Suburban anglers gear up for fishing season at Schaumburg expo

The Schaumburg Convention Center quickly filled with fishing enthusiasts of all ages Sunday for the final day of the 4th annual Chicagoland Fishing Travel & Outdoor Expo.

Young children learned how to fly fish and tie their own flies in one part of the convention hall while professional angler Tommy Skarlis passed on his knowledge in another corner.

"It's a show that's geared toward the novice and the experienced anglers," said show manager Tod Alberto. "We have young kids out there learning how to fly cast. The seminar series has gone extremely well. There are a lot of techniques that even an experienced guide can learn from."

More than 20,000 visitors were expected to attend the show hoping to improve their fishing skills through seminars with local and national fishing professionals, as well as look at and play with the latest equipment, book an outdoor trip at one of more than 100 resorts represented, or have a chance to test a new fishing boat from 70 on exhibit.

"I think that it is great that the kids are able to participate, otherwise I wouldn't be able to come," said Mark Macella of Des Plaines, as he watched his 3-year-old daughter, Caitlin, practice fly fishing. "I'm trying to get them interested in fishing. They already like fishing with a spin-cast rod and I like fly fishing, too. It's good that we can do both."