Dealers Hope to Revive South Bend Show

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So, the spring walleye and steelhead egg collections by the Michigan DNR are critical components of the strategy for maintaining world-class fishing opportunities in the Great Lakes State.

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New Gear

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By LOUIE STOUT

A group of Michiana boat dealers are hoping to resurrect a winter outdoors show at the South Bend Century Center Feb. 1-3, 2013.

The newly-formed Michiana Boats and Sports Dealers Association is billing the new show as the Michiana Boat and Sports Show.

Whats cool is the association isnt profit-driven. Any net profits after expenses will go to the Michiana Walleye Association as a donation for its projects, including raising walleye for stocking in the St. Joseph River. The walleye club will provide some volunteer manpower for operating the show.

This is our first year, but our intent is to grow this thing into a first-rate South Bend show, said Dale Brindley, show director. Were offering booths at a low cost (about $100) and low admission fee ($3).

Lets hope they can make it a success. South Bend deserves a good outdoors show.

I can remember the great shows held at Notre Dame several years ago that attracted major hunting and fishing manufacturers and retailers and packed the place with a buying crowd.

Scheduling conflicts with team sports forced a move to the Century Center and that was pretty good for a few years. But it fizzled when national companies and good-size tackle retailers began pulling out.

This years show will feature new boat exhibits from a handful of area retailers and small vendors. Boat dealers currently scheduled to exhibit include Starboard Marine in Mishawaka, Fayes Marine and Hubers of LaPorte, B&E and Pier 11 of Michigan City, D&R Sports of Kalamazoo, Tri Lakes Marine of Union, Mich.

If the show draws a good crowd over the three days, it could bode well for attracting larger exhibitors and perhaps some national manufacturers in future years.

The exhibitor list was still being formulated last week. In addition to the aforementioned boat dealers, you can expect to find fishing guides, Canadian Lodges, a couple of local tackle retailers, the Indiana DNR and conservation groups on hand.

Also, the Great Lakes Angler Super Salmon School, featuring Capt. Dan Keating and outdoor communicator Dave Mull, will be held at the Century Center during the show. Cost for the school is $60. Call Dan Keating, 847-395-5730, to sign-up.

Tentative show hours are noon to 9 p.m. on opening day, 9-9 Saturday and 9-3 Sunday, which also happens to be Super Bowl Sunday.

Anyone interested in booth space should contact Brindley at 574-286-6311. More details of the show will be announced here prior to the show.