last spring the two embarked on the same journey as Eric Sevareid and Walter Port had as teens in 1930 and will present a seminar at the Northwest Sportshow detailing their 49-day journey.

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Bill Sherck "Man About the Woods"

Telling outdoor stories comes pretty naturally to Bill Sherck.  Television viewers know him better as "The Man About the Woods"; an Emmy award-winning outdoor reporter and show host.  Bill's earned just about every award in the business for his unique style of storytelling.Viewers can catch Bill's stories on several of the country's most popular outdoor television programs including, "Backroads with Ron & Raven" on The Versus Network, "Legends of Rod and Reel" and "Pheasants Forever Television" on the Outdoor Channel, "Minnesota Bound" on NBC in Minnesota and "Due North Outdoors", which Bill co-hosts on Fox Sports Network (North & Wisconsin).

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Ron Schara

Ron Schara As a journalist, Ron Schara has been sharing the great outdoor experience with his readers for nearly three decades. Seeing through the eyes and lives of others, his material has captured the attention of tens of thousands of fresh air enthusiasts by putting them as close to the subject's setting as a reader or viewer can be. Over the years, as his newspaper and television popularity has grown, Ron's personality has become more a part of the fabric of the Midwest's outdoor community.

Ron's soft spoken but direct delivery and appealing on-camera image, have made him a popular resource as an all-purpose, outdoor/naturalist commentator for many Minnesota radio and television stations. This includes his own program, Minnesota Bound which is seen on Saturdays at 6:30 p.m. & and Sunday nights at 10:30 PM on KARE 11 TV/NBC. Ron's national program, "Backroads with Ron & Raven", airs on The Outdoor Life Network and has consistently been one of the highest rated shows on the outdoor block. He also host¹s The Outdoor Beat on ESPN2. Minnesota Bound is also seen on KTTC-TV/NBC in Rochester, MN & on KVLY-TV/NBC in Fargo, N.D. and on KBJR-TV/NBC in Duluth. His Minnesota Outdoors radio program can be heard on WCCO-AM radio on Saturday mornings. Ron¹s television programs have won a total of six Emmys to date.

His ever rising popularity hasn't been achieved by having his personality dominate the story. Rather, Ron prides himself in letting the story happen through those who live it and simply allow himself to be the guide to discovery. He's there to share a story or to inform on a cause or controversy. Deep in the wilderness on the shore of an ancient glacial trout lake or wading the waters of an environmentally threatened inner city wildlife pond, Ron's knowledge and understanding of our natural surroundings is more than just a journalist's assignment. He grew up loving the outdoors in northeast Iowa's rugged bluff country. He graduated with degrees in journalism and fish/wildlife biology and he has never veered from his ambition. Whether writing a newspaper story, talking with his radio and television audience, or appearing before a live audience, Ron Schara likes to use colorful storytelling to create a story for his audience.

www.mnbound.com or www.backroadswithron.com
e-mail - ron@mnbound.com

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Discover Fly Fishing Seminar Speakers

  • Bob Nasby

    With more than 35 years of fly fishing experience in both fresh and salt water fly fishing, Bob Nasby offers courses for students of all ages and experience levels. A fly fishing pioneer of the Great Lakes Salmon and Steelhead, a professional rod builder and fly casting instructor for more than 20 years, Bob remains in demand as host speaker of numerous seminars presented at fishing clubs, sports conventions, conservation clubs and many other professional organizations nation-wide. He has been featured in numerous publications, TV and radio programs including, ESPN's "Fly Fishing America". Bob has been noted as "one of the best teachers of fly casting in the Midwest" - Jim Kenyon, Scientific Anglers / 3M. Bob's objective in teaching is to " give a serious student of fly casting the skill and precision needed to fly fish any water in the nation; from a small brook in Montana to the saltwater flats of the Florida Keys." Bob is a loyal friend and supporter of the Northwest Sportshow and he is committed to creating an exciting fish fishing experience in the "Discover Fly Fishing" room.

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  • Vic Mason

    Vic Mason is on the Pro Staff at St. Croix Rod Company and fly casting instructor for all levels of experience. A fly fishing guide for both fresh and salt water expeditions, Vic has fished all around the country and in Canada. While hes not teaching new fly fishing enthusiasts how to cast, build their own rod and tie flies, Vic is traveling the upper Midwest working sport shows on behalf of St. Croix and Scientific Angler.

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  • Lee Oschwald

    Lee Oschwald began fly fishing eight years ago and has since combined her love for the sport and her teaching skills to help others learn to fly cast. Her enthusiasm for the sport prompted her to become a member of the Board of Directors for Fly Fishing Women of Minnesota and to work with the Becoming an Outdoors Woman organization. Lee brings a fresh "womans perspective" to the "Discover Fly Fishing" room.

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