I head out in a few hours to the Chicagoland Fishing Expo, the area’s big fishing show. It opens at noon today, Jan. 23, at the Schaumburg Convention Center and runs through Sunday, Jan. 26.
I mainly want to tour the show and will do a preview afterward. But today I will sit in on Mark Zona, who leads off the seminars at 12:30 p.m. at the Hawg Trough. I have an affinity for Zona, in part because my librarian wife interned at Homewood Public Library, which is where Zona’s mom was the queen of the library for years.
I am hoping to maybe catch both Capt. Jake Nalley at 2 p.m. on “”Targeting Catfishing on Lakes & Rivers” and Capt. Ryan Whitacre at 2:30 p.m. on “Great Lakes Smallmouth Efficiency.”
With luck, I will be able to come back Friday for a few hours to catch Jim Saric and the muskie forum. I wish I could do Saturday, but can’t, when there is an interesting combo with Anthony Zimmer teaming with mentor Spence Petros at 2 p.m. Saturday on “Walleyes on the Chain & Lake Geneva.”
Show features include a casting pond, trout pond, show favorite Wings and Talons on raptor education, Casting Kids, fishing simulator and the Fisherman’s Boatyard; and Sunday is family day, 11 and younger free.
Show details are here:
- The Spring Lake Izaak Walton Outdoor Show is at 4700 W. 49th Ave., Hobart, Ind., this weekend, Jan. 25-26. For details, contact Jeff at (219) 406-7248.
- The master list of outdoors shows, classes, swap meets and major ice fishing events are at https://chicago.suntimes.com/outdoors/2024/11/28/outdoors-shows-master-list-for-2025-around-chicago-and-beyond.