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Saturday, April 12, 2008
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SHOWCASED Everything outdoors - and then some - on display Outdoors Editor MINNEAPOLIS - It spoke volumes of the event, and the fact could not be drowned out by the increasing volume inside the Minneapolis Convention Center.
Amid the blur of activity and the noise created by thousands of show-goers last weekend, there he was.
I think.
Yes, surrounded by Northwest Sportshow attendees, professional fisherman Gary Roach manned his Mr. Walleye booth. No, its not like hes a rock star. But this was his - and many other outdoors professionals - stage.
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Northwest Sportshow attendees packed the bleachers for a LumberJills performance April 4 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. The performances featured axe-throwing, cross-cut sawing, underhand-chopping and log-rolling by women lumberjacks.
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Brainerd Dispatch/Brian S. Peterson
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Not far away, another booth saw brisk traffic. Members of the Bikini Ice Fishing Team chatted, signed autographs and posed for photographs.
Likely for show-goers on their way to see outdoors gurus Mr. Walleye or Ron Schara or Tackle Terry Tuma.
While there were some sidelights, such as the bikini team, the show was all about hunting and fishing and camping and the like. Swimwear, no matter how it was presented, was a sideshow at best at the show.
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Kris Kristufek (right) of LakeLady Custom Fishing Rods out of Breezy Point chatted with show-goers.
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Brainerd Dispatch/ Brian S. Peterson
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So much to see, so little time.
The show ran from April 2-6, a good run. But for those of us only able to attend for a day, it was a lot to take in. My list of must-see booths and seminars and features alone was long enough to take up a good chunk of the day.
The list included visiting the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame display, the Travelin Fish Tank, the Willow Creek Trout Pond, a LumberJills performance and maybe taking in Remote Control Boat Racing or the Hunters Laser Shot Gallery.
The fishing hall was the highlight of the bunch, boasting a replica of the world record muskie - 69 pounds, 11 ounces. The monster was, essentially, caught in a river in Wisconsin in 1949. An amazing feat.
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A pair of lunker walleyes sat near the bottom of the Travelin' Fish Tank during the Northwest Sportshow on April 4 at the Minneapolis Convention Center.
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Brainerd Dispatch/ Brian S. Peterson
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Surprisingly, the fish tank held some good-sized fish, particularly walleyes. A couple of them had to be pushing 10 pounds. But they looked extremely old and grizzled, no doubt stressed by the conditions.
Among those leading seminars during the week were Tuma, Schara and bear expert Lynn Rogers. Topics included Tumas Slab Crappie Secrets, Scharas Fish Stories: Where To Catch Em and Rogers Black Bears: Dispelling The Myths.
I had essentially heard the latter when Rogers spoke at the Northland Arboretums annual meeting last fall. But I learned a lot and would have jumped at the chance to hear him again. However, Rogers seminar wasnt on the schedule the day I attended the show. Nor were Tumas or Scharas.
Thats one of my knocks on the show: Many of the bigger names were on hand earlier in the week - not during the weekend, when attendance was at its height.
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Show-goers crowded the aisles April 4 at the Northwest Sportshow at the Minneapolis Convention Center.
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Brainerd Dispatch/Brian S. Peterson
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Not that the Friday seminars werent worth attending. With the spring wild turkeys first season set to open Wednesday, well-known Minnesota outdoors writer Gary Clancy led a seminar in Dealing with Tough Gobblers. And with the state walleye opener around the corner, fishing pro Gary Parsons presented Tactics for Getting Your Next Walleye Bite.
But even minus the features or seminars, walking the endless aisles, crammed with booths and exhibits, was worth the price of admission.
If it related to the outdoors, it was there. And there were some great deals on merchandise, tackle, etc., too. But at times, it might have been too much - another knock on the show. Even if you were walking in the middle of an aisle, minding your own business, vendors were throwing fliers or the like in your face. Win a trip to Florida, one said.
How about a fly-in fishing trip to Ontario?
The Brainerd area was well represented. From Mr. Walleye - who hails from north of Merrifield - to Kris Kristufeks LakeLady Custom Fishing Rods out of Breezy Point to many of the area resorts, the show had a definite lakes area feel.
Food and drinks were available, at a price - my last knock on the show, although I realize thats probably not the shows fault. But on one of the far end booths, the August Schell Brewing Co. and, interestingly, Rapala were promoting Lakemaid Beer. At about 5 p.m. Friday, I saw where show-goers were lining up for free Lakemaid Beer samples.
Free beer and bikinis - thats a show.
Throw in everything outdoors.
Now thats the show.
BRIAN S. PETERSON, outdoors editor, may be reached at brian.peterson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5864.
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