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Knimrod
01-09-2006, 12:47 AM
Outdoor shows offer plenty for sportsmen
Friday, January 8, 2006
By Bob Gwizdz

There are two main seasons for sportsmen in Michigan: hunting season and fishing season. Then, there is the third season -- show season -- which is getting underway.

After deer season ends and before spring arrives, hunters and anglers have to make due with what they can. Show season, during which manufacturers and retailers trot out their toys, helps to fill in the gaps.

Boats and tackle are big draws for sportsmen, of course, but there's plenty more at these shows. Seminars on all manner of fishing and boating (such as on-board cooking) occur almost non-stop. And there are always entertaining diversions for the rest of the family.

Show season kicks off Thursday in Novi with the Ultimate Sports Show, produced by Showspan, which also puts on an Ultimate Show in Grand Rapids, the Grand Rapids Boat Show and the Lansing Sportfishing, Boat and Travel Show.

Show producer Adam Starr is especially excited about one of the displays -- a De Havilland Otter bush plane on loan from the Canadian Bush Plane Museum in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. But that's just the start.

The show features a 100,000 gallon pool, "Lake Ultimate," from which angling experts will present on-the-water seminars. The lineup is impressive: Bass pros Kevin VanDam and Joe Thomas will be on hand, as will walleye pro Keith Kavajecz.

Skeeter Boats is bringing in an interactive trailer geared toward young bass fishermen. But what is most unusual about this year's show is that boat dealers will be allowed to bring in current stock -- as opposed to 2006 models-only -- so would-be buyers may be able to find something a little less hard on the wallet.

As a bonus, the first 400 attendees on opening night will receive complimentary Dardevle lures in commemoration of the Dearborn company's 100th anniversary.

Outdoorama, which is an annual production of Michigan United Conservation Clubs, always accents family entertainment. This year, it will feature the Paul Bunyan Lumberjacks' hour-long stage show (log rolling, tree climbing, etc.), including "the world's only lumberjacking dog." Also, Radio Disney will present a family-themed outdoors stage show and MUCC's usual educational programs are on tap.

Outdoorama is slated for Feb. 22-26 in Novi.

If boats are really what flips your switch, the 48th Annual Detroit Boat will have 1,000 or so on display, including antique boats and a number of sailboats, which are back after several years absence.

One of the largest boat shows in America -- based on attendance, size and sales -- the Detroit Boat Show will feature an expanded fishing seminar schedule and a new section for tackle retailers. For the family, there will be an art wall where youngsters can contribute to a mural, and an extreme sports zone, where some of the newer pastimes (wakeboarding, for instance) will be highlighted.

Also scheduled at the Cobo Center from Feb. 18-26 is the Discover Boating Center, where boating experts will be on hand to explain the pros and cons of various models.

The Lansing Center show (March 9-12) will feature a live alligator show. The Grand Rapids show (March 16-19) will have the Ultimate Air Dog Show featuring retrievers.

And some of the best-known Michigan anglers -- Mark Martin, Gerry Gostenik, Jim Barta, Bob Brunner and more -- will be on hand at many of the shows across the state.

With winter weather sometimes making hunting and fishing problematic, show season offers everyone a warm, dry place to do the next best thing to hunting and fishing -- talking about those pursuits.

Link to article (http://www.mlive.com/sports/statewide/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/1136331603160520.xml&coll=1)