Sarley: Tracing the Chicagoland Fishing Expo’s path to the Schaumburg Convention Center
I am on my way to the huge Chicagoland Fishing Expo at the Schaumburg Convention Center. It runs Thursday through Sunday. I don’t think I’ve missed the big fishing show since I was a teenager.
It’s gone under many banners since I started going with my father when I was a boy. It was a gigantic 10-day affair back in the day. It was held at the International Amphitheater in Chicago and had a big stage show. The star of the show and the emcee was movie cowboy John Bromfield, who rode in on a horse.
One of the main attractions was Victor the Wrestling Bear. Victor was a giant Alaskan Brown Bear who was declawed and defanged. Victor went up against anybody who cared to try. He never lost a match. My old buddy Darrell Baker, the legendary guide, took on Victor as a teenager and lost. He said it was no fun having a 400-pound bear laying on you. Oh, those were the good old days.
The Amphitheater got knocked down and McCormick Place never worked as a successful venue. The Expo center at Rosemont housed the show for years. Thankfully, Tod Alberto, a successful show promoter, eventually bought the show and brought it to the Schaumburg Convention Center. Since Alberto has taken the reins, the Chicagoland Fishing Expo has flourished.
I wrote last week that Mike “Ike” Iaconelli is featured on Thursday and Chris Johnston hits the stage Friday through Sunday. The Expo has a fantastic lineup of speakers every day.
Dan Basore, the world’s biggest collector of antique fishing lures, receives an award at 4:30 p.m. Thursday. Oliver Ngy is one of the smartest people to ever pick up a rod and reel. He is an internet sensation and a fishing genius. I‘d suggest you catch his talks.
Mark O’Neill is the nation’s expert on fishing electronics and can explain the ins-and-outs of forward-facing sonar. Pat Renwick and Ryan Whitacre are a couple of local guys who catch big fish all the time. They can teach you too. There are plenty more top speakers, and I am sorry that I can’t mention them all.
Besides the seminar stage, there is so much more to look at. This is a great place to plan a vacation. They’ve got locations from across Canada, but don’t forget to investigate all the great spots to check out right here in the good-old USA. I think you will find some great fishing vacation locations that you haven’t thought about. Keep your eyes open.
Boats are a big part of the Chicagoland Fishing Expo. I am amazed at how much they are getting for top-of-the-line fishing boats these days. I still like to look at them. They are incredible. Kayaks are all the rage, and there will be a good representation of those on the show floor. Don’t forget that you can always fish from a canoe, if you care to give in a try.
Many of the local and regional fishing clubs and organizations will have booths at the show. Find one to join. That’s the best recommendation I can make for you. Clubs are a great place to find a new fishing pal.
The Chicagoland Fishing Expo is at the Schaumburg Convention Center from Thursday through Sunday. The Convention Center is located at 1551 N. Thoreau Drive, near Woodfield Mall. The hours are noon-8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday. Adults can buy tickets for $15. Children ages 6-11 cost $5, and 5 and under are admitted free.
If you attend the show and see me cruising the aisles, please stop and say “hello.” I’d be happy to meet you.
• Daily Herald Outdoors columnist Steve Sarley can be reached at sarfishing@yahoo.com.