It is now, Showtime!

Fishing, boat shows offer unique opportunities

Hopefully this January is not as frigid as the previous two, but it should still be a good time for fishermen and boaters to begin their annual dream-fest for tackle, electronics, boats, motors and new fishing ideas for the year.

If you aren’t aware, January is when the annual round of boat, fishing and outdoor shows and fishing seminars and schools begin in our Tarheel State. The showing of all things shiny and nice begins the Friday after New Years and continues into the spring.

To the uninitiated, this may seem a little odd to begin only two weeks after Christmas, but many of these shows have histories that date back more than 25 years, and they continue to be successful. For some, they are primarily wishbooks they can visit live and in person, but for others, they are a time to search for the platform or equipment that will transform their leisure time during the spring, summer and fall.

There is a difference between the shows. Events that emphasize fishing in their name place a prominence on fishing, and those that emphasize boating in their name place a prominence on boats. A good example is two shows that are held at the N.C. State Fairgrounds in Raleigh and organized by Southeast Productions of Greensboro (www.ncboatshows.com).

The Bass and Saltwater Fishing Expo, held Jan. 6-8, is primarily a fishing show. There will be boats on display and for sale, but the majority of the floor space will be filled with vendors selling fishing tackle and accessories. There will also be seminars on freshwater and saltwater fishing. The Carolina Powerboat Show and Sale, held Feb. 17-19, is primarily a boat show. There will be a few booth vendors with tackle and accessories, but almost all the floor space will be for boats that are for sale. There are rarely seminars at boat shows.

For those interested in buying a new boat, the shows are a great place to begin looking. Many times, local dealers will have a factory representative in their booths who can answer certain questions better than the dealer. This is also a great time to compare the features of similar models in different brands by merely walking between booths. Finally, boat shows are often a good time to get special pricing or extended warranty or special financing or some other incentive to purchase during the winter, rather than wait until spring.

Fishing shows are a different animal entirely. They are a time to look at 10,000 rods, 20,000 spinnerbaits, almost as many reels and untold numbers of lures and baits you have only read about in fishing reports. In addition to numerous seminars offered by national and regional fishermen, many manufacturers and stores have their local pro staffers on hand, and a lot of local advice is freely and informally exchanged. Sure you have to get through a little product bias, but there is a lot of information to be gleaned from a day at a fishing show. Spending time with people who share your affliction for chunking lures isn’t too bad, either.

Outdoor shows tend to lean more toward hunting, but that isn’t necessarily bad. The spring-loaded duck foot you buy to support your push pole in soft mud doesn’t know or care if you are chasing black ducks or redfish. Many other products work for both fishing and hunting too. It can be a surprise what you see and learn. There are often seminars at outdoor shows that can be a mixture of national and local experts.

Fishing (or hunting) seminars are shorter, condensed versions of tips or techniques and are usually limited to a single or pair of topics. Fishing (or hunting) schools are longer versions of numerous tips and techniques, often lasting a full day, and many offer more than one approach to similar topics. Both can be helpful.

I am surprised every year with the number of fishermen I consider successful or experienced that I see at seminars and fishing schools. Many are frequent attendees. Their typical response when questioned is they hope to pick up a couple of tips that may help them fine tune their approach. Maybe some of us old dogs want to learn new tricks.

Cueing with these fishermen, spending time at a show or attending a fishing school or seminar is an excellent way to fine-tune a technique or take a shortcut on the learning curve. While fishermen with lots of experience can learn a little at these events, they can substitute for years of growing pains for beginners and intermediates. It is known that men won’t stop and ask for directions, but they will ask and listen to suggestions on which MirrOlure is right for which situations and how to work it.

The Raleigh Bass and Saltwater Expo (Jan. 6-8) is the first fishing show of the year and the largest in the state. There will be hourly seminars for freshwater and saltwater fishing, plus some appearances by touring pros at the bass tub. The same format will continue at the Richmond Fishing Expo (Jan. 20-22) and the Central Carolina Boat and Fishing Expo (Feb. 24-26). Visit www.ncboatshows.com for specific information.

For those wanting to see a mix of national saltwater fishermen and area experts, the Saltwater Sportsman National Seminar Series (www.nationalseminarseries.com) will come to New Bern on Jan. 14. This is headed up by George Poveromo of Saltwater Sportsman and television fame.

The North Carolina Sportsman Saltwater Fishing School will again be held in conjunction with the Cape Fear Wildlife Expo (www.capefearwildlifeexpo.com) on March 17 in Wilmington. This is an all-day school that features multiple sessions each hour with regional experts. In addition to techniques, locations will be discussed. For more information visit www.northcarolinasportsman.com. The Cape Fear Wildlife Expo will also have game management and hunting seminars, so check them out too.

The Oak Island Parks and Recreation Department and the Greenville Recreation and Parks Department fishing schools are all-day schools that offer smaller groups, with rotating sessions and numerous opportunities to ask questions of instructors who have extensive experience fishing coastal waters. For more information, visit www.captjerry.com.

The winter and early spring months have numerous fishing, boating and outdoor shows to entertain Carolina sportsmen during the cold months. Those who take them seriously will also find numerous opportunities to learn more about everything from boats, motors and trailers to the latest in fishing tackle and techniques. This information is there for the taking and there are opportunities in many locations and on almost any weekend.

Happy New Year and good fishing.