Date: Sunday, February 22, 2026 | 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Location: Hilton DoubleTree, Cranberry
910 Sheraton Dr, Mars, PA 16046
Tickets:
Adults: $15
Students: $10
Kids under 10: Free
Tickets available at the door.
Southwest Pennsylvania is in for an incredible fly fishing experience! Join us for the 25th Annual Cabin Fever Expo, proudly sponsored and organized by the Penn’s Woods West Chapter of Trout Unlimited. We’ve built an engaging agenda and brought in top vendors to give you access to the latest materials, equipment, and gear.
This year, we’re highlighting Fly Tying: watch live demonstrations, learn tips and tricks from top tyers to up your own game. You’ll also have the opportunity to meet conservation partners who can show you simple ways to make a real impact on our rivers—right from your own backyard.
Presentation Agenda
- 10:00 AM – Taylor Hess: Smallmouth on the Juniata
- 12:00 PM – Rob Walters: Fishing The Youghiogheny
- 1:00 PM – Jeff Blood: Steelhead Tactics on Erie Streams
- 2:00 PM – Mike Komara: Spring Fishing Strategies
Casting Instruction
- 10:00 AM – Scott Loughner: Casting Instruction
- 11:00 AM – Jack Barr: Certified Casting Instructor
- 12:00 PM – Dusty Wissmath: Wulff School Certified Casting Instructor
- 1:00 PM – Mark Signorino: FFI Certified Casting Instructor
- 2:00 PM – Mike Komara: Euro Nymph Casting Instruction
- 2:45 PM – Scott Laughner: Casting Instruction
Cabin Fever 2026
Presenter & Guide Bios
Taylor Hess
Smallmouth Strategies: The Juniata River
Learn the when, where, why, and how around smallmouth bass. In this presentation, we will discuss the seasonal movements of smallmouth, why water temperature matters, forage and feeding habits, and fly selection.
Taylor Hess is the owner of Appalachian Fishing Guides LLC, a Pennsylvania-based guide service focused on education-driven angling experiences. With experience working in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, and the Mid-Atlantic, Taylor brings a technical yet approachable perspective to fly fishing for smallmouth bass and trout. His work emphasizes understanding seasonal fish movement, reading water conditions, and selecting effective fly patterns throughout the year. Taylor is especially passionate about helping anglers of all skill levels better understand river systems like the Juniata and developing practical strategies they can apply on the water.
Rob Walters
Rob Walters has a degree in Wildlife Biology with a minor in Entomology from the University of Delaware. Growing up in Delaware, he honed his fly fishing skills on regional trout streams and stripers in the Atlantic surf. After college in 2005, he moved to Pittsburgh and traded in the salt life for the mountain life of Western PA.
In 2007, after two years of fishing the Yough River at a feverish pace, he began guiding float and wade trips. Since then, Rob has spent hundreds of days on the Yough River and is co-owner of Laurel Highlands Guide Services (LHGS) as well as their full-time lead guide. His passion for teaching others to connect with trophy trout and smallmouth bass is consummate. Spend a day on the river with Rob and his river dog Rio, and you just might catch the fish of a lifetime.
Rob is also a board member of the Mountain Watershed Association / Youghiogheny Riverkeeper, a local non-profit organization whose mission is to protect, preserve, and restore the Youghiogheny River Watershed.
Jeff Blood
Jeff Blood has fly fished around the world for both fresh and saltwater species for over 40 years. He focuses on Great Lakes Steelhead, mostly in the tributaries of Lake Erie, near where he grew up.
Aside from owning a sales and marketing company designing promotions and incentive programs for corporate America, Jeff was a part owner of a local fly shop for about 10 years in Pittsburgh, PA. He is also an accomplished fly fisher and fly tier. Find Jeff Blood products at jeffbloodflyfishing.com
Mike Komara
Mike currently lives in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, just minutes from Spring Creek and other famous PA limestoners. He owns and operates Innovative Angling, a guide service and fly fishing media company dedicated to educating anglers of all skill levels.
With more than twelve years of competitive fly-fishing experience, Mike began on the US Youth Fly Fishing Team before advancing to the senior Fly Fishing Team USA. He has competed in countless local and national events, ranking third nationally since 2023. To date, he has represented the United States in five World Fly Fishing Championships, helping the team earn medals in four of them, and is currently preparing for his sixth World Championship in Idaho in 2026.