For Immediate Release:  

Michigan’s biggest all-fishing show opens January 7 in Novi;
The Ultimate Fishing Show—Detroit is “the one to catch”

NOVI– The Ultimate Fishing Show—Detroit returns Thursday, January 7 to Rock Financial Showplace, 46100 Grand River Ave. in Novi, for its annual four-day run.  Michigan’s largest pure-fishing show, within an hour’s drive of 400,000 licensed anglers, is among the biggest angling events in the nation.  

 “We’re prepared for big crowds,” said Adam Starr, event manager for ShowSpan, which will produce the show.  “People come to learn how to fish and where to fish.  They expect to find huge product selection and great buying value.  With 150 booths of tackle alone, they won’t be disappointed.”  

Area dealers are bringing scores of new fishing boats, fully equipped and ready for the water.  Twenty-five speakers, led by America’s best bass fisherman—Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo—offer more than 100 seminars, free with admission, for beginning to expert anglers.  Many outfitters, lodges, professional guides and charter boat captains from Michigan, the Great Lakes, Canada and beyond are also in the show. 
“As far as I know,” Starr added, “we’re the only sport show in the nation with a 110,000-gallon indoor lake.  Lake Ultimate, which we stock with live rainbow trout, is perfect for real-time, on-the-water fishing demonstrations.  It’s a hit for families, too, because of the fun activities we schedule there like “Bobbing for Trout.”

The show brings the best of everything to southeast Michigan:  new fishing boats, the latest in electronics and fishing accessories, hard-to-find lures and other tackle, the nation’s top anglers for non-stop seminars, feature attractions, family entertainment and more.  

Here are show highlights:

“Stuff” of the Show:  More than 100 booths of fishing tackle including rods, reels, lures, line, nets, coolers, downriggers, electronics and one-of-a-kind baits and other specialty products seen only once each year are in the show.  Frank’s Great Outdoors, Lakeside Fishing Shop and KD Outdoors are among the many key retailers.  Included are factory displays staffed with designers, technicians and other manufacturers’ experts to explain product features.

Outfitters Expo:  Scores of guides, outfitters, lodges, charter fishing captains and other destination vendors have reserved space.  Offering a broad variety of fishing and family vacations throughout North America, Outfitters Expo allows customers to compare costs and services.  Patrons can also speak directly with lodge owners and operators; ask questions of fishing guides, and talk to bush plane pilots.
 
Fishing Boats Galore:  More than 150 new fishing boats and pontoons—40 brands in all—are in the show.  These include specialty boats for trolling, drifting, and casting for bass, pike, walleye, panfish, trout, salmon and more.  Anderson Boat Sales, Bee’s Sports, Chapman’s Sport Center, Freeway Sports Center, Wilson Marine and Wonderland Marine—West will have the decade’s best deals on new boats.  

Special Features and Attractions:  

Lake Ultimate:  A huge indoor lake that holds 110,000 gallons of water, Lake Ultimate is 92 feet long by 40 feet wide by 4 feet deep.  Packed with tough-to-catch rainbow trout, it’s the ultimate seminar platform for national experts like Kevin Van Dam, who flies in for appearances on Friday and Saturday, and new speakers like Chris LeMessurier, who demonstrates how to fish from a kayak.  

These and many other attractions are free with admission.  

The Fishing Academy:  The country’s biggest and best all-star lineup of fishing experts, offering nonstop seminars, clinics and demonstrations on four stages.  In addition to VanDam, bass fishing speakers include Joe Thomas, Wayne Carpenter and several pro staffers from the National Bass Anglers Association.

Walleye pros include Mark Martin, Mark Romanack, Lance Valentine and Joe Raymer.    Lake St. Clair muskie aces are Mike Pittiglio, Don Miller and Bob Brunner.  

Many other specialty speakers are booked.  They include Lake St. Clair guides Jon Bondy and Doug Samsal, who is also an expert on the Detroit and St. Clair rivers.  Michigan rivers veteran Jim Bedford will be on hand, along with Great Lakes trout and salmon veterans Mike Veine, Jerry Lee, Chip Cartwright and Jay Frolenko.  David Rose, northern Michigan inland lakes guide, will offers special seminars on panfish and perch.  

With the exception of fee-based weekend Super Clinics for walleye on Saturday and salmon/steelhead on Sunday, all seminars are free with admission.  The Super Clinics cost $25 each and are limited to 100 students, each of whom receives a goody bag of sponsor products worth two to three times the entry fee.  Romanack, a precision-trolling expert and book author, will lead the Super Walleye Clinic.  Lake Michigan tournament champions Dave Engel and Bill Bale of Best Chance Promotions lead the Super Salmon Clinic.  For the full seminar schedule, go to www.UltimateFishingShow.com.  

Family Fun:  Michigan B.A.S.S. Federation NATION “Casting Kids” Competition will be held Saturday and Sunday.  There is no charge for instruction or participation for boys and girls who want to learn or improve their casting skills.  The 25-foot-high Rock Climb charges a nominal fee, as do several other activities, proceeds of which typically go to charities and other non-profit groups.  The Michigan Bass Busters, for example, will man the Trout Pond stocked with live rainbows.  Members of the Michigan Charter Boat Assn. offer virtual reality fishing for kids of all ages on their Fishing Simulator.  

For details on these and other attractions, go to www.UltimateFishingShow.com   

Special Events and Displays:  Bring six boxes or cans (or a minimum of four pounds) of non-perishable food items on opening night--Thursday January 7 only--and receive a ticket for free admission, a $10 value, to the show that day only.  Volunteers from Michigan Sportsmen Against Hunger will collect the donations for area food banks.  

The popular Shore Lunch Fish Fry returns with affordable family prices.  It’s located in the special dining area, which includes a sportsman’s bar.   

Colton Bay Outfitters in Ann Arbor, along with volunteers from major Michigan fly fishing clubs, will host a special area for demonstrating fly casting and fly tying.  Anglers can bring their own rods, or test a new one at the show.  

Dennis Wolfe, a member of the National Fishing Lure Collectors Club from Royal Oak, will display antique angling tackle and sporting collectibles.  Patrons can bring their old tackle to the show for free appraisals.  

Premier Animal Attractions is bringing several exotic animals to the show again this year.  

Promotions and Prizes:  The first 500 attendees on Thursday and Friday will receive a free commemorative Dardevle fishing spoon, with a retail value of $6.95 each, from Eppinger Manufacturing Company in Dearborn.  On Saturday and Sunday, the first 500 can claim a free bobber from Carlisle Float Company.  

Register at the show to win the Ultimate Fly-in Fishing Trip to Expeditions North in Ontario.  

Show hours on Thursday, 2:00 to 9:30; Friday, Noon to 9:30, Saturday, 10:00 to 9:00; and Sunday, 10:00 to 5:00.  Admission is $10 for adults, $4 for children 6 to 14, and free for children 5 and under.  For more information, go to www.UltimateFishingShow.com or call 1-800-328-6550.  

Discount coupons are available at Wendy’s restaurants.