Save the Date for the
50th Anniversary Show!!!
February 27, 28 and March 1, 2026
Hilton Garden Inn
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
The 2025 Show is now in the history books. Thanks to the attendees, presenters, vendors, tyers, donors and volunteers for making it an exceptional experience! Keep your eyes on the HFFA website and social media for information about upcoming events.
Below is information about the 2025 for reference on what the annual show is all about.
2025 HFFA Annual Meeting and Show
Hyatt Regency Hotel, Coralville, Iowa
February 21 - 23, 2025
The premier event of the Hawkeye Fly Fishing Association,the annual HFFA Show brings together members of its five chapters to celebrate their sport with others, especially those new to fly fishing. Experts share their knowledge, vendors display top-flight gear, fly tyers share their techniques, and opportunities abound to win valuable prizes and meet others, with all levels of expertise, who love the sport.
FEATURES
- Nationally and regionally renowned fly fishing speakers
- Featured fly tyers
- Vendors and exhibitors
- Business meeting
- Banquet
- Raffles and auctions
- Photo & Essay Contest
SHOW VENUE
Hyatt Regency Coralville
300 East 9th Street, Coralville, IA
- Right off I-80, 1st Ave. Coralville Exit (#242)
- Lots of parking, easy access
- Convenient parking in Hyatt Ramp $1 per hour, maximum $8
- Free Hyatt parking in rear of hotel
- Coralville's Iowa River Landing
- Walkable
- Heartlanders Hockey
- Shopping and Dining
HOTEL RESERVATIONS
Hyatt Regency (Stay onsite for the Show!)
300 East 9th Street, Coralville, IA
- Modern, newly renovated guest rooms; heated pool, hot tub, fitness center
- Choice of King or 2-Queens
- Includes overnight parking for 1 vehicle + basic internet access
- Call 402-501-8383 to make reservations
HFFA Annual Meeting & Show Speakers
George Daniel
George Daniel was six when he tried fly fishing on the native brook trout stream near his home village in Potter County, Pennsylvania. The stretch of stream was designated a “kids only section,” which gave him the freedom to practice…a lot. Self-taught for a good part of a decade, at fourteen his family moved to central Pennsylvania. At a local fly shop, he connected with the man he considers his fly fishing idol, Joe Humphreys. Taking George under his wing, Humphreys began mentoring him, creating a foundation that would lead to more formalized instruction. At 16, Humphreys expanded his education into all levels, from the basic cast to advanced nymphing casts. To this day, George credits Humphreys for the bulk of his knowledge while acknowledging the many national and international fly fishing professionals who have contributed to his knowledge and experience.
George went on to qualify for Fly Fishing Team USA in Bend, Oregon. He competed in five World Fly Fishing Championships and coached both the US Youth Team and Fly Fishing Team USA in four World Championships. The experience allowed him to travel the globe and learn from many of the best anglers in the world. A two-time US National Fly Fishing Champion, ranking as high as 5th in the world, George continued to win or achieve respectable finishes in other fly fishing competitions.
But his true passion is fly fishing education. Appearing at clubs and fly fishing shows around the country, George conducts lectures and seminars while still logging more than 280 days a year on waters near and far. George is currently the director/lead instructor for the Pennsylvania State University Fly Fishing Program.
Charlie Craven
After mysteriously losing all of his dad’s lures in a single day, Charlie Craven was gifted a fly tying kit by his parents for his eighth birthday. He’s tied flies pretty much every day for the forty years since then and has figured out a few things pertaining to fur, feathers, and fish along the way. At this point, it’s becoming well known that he’s opinionated, outspoken and sometimes brash when it comes to flies and techniques but his passion lies in sharing the skills he’s developed.
Over the years, Charlie has been a prolific commercial fly tyer and, for a time, a pretty mediocre fishing guide, due to his insistence on liverwurst and onion lunch sandwiches instead of grilled prawns like all the other sissy guides.
He’s been an Umpqua Feather Merchants Signature Tyer for over 18 years with several fly box mainstays like the Juju Baetis, Two Bit Hooker and Baby Gonga among his over two dozen commercially available patterns. All this experience finally culminated in 2004 with the opening of his own fly shop, Charlie’s Fly Box, in Arvada, Colorado, where he is the head bookkeeper, order taker and fry cook in addition to president and CEO. He’s written three books, Charlie Craven’s Basic Fly Tying, Charlie’s Fly Box and Tying Nymphs with plans for several more when he gets around to them.
After beating Ross Purnell in a prolonged and brutal arm wrestling match, he became the Fly Tyer’s Bench columnist for Fly Fisherman Magazine and still maintains this title to this day. He was recently named to that magazine’s 50 Most Influential People in Fly Fishing, and it is thought that his number 45 ranking was specifically chosen to keep his head from growing any larger.
Charlie lives in the hills of Palmer Lake, Colorado with his lucky, patient and loving wife, Lisa, their two gigantic dogs and somewhere between three and six young adult children. He still likes quiet time, the Parachute Adams, Colorado whiskey and dry-dropper fishing from a boat. His favorite number is five and his favorite color is red and he doesn’t care what yours are. “It’s not simply enough that a fly catches fish, it has to do all that’s asked of it, well….and style matters”
EXPERT PRESENTATIONS ON COLDWATER AND WARMWATER FLY FISHING
- John Van Vliet – two presentations, one relating to his book, Trout Fishing in Northeast Iowa
- Cameron Acker – Trout Unlimited projects in Iowa
- Caleb Schnitzler Iowa DNR – Brook Trout Restoration
- Davis Horton & Caleb Corona – fly fishing for Iowa smallmouth bass
- Dre Fornasiero – tenkara rod fishing
- Mike & Christine Pierce – fly fishing for pan fish
- Dale Tayloe – bamboo rod building
RAFFLES AND DRAWINGS
Grand Prize:
- Scott Session 8’6” 4wt rod + Lamson Liquid S-Series reel + Rio Gold WF4F line
- Retail Value $935
- Sponsored by Driftless Angler, Viroqua WI
Raffle tickets will be available for purchase at the show:
- Grand Prize Raffle Tickets $5 or 6 for $25!!
- Tickets on Sale until 4pm Saturday - Drawing at the Banquet
- Do not have to be present to win


LIVE AUCTION
- Live Auction at Saturday's Banquet
- Trips, fly, fly plate, print - Download list of Live Auction items
REGISTRATION FEES & INFO
Admission Rates
- Friday, February 21: $10/person over 25; $5/person 25 and under
- Saturday, February 22: $25/person over 25; $15/person 25 and under
- Sunday, February 23: $5/person
- Preregistration Special ($125)
- (Includes One weekend registration, one banquet ticket and 100 raffle tickets, $175 value!) Must be purchased online by February 17. NOT available at the door!
Meals - Lunch & Banquet
Join fellow attendees for Lunch during the HFFA Annual Business Meeting and Awards Banquet Dinner and Auction, all on Saturday. These meals must be ordered online by February 17. Meals are not available for purchase at the door.
Meal modifications available for those with dietary restrictions. You will be able to specify this on the registration form.
- Lunch Tickets ($20/person)
- Saturday Noon, choice of (specify during registration):
- Ham and Gruyere cheese with Lettuce, Tomato and Spicy Mustard on Pretzel Roll
- Cous Cous Salad with Vegetables, Chickpeas, Roasted Tomato and Pesto (V, DF)
- Roasted Turkey, Havarti cheese, Bibb Lettuce, Tomato, Cucumber Mayonnaise on Multigrain Croissant
- includes whole fresh fruit, chips or pretzels, cookie, bottled water
- Saturday Noon, choice of (specify during registration):
- HFFA Banquet Ticket ($35/person)
- Saturday Evening Banquet Dinner, choice of (specify during registration):
- Grilled Pork Chop 10 oz (GF), Rosemary Roasted Potatoes, Roasted Asparagus
- Roasted Vegetable Strudel (V), in Puff Pastry Crust with Boursin Cheese, Roasted Red Pepper Puree, Polenta, Roasted Brussel Sprouts
- Pomegranate Chicken Breast (GF) - Seared Frenched Organic Chicken Breast with Pomegranate Balsamic Glaze. Served with Herb Scented Mashed Potatoes and Haricot Verts
- includes iced tea, coffee and tea, and choice of Chocolate Decadence Cake or Vanilla Crème Brulee (GF)
- Saturday Evening Banquet Dinner, choice of (specify during registration):

Who We Are
Hawkeye Fly Fishing Association (HFFA) holds events and provides resources for people interested in fly fishing, fly tying and fish habitat conservation. We are an Iowa-based affiliate of Fly Fishers International.
Support HFFA
Would you like to support the mission of Hawkeye Fly Fishing Association? Please consider becoming a member or making a donation.