Warming trend can start at Schaumburg's Expo
We have suffered enough.
All of us have been slapped around by the stiff winds and Arctic temperatures.
You may have been among the escapees who got out of town and transitioned to the warm sand beaches of Florida or the Bahamas, along with the never-ending salt and sun.
Not this year for me.
I am one of the complainers, the guy who walks around in a dream-like manner. I'll meet with friends - the same, like-minded souls who have been yearning for the first days when the ice starts to crackle, moan, and disintegrate - and review the seasonal frustration.
I can only put so much new line on my reels before the tears start rolling down my face. I admit it - I am a woos, wus, or something similar in spelling.
So prepare yourself again for round No. 4 of The Cure: another outdoor fishing show.
This one is already under way and runs through Sunday in the Schaumburg Convention Center, and is the finishing act. First came the Muskie Show, then the All Canada event, followed by the Chicago Outdoor Sportsman's Show in Rosemont.
And now it's time for the Chicagoland Fishing, Travel and Outdoor Expo, fronted by the American Sportfishing Association.
The ASA is the umbrella trade organization that continues to re-invent itself every year at its national gathering in Las Vegas. Though they don't share calendar dates, the Schaumburg extravaganza has been going head-to-head with the Rosemont show locally in an effort to draw attendees.
Schaumburg Expo director Tod Alberto has said, "This will be an amazing show."
No doubt.
The Schaumburg event continues to pack in exhibitors, who say they're happy to join the newer of the biggest outdoors shows.
Among the major companies touting their wares at the Expo will be Shimano, Daiwa, Okuma, St. Croix, Temple Fork Outfitters, Gamma Fishing Line, Rapala, Plano, G. Loomis, Frabill, Ardent, Garmin, Eagle Claw, Seaguar Fishing Line, PowerPro, Raymarine, Livingston Lures, Stormr and Joe Bucher Outdoors. Dozen of smaller outfits will be in the lineup as well.
Big-time pros such as Tommy Skarlis will be on hand, as well as Mike Iaconelli, Gerald Swindle and Derek Yamamato, along with local pros.
Alberto calls special attention to the "Hawg Trough," a display which gives attendees a chance to see bass and bass-catching techniques from the top of the tank.
If you buy your ticket at the box office, it's $12 for adults and $3 for kids 5-11. Children under 5 get in free.
Show hours are noon to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday.
By the way, if you attend, you can enter a contest for a free fishing trip to Zancudo Lodge on Costa Rica's west coast. Now, that would warm any angler's heart.
Fishing report:
The word for the end of this week is "caution," especially around some open and thin spots of the Fox Chain.
T-Channel: decent for bluegills
Channel Lake: OK for crappie and bluegills on north and.
Bangs Lake: Good bluegill and crappie activity on east end.
Lake Michigan: Decent perching on far south end, right near the Calumet Park rocks.
Scratch the cats:
It doesn't look like there will be any bobcat hunting in Illinois. Governor Rauner put the brakes on that issue. Is this good or bad for Illinois hunters? I'd like to hear your opinions, so please e-mail your comments to me.
• Contact Mike Jackson at angler88@comcast.net, catch his radio show 7-9 a.m. Sundays on WGCO 1590-AM (live-streamed at www.1590WCGO.com) and get more content at www.mikejacksonoutdoors.com.