OUTDOORSMEN can keep busy the next month or so by preparing for the coming season at one of the many sportsmen shows on tap in our area.
If you didn’t make it to the New York Boat Show early this month, you can catch up at the National Sportfishing & Outdoor Expo, which will run from Thursday through Sunday at Nassau Coliseum.
This show, in its seventh season, offers anglers an opportunity to view 350 exhibits of fishing and hunting products and accessories, while also booking the fishing or hunting trip as exhibitors, guides and outfitters from as far as Australia, South Africa and Alaska, as well as those here in the States and Canada.
Back again are live bucks, the 12 world-class record whitetail mounts and Dick Idol’s Giant Whitetails of Canada display. Hands on exhibits include the Trout Pond, where children and adults can fish for trout, Paintball games, laser sports and the N.Y. Aquarium exhibit.
You also get to see what the jaws look like on a record great white shark. Television host and wildlife expert Peter Fiduccia will be on hand to speak both Friday and Saturday. Other notable speakers include fly fishing author Lou Tabory, along with Mike delVisco, Dick Idol, Ralph Votta, Tony Ritter and Rich Corcoran.
Show hours: Thursday and Friday, 4-10 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; and Sunday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. If you would like more information, call (516) 625-5021.
For the fly fisherman or woman, the All Fly Fishing Show returns to the Garden State Exhibit Center for the eighth year with a three day show from Friday to Sunday. This show combines education via classes, demonstrations and seminars in fly tying, casting, rod building, conservation, where-to-go and how-to-do-it. There is also an unmatched fly fishing shopping opportunity with 250 exhibitors. Fly anglers can try out and purchase anything they’ve dreamed of, from rods, reels, lines and flies, to dream fishing trips and great artwork.
Special events for women at the show are a ladies only casting class Sunday afternoon with Cathy Beck, and the Women’s Fly Fishing Forum Saturday at 2 p.m. This is a panel of women instructors, guides, authors and members of women’s fishing clubs who will join in discussion with anyone interested in the issues and concerns of women in the sport.
Experts who will be giving presentations include Barry and Cathy Beck, Al Caucci, Wayne Cattanach, Bob Jacklin, Charlie Meck, Ed Mitchell, Enrico Puglisis, Mark Sedotti, Dick Talleur, Dave Whitlock and Ken Vanderlaske.
There will be a special presentation by artist C.D. Clarke in which he will discuss his art work. Robert Spaight, a fly tier, author and angler from England, will present Fly Fishing in Great Britain. Other locales include the Delaware River, the Deerfield River, the northeast coast, Alaska, Maine, Belize, Montana, Chile, the Salmon River, Idaho, Guatemala, Colorado, Austria, Oregon and lots more.
The show hours are: Friday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; and Sunday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information, call (800) 420-7582, or check out their website at http://www.flyfishingshow.com.
