Born and raised in southeastern Idaho. Mike has fished the local trout streams in this part of Idaho all of his life, especially the Henry's Fork. He taught school at South Fremont Junior High in St. Anthony for 6 years. During the summers he ran a survey crew for the Forest Service in Island Park and fished the Henry's Fork during his spare time. Later he and his wife Sheralee started tying flies commercially. They tied for Cal Gates Au Sable Lodge in Grayling, Michigan and for many of the local shops in the Yellowstone area. Mike also worked as a fishing guide for Jim Danskin in West Yellowstone in addition to tying flies. In 1977 they opened Henry's Fork Anglers fly shop at Last Chance, Idaho. The shop is a full service fly fishing specialty shop and outfitter with the finest in flies, tackle, outdoor clothing and related items. In 1999 Mike sold the business to Mark Rockefeller who also owns the new South Fork Lodge. Mike remains as general manager of both fly fishing operations.

Travel

Mike has lead fly fishing groups to Alaska, New Zealand, Australia, Tasmania, Christmas Island, Mexico, Belize and the Florida Keys.

Author & Lecturer

Mike's first book, Fly Fishing the Henrys Fork, was published in June 2000. Co-authored by Gary LaFontaine, it is the most comprehensive work on how and when to fish this great trout stream. Mike has written articles on fly fishing in several magazines including Fly Fisherman, Fly Fishing for Trout, the Fly Fisher, Trout Magazine and the American Angler. His photographs have also appeared in many of these publications. He is currently writing his second book entitled,Spring Creeks. He has also contributed to several books on fly tying, fly fishing, wild turkey hunting and upland bird hunting.

Mike is also featured in several fly fishing videos including: Tying Western Dry Flies with Mike Lawson and Jack Dennis, Tying and Fishing Caddisflies with Gary LaFontaine and Jack Dennis and Fishing the Golden Ring by Gordon Eastman. His latest video Tying Flies for Spring Creeks and Tailwaters, was released in 1998. He has been featured on the cover photos of several of fly fishing's top publications.

During the off season he conducts slide programs and fly fishing seminars at fly fishing clubs and fly shops throughout the country. Mike Lawson has also teamed with Jack Dennis and Gary LaFontaine to form the Traveling Fly Fisherman. This group has appeared throughout the U.S. and Canada presenting two day seminars on fly tying and fly fishing. Mike is a member of the Sage Advisory Team, Rio Products Pro Staff, and Action Optics Pro Staff. He has also been a contract fly tier for Umpqua Feather Merchants since 1979. His flies are featured in almost every specialty fly shop and fly fishing mail order catalog.

Hobbies

In addition to fly fishing, Mike enjoys most outdoor sports, especially bird hunting. He loves turkey hunting as much as fly fishing and has hunted the wary birds extensively throughout the west and midwest. He also likes competitive sports and lettered in 4 sports in high school. He still plays on a basketball league during the winter months.

Family

Mike and Sheralee have a beautiful home overlooking the Henry's Fork in St. Anthony. They have two sons, Shaun and Christopher and one daughter, Jeanette.