Mike Lawson has fly-fished all over the world. And yet, his favorite trout-fishing river flows right by his home in St. Anthony, Idaho.

“Traveling around the world trout fishing, it gives me more awareness of how I really take for granted where I live,” says Lawson. “I’ve had a chance to see a lot of places and I believe the Henry’s Fork (River) is about as good as anyplace else.”

Lawson, 63, a prominent fly-fishing author and guide, will demonstrate some of the fly-fishing skills he has learned on the Henry’s Fork River at the Central Oregon Flyfishers/Sunriver Anglers Winter Seminar later this month in Bend.

The Henry’s Fork River, located in eastern Idaho near Yellowstone National Park, is a revered trout stream, stretching through meadows and highlands covered with wildflowers. The river is home to several different species of trout, some of which are trophy fish weighing more than 10 pounds.

Lawson was born and raised in southeastern Idaho, and he has fished the trout streams in the area nearly his entire life.

In 1977, after Lawson had worked for several years as a fishing guide, he and his wife, Sheralee, opened Henry’s Fork Fly Shop in Last Chance, Idaho.

Lawson has visited Central Oregon before, fishing the Metolius River, the Upper and Lower Deschutes and the Williamson River. He compares the Henry’s Fork to the Metolius, near Sisters.

“The Metolius is a spring-fed stream that comes from volcanic activity, and the Henry’s Fork is very similar to that,” Lawson says. “It’s a bigger river (the Henry’s Fork), but there are some parts that are much like the Metolius. Fast water, but also some slow water through big meadows, spring creeks and tight fishing.”

The Henry’s Fork gained fame as one of the first trout streams in the West to adopt special regulations to preserve wild trout, according to flyanglersonline.com. An active conservationist, Lawson was a founding member of the Henry’s Fork Foundation. Near the river, Henry’s Lake is home to a large population of cutthroat trout, many longer than 20 inches.

Still general manager of the fly shop after selling it in 1999, Lawson has led fly-fishing excursions all over the world. He is the author of several books, including “Fly Fishing the Henry’s Fork,” and “Spring Creeks,” a text book on how to fish spring creeks and tail waters.

During the offseason, Lawson conducts fly-fishing seminars for sports shows and clubs throughout the country. His seminar in Bend will include topics such as fly-tying for spring creeks, casting instructions, nymph fishing, and techniques for challenging trout.

“We’ll work on presentation and how to approach trout and read the water,” Lawson says.

In past years, Lawson was part of the Traveling Fly Fishermen, with well-known fly anglers Jack Dennis and Gary LaFontaine. The three would travel the United States and Canada, giving seminars on fly-tying and fly-fishing.

LaFontaine, an inspiration for Lawson’s writing of “Spring Creeks,” died of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in 2002.

“I focused on spring creeks and tail waters, and (LaFontaine) really encouraged me to write a book about it,” Lawson said. “Dennis also encouraged me to get started, and it turned out to be a huge project, much more than what I anticipated. I spent a lot of time trying to get it right. It’s hard to determine when you’re finished (writing a book). Really, you never feel like you’re done.”

Lawson, who has three grandchildren, spent more than 12 years working on “Spring Creeks.”

The longtime angler is known to lead fly-fishing trips to Southern Hemisphere locations such as New Zealand and Patagonia.

“We have real cold winters (in Idaho), so there’s some opportunity to go to where it’s summer, and have a chance to trout fish,” Lawson said. “And going places for saltwater fishing … I like that just for the fishing opportunity, when we don’t have as much here.”

But for Lawson, nothing beats the Henry’s Fork.

If you go

What: Central Oregon Flyfishers/Sunriver Anglers Winter Seminar

Who: Presenter is Mike Lawson, a fly-fishing author and guide from the Henry’s Fork River (Idaho) area near Yellowstone National Park.

When: Feb. 17-18, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.

Where: Aspen Hall, near Shevlin Park in Bend.

Cost: $55 for Central Oregon Flyfishers or Sunriver Anglers members; $75 for nonmembers.

Contact: Doug Vakoc at 541-598-2048 or doug@vakoc.com.