Football is over, hunting seasons have wound down and many of the country’s lakes are beginning to awaken.
It’s time to think about spring fishing, and there’s no better place to get revved up than at a boat and tackle outdoors show. It’s the perfect remedy for cabin fever!
And man, you can learn a lot, see a lot and touch and feel the tackle goodies you’ve heard or read about.
Although I’ve been at this for a long time, I still enjoy walking sports shows where I can see the newest in outboards, sit in the new boats and get an up-close look at new rods, reels and baits.
That’s something you can’t do when buying online. I do some of my shopping online too, but the shows give me a chance to put my hands on the latest rods and reels and see how they feel in my hands. Everyone is different, and what works for one angler may not be right for another. I can hold a rod and reel and immediately visualize how it would fit in my arsenal and how it would suit my style of fishing.
Of course, before I head to the shows, I like to take an inventory of things I have used and what needs replacing. Do I need some more Rapala DT6s, and if so, what colors do I want to add to my tacklebox? How’s my Sufix line supply in various sizes?
I’ll never forget the first bladed jig I saw was at a small show in South Carolina. The guy who created it was demonstrating it in a 5-gallon aquarium and told me that there are times that bait would out-fish a spinnerbait.
I just kinda rolled my eyes and said, “Yeah, right.”
Three years later, Bryan Thrift won at Okeechobee with that bait and opened my eyes. I got some and caught the daylights out of fish with them.
Sure, you may see some gimmicks at sport shows, but it never hurts to keep an open mind and be willing to give one a try.
Another huge benefit of these sport shows is that a lot of retailers are offering bargain prices during the show. They also put a lot of lures in closeout bins within their booths. I’ve found some lures that don’t sell in one part of the country can be red hot in another.
You can save money and fill in your needs for things that are going to cost you more elsewhere.
Show seminars are a great place to learn and ask questions. Most pro anglers are doing seminars around the country and will mingle with the crowd and answer specific questions about fishing tactics.
And of course, sport shows give you a chance to hang out with like-minded anglers and share ideas. If you’re like me, you’ll leave a sports show rejuvenated. You’ll be eager to get on the water to try out the tricks you learned and the new tackle you’ve added to your arsenal.
