Who woulda thought there'd be so much fishing in Las Vegas?

First a Bass Pro Shops, now the Las Vegas International Sportsmen's Expo?

I plan on attending at least the second half of this week's show, which runs Feb. 2-4 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

If any of our readers or brands that follow About Fly Fishing are in attendance, be sure to drop me an email and we can connect at the show. I'm told by organizers (see the comment from ISE Director of Communications John Kirk below) there won't be much in terms of fly fishing at this particular show, but I'm still looking forward to checking out some fishing gear, apparel and other 2012 sportsmen's products at this particular show.

Like myself, most outdoors fans and weekend warriors will likely attend Saturday's final day, which has plenty on tap in terms of the seminars:

Saturday morning, Bass Pro and Host of Ultimate Bass Radio Kent Brown opens with a presentation on Ultimate Bass.

The host of Jarrett Edwards Outdoors TV is next up with "Tips from the West's Top Anglers," followed by California Outdoor Hall of Famer Steve Carson, who will speak about San Diego Saltwater Fishing.

Being a West Coast guy, I'm looking forward to all of the above presentations.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife will also present in the afternoon with some tips on fishing outside of Las Vegas and throughout Nevada.

If you've never been, there are actually some awesome fly fishing waters in the state, including the Carson River, Truckee River, Walker River, along with dozens of lakes and reservoirs. I've written about the Truckee and Walker, and anyone who reads the blog knows I'm a big fan of the Fishing the Lake Tahoe Area.

Have a fishing product you want reviewed? Contact us at flyfishing.guide@about.com to get your product on our boat, in our tackle box and on the Web site.

Usually the weather's so bad this time of year the last thing you want to do is be outdoors.

But this year, the weather's been so mild across the country it makes me wonder if it's going to affect the attendance of the early-year outdoors expos and sportsman shows.

I know I'd rather be fishing instead of watching someone dunk a bucktail into a tank full of fish, but it's also nice to catch up with fellow anglers and colleagues from around the fishing industry at these shows -- not to mention see what the latest trends are in fly fishing.

I'll likely head out to the International Sportsmen's Expo in Las Vegas this next week (although I'm told by organizers there won't be much fly fishing gear at this particular show, so keep that in mind), so if anyone's going to be out there give me a shout.

This weekend, there are a couple big outdoors shows going on.

Washington Sportsmen's Show is going on this weekend, and it's a must see for many Pacific Northwest anglers as it's Western Washington's only sportsmen's show this year. The event is being held at Puyallup's Fair and Events Center.

The highlight of the show for fly fishers being the indoor mock "steelhead river" where guides and pro staff hold hourly demos on reading water, etc.

On the East Coast, the Great Northeastern Sports Show is no longer, but anglers have the New York Sportsman's Expo this weekend. So take advantage of the opportunity if you're reading from Central New York. You're opportunities are slim this year.

In the Midwest, it was just announced that the Midwest Fly Fishing Expo will be held March 10-11 at the Macomb Community College Sports and Expo Center in Warren, Mich.

Also that same week, the 2012 Fred Hall Show returns to California and will be held March 7-11 at the Long Beach Convention Center.

If you can't wait, I received a recent press release that announced the International Custom Rod Building Expo is expected to be as big as ever this year, running Feb. 25-26 in High Point, N.C.

What shows are you interested in attending this year? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

This crazy weather (or lack thereof) got me thinking today, where's the best flying fishing going to be in 2012?

With the lack of snow, are the high Sierra fisheries going to be affected? Will the season be shortened because of a lack of water.

Are we facing the same situation in the Rocky Mountains? The Ozarks?

From coast to coast, we could be looking at a great spring fly fishing season because of a lack of runoff, but the late summer and fall fly fishing opportunities might be down this year.

I know  here on the West Coast, many of the year-round rivers are still fishing well in January. We also have some of our spring creeks starting to trickle thanks to a little rain earlier this month.

But how long will it last is the question? Since I'm here in California, I'd like to get everyone's takes from around the country?

Do you think the fisheries in your neck of the woods will provide a strong fly fishing season? Or are we looking at a shortened season because of a lack of water. Share your thoughts and prospects for the 2012 fly fishing season in the comments section below.

Word around the campfire is fishing is still going strong in the Sierra Nevada and other mild climates, but it's only a matter of time before the weather heads south.

And when it does, anglers either have to resort to fly tying, A River Runs Through It watching, or traveling to a warm-weather fishing destination.

A happy medium is surf fishing along the coast.

Reports out of San Diego suggest that along with the solid Sierra fishing, the halibut fishing is turning on along the beaches and lagoons.

And, of course, the surf perch fishing is always solid in the winter thanks to the winter swells and tides.

Read more about fly fishing for barred surf perch in the winter.