The 2025 Speaker Series

The Maryland Fly Fishing Speaker Series is excited to announce our upcoming lineup of speakers for Saturday, March 22. 

Mike Heck has been fly fishing for more than thirty-nine years, and has been a professional guide/instructor for over twenty-nine years. You may have read some of his articles in Fly Fisherman Magazine, American Angler, Fish & Fly and Mid–Atlantic Fly Fishing Guide.  He is the author of “Spring Creek Strategies” and a contributing author of “Keystone Fly Fishing”.  Mike has also been featured in the show called “Road Trip”   which is on the Discovery Channel, Europe. Mike is a pro staff member for Regal vises, and a pro member of Performance Flies.

Mike’s presentation will start with a complete background on the origins of spring creeks, their properties, insects and seasons. He will discuss where and how to find these trout in these very unique fisheries. However, there are many secrets he uses that he will share with you. Mike grew up fishing these spring creeks and will share his 40+ years of experience on how to fool these wary trout. Spring creeks challenge even the best and most experienced fly anglers. He will educate you on stream presentation, tactics to use and what hatches to expect. He will also give you direction on the use of proper apparel, equipment and leaders.

Bill Nolan’s presentation will be on fly fishing the Lehigh River and Upper Delaware River. Bill is the owner and head guide for PA Troutfitters, as well as a guide for Sky Blue Outfitters. A veteran and graduate of Sweetwater Guide School, Bill has many years of fishing the Lehigh and Upper Delaware Rivers. His presentation will provide an in-depth look at how and when to fish these rivers from both a wading and drift boat point of view, as well as talking about tactics and hatches you may see on these two amazing rivers. Bill is a Pro Staff Guide for Douglas Rods.

Join Shawn Holsinger, owner and operator of Holsinger’s Guide Service, for an exciting presentation that delves into his 30+ years of fly fishing expertise in Western Central Pennsylvania. Raised amidst the limestone-rich mountains of the region, Shawn has honed his craft on trout-rich waters, including the famed Little Juniata River and the popular Yellow Creek in Bedford County. Shawn’s passion lies in exploring the incredible Class A wild trout streams of the area, and he’ll share insights into the unique opportunities these waters offer.

Shawn’s presentation will also include highlights from his recent fishing adventure in Africa, showcasing an entirely different and fascinating side of fly fishing.

In addition to guiding, Shawn is a member of the Pro Staff for his family’s business, Holsinger’s Fly Shop, located in East Freedom, Pennsylvania, on the banks of the Frankstown Branch of the Juniata River. He also manages the highly popular Holsinger’s Fly Shop YouTube channel, where he shares fly-tying tutorials, fishing tips, and insights from his travels. Through his work, Shawn has had the privilege of fly fishing in destinations like Colorado for large cutthroats, West Virginia and Maryland for trout, and the Great Lakes region for steelhead, browns, and salmon.

Don’t miss this chance to learn from Shawn’s wealth of experience and passion for the sport.

Smallmouth Bass from top to bottom

Brian Shumaker is head guide with over 25 years of experience and owner of Susquehanna River Guides in South Central Pennsylvania, specializing in fly-fishing for smallmouth bass and other warm water species. Brian’s love for fishing started at an early age, encouraged by his father. After many years exploring the bigger rivers and smaller warm water streams, Brian started Susquehanna River Guides in 1993 as a way to share his love of the rivers

and fly-fishing with others. Today clients have come from every reach of the United States, Canada, and Europe to South Central Pennsylvania to discover the thrill of fly-fishing for smallmouth bass and other warm-water fish.

Brian is a speaker at many local and regional clubs and organizations, as well as many fishing and outdoor shows. Numerous publications, both local and national, have featured Brian and Susquehanna River Guides. As an author, Brian has contributed to books on Smallmouth Bass and is one of the co-authors of “Keystone Fly Fishing Guide.” Brian is a speaker at many local and regional clubs and organizations, as well as many fishing and outdoor shows. Numerous publications, both local and national, have featured Brian and Susquehanna RiverGuides.

Brian is an elite pro for Sage Fly Fishing and RIO Fly Lines. Brian is also associated with Fishpond, Costa Sunglasses, and Hyde Drift Boats. Brian is also an accomplished fly tier and fly designer. A Regal Vise, Ahrex Hooks pro.

When Brian is not on the water, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Rene, in their home in South Central Pennsylvania.

Join Dave Allbaugh for an engaging and hands-on presentation on the fundamentals of wet fly fishing  This session will cover essential equipment, including rods, reels, fly lines, leaders, and flies, with a fully rigged rod setup ready for fishing wets. You’ll also learn about effective fly presentation techniques tailored to specific types of waters.
As a bonus, the presentation will highlight a few streams in Central and North Central Pennsylvania where wet fly fishing is particularly rewarding. Designed as a “show and tell” program, audience members will have the opportunity to handle the equipment discussed, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the tactics and tools used in this classic style of fly fishing.

Our speaker series is designed to be informative and enjoyable. A wide variety of topics for everyone to gain insight and knowledge from these professionals. As always, the series is free and runs throughout the day.