Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Outdoor Sportshow hits town Thursday
In case you hadn’t noticed, the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus, long billed as “The Greatest Show on Earth,” completed its final Philadelphia run on Monday. The appearance at the Wells Fargo Center was just one last stop on the circus’s last-ever, swan song tour before disbanding a cherished, nostalgic part of Americana that endured for the past 100 years.
But just as the circus departs for the last time, another awesome show is slated to arrive here on Thursday: the Greater Philadelphia Outdoor Sportshow. The Sportshow will run February 23-26 at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks. For outdoorsy folks, this show may not include traditional circus acts, but it does feature a number of spectacles of great interest to sportsmen and women.
These include Mike Wagner’s Dusty W German Shorthaired Pointers with educational and entertaining daily bird dog and pointing dog training demonstrations; Master falconer Lorrie Schumacher with a familyfriendly birds of prey exhibition that lets adults and kids alike get up close and personal with live hawks, owls and falcons; a fishing simulator that lets you watch as the fish you’ve just hooked jumps and dives while the pull on the line exactly simulates the action of the fish, and much more. There will also be an archery range and trout pond, always a big favorite with the younger set.
The Sportshow will feature seminars from top outdoor experts throughout the four-day event. Headlining the speakers will be outdoor legend Hank Parker and professional bass angler Joe Thomas. Incorporating the ol’ reliable 5,000-gallon Hawg Trough, the Sportshow will offer regular fishing seminars featuring Parker and Thomas as well as numerous local freshwater and saltwater experts.
Shimano pro-staffer Captain Jerry Sersen will provide tips and tactics for light tackle fishing of striped bass on the Chesapeake Bay. Greg DiPalma and George Accord, Jr. are bass fishing experts on the B.A.S.S. and FLW circuits, who will provide the latest techniques for catching big bass. Mike Accord is a smallmouth bass guide on the Susquehanna River who provides recommendations for fishing in local waters. Jen Ripple and Kurt Kopala will provide casting demonstrations and Main Line Fly-Tyers will offer hands-on instruction on Saturday and Sunday.
In addition, the show will also include a lineup of many regional and local experts. I’ll humbly count myself among those “local experts” and I’ll be presenting two different seminars: “Better Bowhunting Basics” is set for 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 23, and my fluke fishing presentation, “Floundering around with Tom Tatum” slated for Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
I may not exactly be a top expert on these subjects, but I’ve been bowhunting for some 40 years and flounder fishing for over 50, so I’m happy to share what I’ve learned over that time. While I’m not presenting my seminars, I’ll be manning booth No. 1314 for the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association every day but Sunday, so stop by and say “Hi.”
The Sportshow also has a diverse group of speakers for the hunting enthusiast including experts on whitetail and bird hunting tactics as well as wild game preparation. Peter Fiduccia and his wife, Kate, co-hosts of Woods N’ Waters on the Pursuit Channel, will offer seminars teaching field to table techniques. Known as the “Deer Doctor,” Peter has authored 13 books on whitetail hunting strategies and is a professional food plot consultant while Kate has written numerous wild game cookbooks. A wildlife biologist and noted whitetail hunting expert, C.J. Winand, will provide basic scientific and biological information to use in whitetail hunting strategies.
For deer hunters (especially
bowhunters) I’d strongly recommend Winand’s seminars. I’ve learned a lot about deer behavior, hunting the rut, and what works and doesn’t work when pursuing those elusive bucks from his seminars and also casual conversations with him. Show attendees will also be able to purchase the latest gear and book the best guides from a wide array of displays, exhibitors and lodges.
I contacted Sportshow director Tod Alberto for his take on this year’s edition. “I’m very excited and looking forward to another great event in Oaks, Pa. this year,” Alberto said. “It will be great to have Legend Hank Parker join us this year on Thursday, former BASS Pro and TV personality Joe Thomas on Saturday and Sunday, and I am really looking forward to hearing from hunting experts CJ Winand, Peter Fiduccia, and Freddie McKnight.
“We continue to receive outstanding support from the fishing industry considering the October 2015 sale by American Sportfishing Association to National Marine Manufacturer’s
Association,” Alberto said. “Fishing manufacturers and retailers continue to be a big part of the show,” Alberto added. “Although the ownership has changed, the show is still produced with the same standards as before. This show is known for providing the best local expertise so that hunters and anglers in the tri-state area know where to go, what to do, and what equipment they should use. We’re proud of offering attendees exactly what they need to make their outdoor experience better than ever.”
Show hours on Thursday and Friday are from noon to 8 p.m.. On Saturday the show opens at 10 a.m. and closes at 7 p.m., before Sunday’s final day, which runs from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Tickets are $12 for adults and $3 for children ages 5 to 11. Children under age 5 are admitted free with a paying adult. For more information or to purchase tickets online visit www.sportshows.com/philadelphia. See you at the show!