(Provided by the Indy Sport Show)
There is no substitute for experience when it comes to increasing ones knowledge, understanding and enjoyment of the great outdoors.
Regardless of specific outdoor interests and passions, outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds will find an overflowing well of practical insights and priceless information from the lineup of experts scheduled to speak at this years Ford 60th Annual Indianapolis Boat, Sport and Travel Show, returning to the Indiana State Fairgrounds February 14-23, 2014.
Fishing Seminars
This years Ford 60th Annual Indianapolis Boat, Sport and Travel Show will provide attending anglers with a comprehensive schedule of seminars covering the Midwests most popular gamefish species. This year, in addition to the ever-popular black bass, crappie fishing will take center stage during the shows second weekend, February 22-23, with a full limit of crappie fishing expertise served up in the form of informative seminars that will help anyone become more adept at tracking down and reeling in these tasty panfish.
The Ask the Pros Fishing Seminar Series provides a unique seminar format that puts show goers into direct contact with the seminar speakers. It is an interactive forum, providing invaluable opportunities for seminar attendees to ask the questions most important to them. Headlining this years Ask the Pros Fishing Seminar Series are three bass fishing legends: George Cochran, David Fritts and Dion Hibdon -- three of only five anglers to ever win both the BASS Bassmaster Classic and the FLWs Forrest Wood Cup.
The bass is still Americas favorite game fish, and the Ford 60th Annual Indianapolis Boat, Sport and Travel Show will treat visitors to plenty of additional bass fishing expertise, including cant miss seminars from fan favorites Joe Thomas and Todd Hollowell.
Thomas, a 30-year tournament veteran and Outdoor Channel TV host, will share his expertise on various techniques while allowing seminar participants to actually view them on the big screen by utilizing video segments from his fan favorite show, Stihls Reel in the Outdoors.
Todd Holloway lives in Central Indiana and is a full-time bass pro on the FLW Tour, recently completing his second season.
While the show will provide plenty of emphasis on bass, professional anglers will give additional species-specific seminars throughout the week on everything from steelhead and salmon to crappie, muskie and carp.
America has gone crappie crazy over the past few years due to the species wide availability, tasty table qualities, and the rapid evolution of tournament crappie fishing. A dedicated crappie fishing Ask the Pros Crappie Seminar Series, sponsored by BnM Poles, will be offered on February 22 and 23 in conjunction with special crappie fishing exhibitors offering great deals on the latest crappie fishing gear and crappie fishing adventures.
Russ Bailey is from St. Marys, Ohio and has had huge success in the crappie fishing industry. He is an 11-time national championship qualifier, host of the Midwest Crappie television series, host of the Anytime Crappie DVD series, and has also been featured in many articles across the country.
Kyle Schoenherr is a full time crappie guide in southern Illinois and tournament pro, spending hundreds of days on Rend Lake, Kinkaid Lake, and Lake of Egypt each year.
Ronnie Capps resides near the shore of the famous Reelfoot Lake in northwest Tennessee, where he has lived since childhood. Capps has captured eight National Crappie Tournament Championships along with more than 100 single day competition crappie tournament events in various states.
Phil Rambo is one of Indianas best and most well known crappie anglers. He received the honor of the Bass Pro Shops/Crappie Masters Sportsman of the Year Award in 2008, has appeared on many television shows and been featured in many magazines. He has co-hosted the southern Indiana radio show Outdoors Today for 6 years.
Many Indiana residents even avid anglers are unaware of the quality of the states muskie fishing. In fact, Hoosier lakes like Webster, Tippecanoe, the Barbee Chain and others boast some of the highest muskie densities anywhere in the country.
Mike Hulbert is a full time muskie guide and travels across the Midwest chasing the fish of 10,000 casts. He has been guiding for 12 years and spends over 200 days a year on the water. Mike is a full time writer and field editor for Musky Hunter Magazine, films several shows a year with Musky Hunter TV and spends the winter months giving seminars across the country.
Also talking muskies is Indianas own Chae Dolsen. Dolsen started musky fishing in 1994 when Indianas heralded muskie program began to reach maturity. A licensed guide and founder of Webster Lake Guide Service and Tippy River Tackle.
Fishing doesnt begin and end with bass, crappie and muskie. Show seminars will cover other popular species like walleye, carp, steelhead and salmon.
After many years of pleasure fishing since childhood, Jay Couch discovered Indianas quality but little-known walleye fishing in Indiana in 2007. Soon thereafter, Couch joined the Hoosier Walleye Association and began to focus on walleye tournament fishing, where he received coaching from some of the best walleye anglers in Indiana.
Gilbert Huxley has been fishing for carp for 33 years, and will share his expertise on this fast-growing and exciting sport. An Indiana resident, Huxley is a member of Carp Anglers Group and the American Carp Society, and founder of Hoosier Carpers and Hoosercarpbait.com.
Fly fishing is one of the fastest growing segments of the recreational fishing industry, largely because it is a great way to catch fish, but also because tackle manufacturers have helped to make the sport much more affordable than it once was. Josh Lantz of World Class Fly Fishing, an outdoor writer and editor, has owned and operating World Class Fly Fishing that specializes in fly fishing and light tackle angling for steelhead, salmon, bass and muskie in Northern Indiana and Southwest Michigan.
Outdoor writer and radio show host Dan Armitage will be back in Indianapolis to conduct his entertaining kids seminars on the Hawg Trough at this years show. Dans popular Kids Fishing Fun seminar is an entertaining and educational show that actively engages kids in the audience.
Hunting Seminars
Covering whitetails to waterfowl, turkeys, small game and even wild hogs, this years Big Tine Ask the Pros Hunting Seminar Series will feature seminars from bow hunting super duo Fred and Michelle Eichler, Harold Knight, C.J. Winand and many more. Additional appearances will be made by waterfowl hunting superstars Hunter Grounds and Jeff Foiles; Travis and Leigh Creekbaum of Sportsman Channels hit show, Scent Blockers The Chase With Leigh and Travis, and others.
Trappers play a critical role in helping to manage wildlife species that arent typically as sought after by traditional hunting. Charlie Mascheck has been a trapper for 39 years and founded Hoosier Trapper Supply in 1976. He talks to trappers and future trappers everyday and has the perspective and knowledge to help anyone become a successful trapper.
Chuck Brenner is a self-made hunter who learned the ropes in the hills of west Tennessee and currently resides in Southern Indiana. Brenner keeps his hunting skills sharp by competing in archery and game calling competitions. He discovered wild hogs in Indiana around 2003 and began hunting them in 2004. Since then, he has harvested more than 100 of the non-native animals. He works with the Indiana Division of Fish and Wildlife by giving them DNA and blood and tissue samples from the hogs he takes. He has had several articles published in major magazines on hog hunting and trapping. Feral hogs are expanding their range throughout the country and here in Indiana. Chucks seminars will let folks know the best ways to target these animals.
Quiet Sports Seminars
Theres plenty of first-rate outdoor experience on tap at this years Ford 60th Annual Indianapolis Boat, Sport and Travel Show outside the realms of fishing and hunting.
Cliff Jacobson is one of North Americas most respected outdoor writers, wilderness guides, national and foreign consultants, and is the most published canoeing/camping writer of this century. He is a professional canoe guide and outfitter, a wilderness canoeing and camping consultant and the author of over a dozen top-selling books on camping and canoeing.
Darlene Patterson has been traveling and exploring the natural wonders of this planet most of her life. Her adventures have taken her to places like the Canadian Arctic where she swam in the Beaufort Sea, the Pingos near Tuktoyaktuk, where she ran to safety from the grizzly bears, and to South America where she paddled the Amazon River in a dug out canoe and was bitten on the back of the leg by a piranha. Darlene will be presenting about Solo Paddling the BWCA February 14-17, and Backcountry Photography February 21-23.
Stacy Boone, also known as Simply Seeking, began hiking in 1998 with a thru-hike of the 2,100-mile Appalachian Trail. Since then she has hiked the John Muir Trail, Long Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, Cohos Trail, Centennial Trail and the Continental Divide Trail. Boones enthusiasm for hiking and pursuit of outdoor experiences is endless. Boones seminars at this years show include Plan Ahead and Prepare Your Next Backpacking Adventure Awaits, an interactive presentation that answers the questions pertaining to planning for your trips and fine-tuning tasks and details before loading your backpack to help ensure a successful adventure.
Providing quality seminars that inform, educate and entertain has been a part of the Renfro philosophy for over 60 years. No matter where their particular interests lie, attendees at this years Ford 60th Annual Indianapolis Boat, Sport and Travel Show will find a wealth of outdoor expertise being shared in all kinds of seminars from some of the biggest names in the outdoors today.
For the latest information on seminar speakers and schedules, general show information, or to purchase tickets online, go to indysportshow.com.