Schaumburg fishing show a big catch for anglers
It wasn't quite on par with coming across a school of mature walleye or finding a loaded trout hole, but for suburban anglers who've been cooped up since fall, the weekend's Chicagoland Fishing, Travel & Outdoor Expo was the next best thing to casting a few lines out in the water.
The four-day show, which wrapped up Sunday, drew an estimated 20,000 outdoors enthusiasts to the Schaumburg convention center to check out the latest in fishing equipment and technology, learn about travel opportunities and get tips from top professionals and guides.
"If you're an angler, it's the place you want to come," said show manager Tod Albert. "You'd be hard-pressed to find someone who's been even remotely negative about it."
About 250 vendors filled the convention center for the show, including travel representatives from as far away as Nicaragua.
Among the visitors Sunday was Linda Rech of Des Plaines, who brought along some young fishers to sharper their skills.
"It's really a good time for the kids," she said. "It gets them involved and they learn a lot about fishing."