By Louie Stout
Cabin fever getting you down? There are plenty of cures this weekend.
In addition to ice fishing opportunities improving daily, there are fun things to do indoors as well.
You’ve got the Michiana Boats and Sports Show at the South Bend Century Center all weekend, the Dowagiac Conservation Club (DCC) Hunter’s Rendezvous on Saturday and the DCC’s annual squirrel hunting contest Sunday.
The Boat Show kicks off Friday at noon and runs to 9 p.m. Saturday hours are 9-9 or you can go 9-5 on Sunday. Admission is $5 for adults and free to kids 12 and under. Parking is $5 in the Century Center lot Friday and Saturday and free on Sunday.
Those show proceeds will go to a good cause, too. The Michiana Walleye Association is manning the century center activities and will benefit from gate receipts (after expenses) to help fund St. Joseph River stocking, a scholarship fund and maintain club facilities.
Boat dealers will highlight the show with an array of pontoons, pleasure boats, bass boats and multi-purpose boats being displayed. Dealers exhibiting include B&E Marine, D&R Sports Center, Eagle Lake Marina, Faye’s Marina, Huber’s Marina, Lake Drive Marina, Pier 33 and Starboard Choice. In addition, Fluid Fun Kayak will be selling rigs and featuring his river kayak trips. ATVs will be displayed and Gates Chevy will have tow vehicles on hand to ponder.
The popular trout pond returns where you can catch trout at no charge.
Retailers Clear H2o Tackle and Eagle Bait and Tackle will be on hand offering specials on fishing and hunting gear. Several charter captains from the Great Lakes and Canadian lodges will have booths to help you plan fishing trips.
If hunting is your favorite pastime, the Dowagiac Conservation Club will host its 19th annual Hunter’s Rendezvous next Sunday at the club grounds north of Dowagiac on M-51.
The program includes informative displays from various hunting and conservation organizations, exhibits of locally harvested big game and turkeys, virtual reality hunting games, hunter safety training equipment, antique gun appraisal and a silent auction.
There is no charge for admission.
In addition, sportsmen can take their trophies in to have them scored by Commemorative Bucks of Michigan.
For more info, call 269-424-5186.
On Sunday (Jan. 31), the Rendezvous concludes with its annual Squirrel Hunt in which the hunters bringing in the heaviest bag of squirrels win cash and prizes. Entry fee is $20 per two-man team.
There will be a mandatory meeting at 7:45 a.m. with breakfast and lunch offered. The event ends at 4 p.m. Rifle hunting only, except for youths age 14 and under. No dogs allowed.
To sign up, call Rich Atkinson at the number listed above.
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