New life as America's Outdoors Show comes to town
Some fishermen I know have admitted they could be fooled once or twice, especially when it came to attending the Rosemont outdoor show.
In past years the Rosemont event rapidly deteriorated into a free-for-all of hucksters and flea marketers. And now all of that has changed, for the better.
I strongly believe the fresh, new face who is the driving force for the "new Rosemont outdoor show" has not fallen prey to the disappointments that had been prevalent in the prior management that failed in its attempt to attract show-goers to the Donald E. Stephens Convention center.
The spanking new America's Outdoor Show promises to be quite a bit different as well as very entertaining when it opens its doors Jan. 27 and runs through Jan. 31.
Jim Sugarman is the new show boss, and he's just learned how to fish for crappie. He is not jaded, nor is he making excuses, but rather his outlook is totally positive as he plans to roll out his lineup of exhibitors and seminars.
Sugarman explained that the new show is family-oriented, something that has been begging for a number of years, and had basically been sidelined by the previous ownership. But I digress.
The event, more commonly referred to as "the O'Hare Show" has been the unofficial but prescribed cure for the serious malady called cabin fever. This event is where attendees come with credit cards in hand to book their places at those far-north country lodges which promise line-busting northern pike and jumbo walleyes.
Sugarman explained to me that he turned down exhibitor business from the people who belonged more at the Sunday flea market on the grounds of the Allstate Arena. You won't see the guy with welding materials, nor will you see those magic cloths soaking up water and other detritus. But you will see one of the hottest lineups of seminar speakers in the country.
Sugarman polled a group of local advisors regarding what should be at the show for families and kids. He came up with some major-league entertainment and educational features.
For example:
• "The Back Country" area will include outdoor personality Dan Armitage with his "Kids and New Gadgets" seminar.
• Guiness Book of World Records holder and archer extraordinaire Randy Oitker will dazzle show-goers with his astonishing ability.
• Curt Strutz, aka The BassMeister, will entertain the kids and families alike with fast-paced, clean humor and puppetry.
• Kids and adults can get involved in a special Nature Education Area, and there will be clinics on archery and fish identification.
Attendees will also be able to see the best speakers, including television's Babe Winkelman; B.A.S.S. superstar Mike Iaconelli; Muskie Hunter magazine publisher Jim Saric, Spence Petros, Rick LaPoint, Ted Takasaki, Lee Bailey, Jr., area guide Darrell Baker, Great Lakes salmon and trout expert Dan Keating and Jack Penny.
I'm one of those eager show-goers that remembers the times at sports and outdoor shows when Dad would have the kids in tow, with their little eyes popping out of their heads, soaking up the sights of all the fishing tackle and the huge fish mounts like jumbo muskies and lake trout. And then when the evening comes to an end, mom, dad and the kids are loaded down with bags of fishing tackle and accessories, and enough memories to last until next year. That alone is priceless.
That's what Sugarman says this show will bring to the Chicago area - great memories, good entertainment and lots of value for the price of admission.
By the way, check the show's Web page, www.americasoutdoorshow.com, for ticket prices and show times.
One of the sore spots in prior years was the cost of parking at the main garage connected to the center. Jim noted that if you're looking for a new fishing rod, he suggests going to the Grandt Custom Rod booth and he'll deduct the price of main lot parking off the cost of one of his rods. Sugarman has also lined up a free shuttle from the CTA parking lot a block north on River Road.
Petite, Pistakee Lakes prove rewardingI won't report that optimum conditions prevail for ice anglers, but I will tell you if you carefully search areas on area lakes, you will be successful. Fox Chain: My picks for the weekend are Petite and Pistakee Lakes. It was like a light switch for several anglers on Petite when they hit a school of walleyes while working 10-foot depths. Big minnows tipped on jigging spoons did the trick. The bite became better later in the evening. Similar conditions happened on Pistakee Lake with crappies. A school of 10 and 11-inch fish were taken at night in 8 feet of water on minnows, spikes, and waxies.Lake Michigan: Montrose Harbor continues to be good for perch.bull; Mike Jackson can be reached via e-mail at angler88@att.net, and you can catch his radio program 6-7 a.m. Sundays on WSBC 1240-AM.