Plenty to do and see at Sportsman’s Expo

From Jan. 11-14 the outdoors world will go indoors at the 41st annual International Sportsman’s Exposition. Located at the Denver Convention Center, it will feature more than 530 exhibiting companies offering gear, expertise and travel adventures, over 100 free seminars on all aspects of the outdoors, an elk-calling contest and a giant Youth Activity Center hosted by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

And, new this year, there’s a casting contest featuring teams made up of one conventional angler and one fly angler. Many of the regulars on my weekly radio show, such as Nate Zelinsky, Chad LaChance, Brad Petersen and Ronny Castiglioni, Dan Swanson and Colorado Clays, will be participating in the ISE show.

Last year we started our Friday night “Ask the Expert” event. I will be hosting this event at the demo tank from 5:30-7 p.m. on Jan. 12. The event will feature a panel of four of the most accomplished anglers in this region (and nationally) including Nate Zelinsky, renowned guide and tournament angler; LaChance, host of Fishful Thinker television and guide; Petersen , tournament angler and instructor from In-Fisherman’s Camp Fish; and Swanson, professional walleye trail championship qualifier, electronics expert and guide. We will take questions on fishing from the attendees and share our expertise and debate the responses amongst the panel.

The event is free except for your show entry. Our goal is to have some fun, get you out on the water and improve your chances of success. Another returning feature is our Teaching Kids to Fish seminar by Petersen at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday. In conjunction with this seminar we will be giving away dozens of youth fishing rod combos that were donated by Shakespeare Fishing.

At the “Fishing Demo Tank” this year we will also be focusing many of the seminars on getting back to basics, fishing from shore and Sunday, Al Noraker will do a seminar on an introduction to fly-fishing for women. As always, we will also include some advanced techniques.

Below are some of the highlights of this year’s International Sportsmen’s Exposition. I will be at the show all four days hosting the aquarium demonstration tank. I will be giving away a number of tickets to attend the ISE on my radio show Saturday. In order to win you will have to know a key word or phrase that will be posted on my Facebook Page later this week.

Here is just some of what you will see at this year’s ISE:

• RMEF regional elkcalling contest rules at the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Outdoor Activity Center and Campground Amphitheater

• Youth fair with free activities (gear and instructors provided), hosted by Colorado Parks and Wildlife

• High-impact 3D popup archery range

• Aquarium demonstration tank, hosted by Terry Wickstrom

• Sporting-dog Arena • RMEF adventure theater

• Fly-fishing pavilion: casting ponds, theater, entomology, tying and Colorado Casting Contest

• Combo Casting Contest: fly and conventional