Recognizing the Salt Lake Valley might have a population of fly-fishers at least equal to Idaho Falls - you know, that pit stop in Idaho on the way to the Henrys Fork, the Madison and Yellowstone National Park - the Salt Lake chapter of Trout Unlimited will host the 2007 Wasatch Fly Tying & Fly Fishing Expo on May 19.

"A lot of Trout Unlimited chapters do similar events. The one in Idaho is the one we want to replicate because it is one of the premier fly-tying shows in the country and they have had so much success," said Jason Haslam, co-chairman of the expo and Stonefly Society board member. "We figured if they can do it, why can't we?"

A virtual Who's Who of Utah, or, dare I say, fly-fishing celebrities, will lead the workshops.

The expo is from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Karen Gail Miller Convention Center, 9750 S. 300 West, Sandy. Entrance to the show is free, and fly-fishing and tying demonstrations will be offered throughout the day. Children are welcome.

Landon Mayer, fishing guide and author of the just-released book How to Catch the Biggest Trout of Your Life and the "Landing the Trout of Your Life" DVD, is the keynote speaker at the banquet, which is also May 19.

Tickets for the banquet, which includes a dinner and auction, are $30 for singles and $50 for a pair.

Haslam and Stonefly Society president David Serdar said money raised from the event will be used for a major conservation project, yet to be determined.

"We want to raise money for conservation, but we also want to celebrate fly-fishing and fly-tying and have some fun," Haslam said.

For real fun, try to get workshop instructor Stefanie Jones, who will be teaching a clinic on tying with foam, to share the recipe for her famous cookies. That's not the name of a secret fly pattern, but the real deal.

And if you manage to get the ingredients, please pass them along.

brettp@sltrib.com

Admission to the expo May 19 at the Miller Conference Center, 9750 S. 300 West, Sandy, is free, but the workshops and banquet are not. For more information, and to register, visit www.stoneflysociety.org/. Events include the following:

* CURTIS FRY, "Tying Provo and Green River Patterns," noon to 2 p.m., $15.

* BOB TROWBRIDGE, "Simple, But Effective Flies," 8 a.m. to noon, for beginner and intermediate tiers, $20.

* STEFANIE JONES, "Tying Foam Flies," 2-4 p.m., $15.

* RYAN BARNES, Czech nymphing workshop, 8-10 a.m., $15.

* JASON HASLAM, Match the Hatch basic entomology workshop, 10 a.m. to noon, $15.

* LYNN SCOTT, stillwater fly-fishing on Henrys and Sheridan lakes, noon to 2 p.m., $15.

* DAVE SCADDEN, pontoon boat techniques, 2-4 p.m., $15.

* MICKEY ANDERSON, intermediate and advanced casting techniques workshop, 8-10 a.m., $15.